Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School, Waltham Cross
Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Waltham Cross. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2017)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School in detail
Who goes there
1.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 41.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (43%), Mixed (11%) and Black (7%).
In 2026, 23 pupils (21.7%) received SEN support and 10 (9.4%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Cheshunt Rail Station, about 1060 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Elgin Road (opposite), 170 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 330 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from March 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its March 2017 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
1.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby nursery schools
Keep up with Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School is in Hertfordshire; for families living there:
- Hertfordshire's school travel policy: Read the home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 58
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 10
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 58 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 48 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
13 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Waltham Cross
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Waltham Cross
Across Hertfordshire council
Places available
15,222
Applications
13,456
Got 1st preference
77.5%
Got preferred school
94.9%
All secondary applications across Hertfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
23
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
31.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
106
Total Pupils
57
Boys
49
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
17.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£64,037
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School
What is Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School's Ofsted rating?
Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2017, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School?
No fixed boundary. When Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School is oversubscribed, Hertfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School?
Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School has around 106 pupils on roll. 2% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School?
Apply through Hertfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 58 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 48 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 13 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School?
Arlesdene Nursery School and Pre-School is at Blindman's Lane, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, EN8 9DW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)