High Court Dismisses Islington Parent’s Appeal Against Nursery Closure

A High Court judge has dismissed a legal challenge brought against Islington Council concerning the closure of a nursery, as the local authority announced plans to offer interim childcare services from the site during the summer months. Islington Council has confirmed it will assume control of all playgrounds and facilities that were at risk of closure due to the financial difficulties faced by the Islington Play Association (IPA), which had managed four adventure playgrounds in the borough.

The IPA had operated these playgrounds on behalf of the council for several years until February, when the council reluctantly agreed to close the Paradise Park Children’s Centre following the charity’s early surrender of a £4.3 million contract. This decision sparked protests from parents, who subsequently attempted to prevent the closure through legal means. However, on Monday, July 13, a judge characterised their judicial review application as “totally without merit.”

Judicial Review Dismissed

Supported by numerous parents, the claimants contended that the council’s decision to pursue the nursery’s closure violated its statutory obligation to ensure that “sufficient” childcare is accessible for families in the borough. They further argued that the council had failed to act despite being aware of the charity’s financial troubles well over a year prior to the IPA’s surrender of the contract.

However, the High Court judge deemed the application “misconceived,” stating that the council’s decision represented a “private contractual matter” and was not subject to judicial review. Mrs Justice Eady remarked, “There is nothing to suggest [the council’s] decision was made otherwise than in good faith,” and mandated that the claimants cover the council’s legal costs, which totalled £36,276.50.

Community Impact and Parental Concerns

Following the ruling, Jonny Singer, representing the parents, expressed disappointment but acknowledged the judge’s decision. “We believe it is morally unacceptable to close an over-subscribed nursery at such short notice without accountability. Shuttering Paradise Park will have a profoundly negative impact on the community, especially for lower-income families. We will continue to seek answers from the council regarding their apparent lack of awareness concerning the financial issues at a major contractor and how this situation escalated.”

On Wednesday, July 15, Islington Council confirmed that it would take over all IPA-managed adventure playgrounds, safeguarding 29 jobs in the process. Although the council plans to close Paradise Park on July 22, it will provide interim childcare from the site for a limited number of children who have not yet secured alternative placements or whose arrangements are set to begin in September.

Future of Local Childcare Services

The IPA had operated a total of four adventure playgrounds in Islington, which collectively welcomed nearly 11,000 children between April 2025 and May 2026, according to council figures. Reports regarding the charity’s financial issues had led to speculation about the potential closure of all these centres, prompting the council to deny any plans to shut down another playground, Crumbles Castle. However, it has since been confirmed that all four playgrounds were indeed at risk prior to the council’s intervention.

Una O’Halloran, the Leader of Islington Council, stated that the council had “worked hard behind the scenes” to ensure that all IPA-run playgrounds would remain open throughout the summer and beyond “with no gap in provision.” She acknowledged the anxiety experienced by families affected by the IPA’s decision to relinquish the contract for Paradise Park nursery, stating, “With sufficient childcare available elsewhere, it didn’t make sense to fund a new, permanent replacement, but we are committed to facilitating a smooth transition to alternative, affordable settings.” The council is currently seeking a new provider to manage the four facilities in the long term.