Arnold Nursery School, Rotherham
Arnold Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Rotherham. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Arnold Nursery School in detail
What parents say
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Arnold Nursery School (as of September 2025): 96% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Who goes there
0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 32.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (59%) and Asian (26%).
In 2026, 45 pupils (26.2%) received SEN support and 1 (0.6%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Parkgate, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tennyson Road/Goldsmith Road (adjacent), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Arnold Nursery School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 344 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 Rotherham (146), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from September 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Arnold Nursery School excels at helping every child make strong progress through an ambitious curriculum that balances language development, early reading and practical learning experiences. The school provides exceptional support for children with additional needs, with skilled staff creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where all children are treated as individuals. Children behave exceptionally well and develop confidence and resilience because of the school's clear routines, consistent expectations and strong relationships with families.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional progress for all children, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities, with excellent tailored support and accessible classrooms
- Highly ambitious and well-designed curriculum with strong emphasis on early reading, language development and practical learning experiences
- Highly skilled staff supported by extensive training who consistently promote language development through purposeful interactions
- Clear routines and consistent expectations that help children behave exceptionally well and develop perseverance and resilience
- Strong relationships with families, with parents receiving regular guidance on how to support their children's learning at home
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Mobile farm visits, fire pit activities, climbing and exploring, outdoor learning, community visitors including mechanics and bricklayers, fire safety officer visits, breakfast club
Arnold Nursery School is a welcoming and highly inclusive school where children get off to a flying start to their education. The school maintains high expectations for achievement, attendance and behaviour, with children making strong progress through an ambitious and carefully designed curriculum.
At a Glance
0.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
26 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby nursery schools
Keep up with Arnold Nursery School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Arnold Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Arnold Nursery School is in Rotherham; for families living there:
Apply to Rotherham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 6 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
1 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 Rotherham is 13 (the median across 128 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 - Rotherham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rotherham
Across Rotherham council
Places available
3,667
Applications
2,933
Got 1st preference
92.4%
Got preferred school
97.3%
All secondary applications across Rotherham council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
45
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
26.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
172
Total Pupils
71
Boys
101
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
21.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,070
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Arnold Nursery School
What is Arnold Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Arnold Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Arnold Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Arnold Nursery School is oversubscribed, Rotherham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Arnold Nursery School?
Arnold Nursery School has around 172 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Arnold Nursery School?
Apply through Rotherham's coordinated admissions process, naming Arnold Nursery 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 Arnold Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 6 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 1 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 Rotherham is 13 (the median across 128 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Arnold Nursery School?
Arnold Nursery School is at The Arnold Centre, Goldsmith Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S65 2LY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)