Castleway Nursery School, Wirral
Castleway Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 0 to 5 in Wirral. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Castleway Nursery School in detail
Who goes there
59.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 7.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 0 pupils (0%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bidston Rail Station, about 1030 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Kingham Close (near), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Castleway Nursery School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 4th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2014, 11 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 September 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Castleway Nursery School creates a warm, caring environment where every child is valued and feels safe. The curriculum is well-designed to help children become confident learners, skilled mathematicians, and creative thinkers. The school provides wonderful enrichment activities - from caring for school hens to learning in the woodland area - that help children develop essential life skills and understand the world around them.
Key Strengths
- Well-planned curriculum that helps children develop strong knowledge in maths, communication, and creative skills -
- Excellent support for children with special educational needs, identified early with effective support in place -
- Strong positive behaviour and attitudes, with children learning kindness and self-control through respectful staff relationships -
- Enriched learning experiences including woodland activities, visits from emergency services, and learning about different faiths and cultures -
- Effective use of information about children's learning to plan next steps
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff do not consistently use language and questions effectively to deepen children's understanding of the curriculum -
- The school should ensure all staff have the expertise needed to support and extend children's thinking during learning activities
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts children's interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
School hens care, woodland activities, visits from local police and fire brigade, learning about different faiths and festivals
Castleway Nursery School is a happy, friendly place where children feel safe and thrive through caring relationships with staff. The school has improved significantly since the previous inspection, with children achieving well across a thoughtfully designed curriculum.
At a Glance
59.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby nursery schools
Keep up with Castleway Nursery School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Castleway Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Castleway Nursery School is in Wirral; for families living there:
Apply to Wirral for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 14
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 7 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 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 Wirral is 15 (the median across 136 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 - Wirral
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wirral
Across Wirral council
Places available
3,889
Applications
3,305
Got 1st preference
95.3%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All secondary applications across Wirral council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
0.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
52
Total Pupils
25
Boys
27
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
1
Teachers
52.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Castleway Nursery School
What is Castleway Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Castleway Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Castleway Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Castleway Nursery School is oversubscribed, Wirral allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Castleway Nursery School?
Castleway Nursery School has around 52 pupils on roll. 60% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Castleway Nursery School?
Apply through Wirral's coordinated admissions process, naming Castleway 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 Castleway Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 7 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 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 Wirral is 15 (the median across 136 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Castleway Nursery School?
Castleway Nursery School is at Castleway North, Wirral, Merseyside, CH46 1RN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)