Cherry Trees Nursery School, Bedford
Cherry Trees Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Bedford. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Cherry Trees Nursery School in detail
Cherry Trees Nursery School in its own words
In its own words: "Cherry Trees Nursery School is based in Hawkins Road, Bedford and has been serving the community of Bedford for 50 years. The nursery school offers high quality education and childcare for children aged 2 - 5 years. Our curriculum is based on a seasonal calendar and guided by the children's interests and real life experiences."
From the headteacher's welcome: "I would like to warmly welcome your family to Cherry Trees Nursery School. Together with Peter Pan Nursery School and Peter Pan Training Partnership, we form Bedford Nursery Schools Federation. Providing high-quality early years education and care and developing strong partnerships between home and school are at the heart of what we do."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
What parents say
19 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Cherry Trees Nursery School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (74%).
Who goes there
3.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 29.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (32%), White British (24%) and Mixed (14%).
In 2026, 0 pupils (0%) received SEN support and 2 (1.4%) 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 Bedford St Johns Rail Station, about 630 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Angel (opposite), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Cherry Trees Nursery School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 684 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Bedford (136), 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 July 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Cherry Trees creates a warm, caring community where children develop positive attitudes, concentration and problem-solving skills. The curriculum cleverly weaves songs, stories and purposeful play into daily routines - so children learn letters, numbers and language naturally through activities like finding their name labels and preparing snacks. Staff are highly skilled at noticing when children need extra support and providing it quickly.
Key Strengths
- Meticulously designed curriculum with clear learning intentions for every activity
- Excellent behaviour supported by strong routines and consistent staff approach
- Exceptional support for children with SEND and those learning English as an additional language
- Rich enrichment activities including weekly music sessions with specialists, visits from emergency services, and community involvement
- Staff are well-trained, valued and highly committed to the school's ambitious vision
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with school leaders prioritising children's interests and maintaining robust safety procedures.
Extracurricular Activities
Weekly music sessions with specialist, termly concerts, visits from police and fire service, community arts projects, church Christmas tree decorating
Cherry Trees Nursery School has maintained the outstanding standards from its previous inspection. Children make a fantastic start to their education in stimulating environments where they learn and play happily.
At a Glance
3.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
19 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby nursery school
Social & online
Keep up with Cherry Trees Nursery School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Cherry Trees Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Cherry Trees Nursery School is in Bedford; for families living there:
Apply to Bedford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 53
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 14
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 53 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 39 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
12 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 Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 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 - Bedford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bedford
Across Bedford council
Places available
2,556
Applications
2,095
Got 1st preference
90.6%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All secondary applications across Bedford council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
1.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
147
Total Pupils
80
Boys
67
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
36.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,876
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Cherry Trees Nursery School
What is Cherry Trees Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Cherry Trees Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2019, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Cherry Trees Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Cherry Trees Nursery School is oversubscribed, Bedford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Cherry Trees Nursery School?
Cherry Trees Nursery School has around 147 pupils on roll. 3% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Cherry Trees Nursery School?
Apply through Bedford's coordinated admissions process, naming Cherry Trees 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 Cherry Trees Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 53 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 39 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 12 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 Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cherry Trees Nursery School?
Cherry Trees Nursery School is at Hawkins Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9LS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)