Haringey has been ranked the third best London borough in which to grow up, behind Merton and Richmond, and seventh nationally, according to the Children's Commissioner's Childhood Lottery report. The report examined more than 160 indicators, including education, healthcare and access to green spaces.
In 2024, 98% of schools in the borough were rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, and 68.3% of primary pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, above the national average. More than 81% of Haringey children can access green space within 15 minutes, compared with 68% nationally, and the borough has 61 parks and open spaces.
Parks as nature's school
Chris Arnold, chair of the Friends of Stationers Park and director of London Community Arts CIC, argues that parks are every bit as important to children's development as schools. “Schools teach children knowledge. Parks teach them life,” he said.
Arnold, who takes his children to the park every day after school unless it is raining, says parks offer freedom that sanitised, risk-averse environments do not. “Within a few minutes kids will find something to do. Will connect with other kids. Psychology experiments show boredom forces them to improvise,” he added.
Community benefits and pandemic lessons
While children play, parents connect, friendships form and communities grow, Arnold noted. During the pandemic, when playgrounds were fenced off, he adopted what he called the “Enid Blyton strategy”, putting swings on trees and encouraging natural, imaginative play.
“Parks aren't simply somewhere to walk the dog, they are outdoor classrooms, community hubs and playgrounds for life,” Arnold concluded, urging parents not to give in when children say they are bored at the park.
