Caversham Nursery School, Reading
Caversham Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Reading. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, ended in a report card: 1 exceptional and 5 strong standard. Before that it was rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in May 2017.
- Ofsted report card
- 6 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Caversham Nursery School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades Caversham Nursery School on 6 areas: 1 exceptional and 5 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Personal development and wellbeing - Exceptional. "Personal development is woven into the fabric of the school."
Achievement - Strong standard. "Children make rapid progress from their individual starting points."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders recognise that children being in school is important for their learning."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "The meticulously designed curriculum helps children learn new skills in a logical sequence."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that every child feels welcomed and included."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and priorities."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to refine assessment approaches so that they improve children's educational experiences even further".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Who goes there
18.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 39% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (29%), Asian (22%) and Mixed (15%).
In 2026, 8 pupils (13.6%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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 Reading Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ian Mikardo Way (opposite), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Caversham Nursery School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. 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 · 4 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Personal development and wellbeingExceptional
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Caversham Nursery School
Children love coming to this nursery, where relationships with families sit at its heart. From the moment they arrive, children thrive. They are welcomed into calm, well-organised classrooms. Children settle quickly and learn to play and learn alongside one another. They behave well. Staff model kindness and help children to understand and talk about their feelings. Disagreements are resolved thoughtfully. If children become upset or overwhelmed, adults provide gentle, consistent support. This helps children to calm down and return to their learning. Children feel safe. Staff know families so well. They build positive relationships through home visits and regular communication. This knowledge ensures that any worries are identified quickly and acted on. Adults supervise carefully as children move freely between indoor and outdoor spaces. They teach children how to keep themselves safe, for example when climbing large equipment, using tools to prepare fruit at snack time or serving themselves at lunchtime. This results in children having a deep sense of belonging. Children enjoy learning. They listen intently to well-chosen books, join in with repeated refrains, and discuss key ideas from a text thoughtfully. Adults encourage rich conversation. They introduce new vocabulary skilfully. Children make up their own stories. They buy and sell items in the shop, participate in bug hunts, and confidently use equipment in the outdoor area. These experiences build their language, physical development, and early mathematical understanding. Local visits and festival celebrations help children to learn about the community around them and the wider world. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, or who are disadvantaged, achieve very well from their starting points. Accurate assessment and well-targeted support in all areas, helps to reduce barriers to learning. Staff work closely with families to promote regular attendance and punctuality. This helps children make the most of their time in school. By the time they leave, children are confident, impressively independent, and very well prepared for the next stage of their education.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should continue to refine assessment approaches so that they improve children's educational experiences even further.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 9 June 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its May 2017 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
18.6%
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 Caversham Nursery School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Caversham Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Caversham Nursery School is in Reading; for families living there:
- How to apply: apply for school transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 10
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 8 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
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 Reading is 21 (the median across 71 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 - Reading
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Reading
Across Reading council
Places available
1,744
Applications
1,794
Got 1st preference
73.1%
Got preferred school
95.4%
All secondary applications across Reading council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
8
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
13.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
59
Total Pupils
28
Boys
31
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
11.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£63,764
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Caversham Nursery School
What is Caversham Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Caversham Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2017, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Caversham Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Caversham Nursery School is oversubscribed, Reading allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Caversham Nursery School?
Caversham Nursery School has around 59 pupils on roll. 19% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Caversham Nursery School?
Apply through Reading's coordinated admissions process, naming Caversham 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 Caversham Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 8 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 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 Reading is 21 (the median across 71 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Caversham Nursery School?
Caversham Nursery School is at 114 Amersham Road, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 5NA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)