Brunel Nursery School, Blackburn

Nursery
Local authority nursery school
Mixed
Ages 34

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Julian Rogers
Pupils:34
LA:Blackburn with Darwen
Phone:01254291250
Address:Cambridge Street, Blackburn, BB1 1ES
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 4 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Needs Attention
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Needs Attention
Inspected 19 May 2026View full report
URN:119092
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Blackburn
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Brunel Nursery School is a warm, welcoming place where your child will feel happy and secure. Staff are caring and considerate, with particularly strong support for children with additional needs and those learning English as a second language. Your child will develop good routines, behaviour and independence skills, and benefit from a diverse curriculum that celebrates different cultures.

Key Strengths

  • Strong safeguarding culture with all legal requirements met and children feeling safe
  • Excellent support for children with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, with staff well-trained and barriers quickly identified
  • Positive behaviour and attendance, with children learning good routines and settling well into school
  • Caring and nurturing staff who support children's emotional wellbeing and personal development effectively
  • Good support for children learning English as an additional language

Areas for Improvement

  • Some children not making sufficient progress in early writing and mark-making skills
  • Inconsistent teaching of early mathematics and number knowledge across the school
  • Curriculum does not clearly set out what support children below age-related expectations should receive
  • Staff not always clear about key vocabulary and next steps for individual children
  • Leadership has not prioritised improvements in literacy and mathematics quickly enough

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, all legal requirements are met, and children are kept safe and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Live theatre shows from visiting theatre groups, performances by pupils from nearby school, meetings with police officers, learning about local community helpers

Brunel Nursery School is a nurturing environment where children feel safe and happy, with strong safeguarding and effective support for disadvantaged children and those with SEND. However, the school needs to improve teaching and progress in early writing and mathematics to better prepare children for primary school.

At a Glance

0.0%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

0.0

Avg class size

0

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Blackburn Rail Station (entrance)
349m · 6 min walk

Bus Stops

Jans Conference Centre (by)
156m · 3 min walk
Stirling Drive (by)
164m · 3 min walk
Brunel Drive (opp)
206m · 3 min walk
Reading Close (by)
240m · 4 min walk
Thornhill Close (opp)
246m · 4 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

Area Demand Pressure - Blackburn

High pressure
New homes approved:2,773
Projected new pupils:499

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Blackburn

Admissions Demand - Blackburn with Darwen

Low demand0.92x oversubscription

Places available

2,291

Applications

2,109

Got 1st preference

82.0%

Got preferred school

95.4%

Secondary admissions across Blackburn with Darwen (2025/26)

Inspection History(9)

19 May 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
26 April 2022
21 March 2017

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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