N16Life_SUMMER2017

STORIES
We are great
advocates of
learning through
play, as we truly
believe this is where
the value lies for
children under the
age of five.
Kiki Linton-Aspinall
I am a proud Londoner, born and raised in
Islington, just opposite the beautiful New River
Walk. In 1997 my mum started a new job managing
a nursery in Stoke Newington, and after finishing
secondary school in Marylebone, each day I would
get the number 73 bus from Angel right to the
end of its route. This is where my love for Stoke
Newington was born. It was inevitable that once
I permanently flew the nest I found myself in a
four-bedroom house share in Stoke Newington. It
was close to my parents, close to the bright lights
of Dalston and close to my job, which at the time
was managing N16 Playgroup.
After running N16 Playgroup for five years,
I realised that there was a need for a full day
nursery in Stoke Newington to cater to the
growing young population. It was then that I
decided to open N16 Tots. Based on Defoe Road,
N16 Tots is a small nursery with a wonderful sense
of community and home-like feel. Our main ethos
is that by being a small nursery we help each child
to feel that they are special. I personally know
each and every child and parent that is part of our
nursery, which means I am best placed to ensure
that everybody’s needs are being met.
I have always enjoyed working with children;
I attended a Montessori primary school as a
child, and my mum is also a qualified Montessori
teacher. This meant that from an early
age, I was encouraged to pursue my
own interests, which usually resulted in
spending time in the nursery, helping to
feed the children and put them to sleep.
These experiences directly shaped the
path that I took later in life. Although
we do not call ourselves a Montessori
nursery, the underlying principles of
Montessori undoubtedly shape the way
N16 Tots and N16 Playgroup operate. We
are great advocates of learning through
play, as we truly believe this is where
the value lies for children under the age
of five. We encourage all children to be
independent, and help them to explore
their own interests, all whilst having a
brilliant time!
When I go out in Stokey I love
frequenting the pubs, restaurants and
the nightlife of Dalston – usually all on the
same evening – rounded off with a 2am
amble to the one and only Best Kebab.
I love working in Stoke-Newington.
I love the diversity, the village-like
appeal, and the sense of belonging
to a community. I really hope that as
new residents move into the area,
they will continue to support the small
independent businesses that truly make
Stoke Newington the wonderful and
amazing place it is today.
15