Douglas Valley Nursery School, Wigan
Douglas Valley Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Wigan. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Douglas Valley Nursery School in detail
Who goes there
0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 10% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (82%), Mixed (5%) and other ethnic groups (5%).
In 2026, 24 pupils (24%) 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 Wigan Wallgate Rail Station, about 790 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Coop Street (cnr), 280 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Douglas Valley Nursery School stands in is among the 10% 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from December 2013, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Douglas Valley Nursery School excels at creating a calm, welcoming environment where children feel safe and genuinely happy to attend. The school's carefully designed curriculum ensures children develop essential early learning skills while remaining highly engaged and motivated. Staff provide outstanding support for all children, including those with additional needs, helping each child build confidence and develop strong relationships with peers.
Key Strengths
- Ambitious, research-based curriculum that builds children's foundational knowledge in communication, language, physical development and emotional regulation
- Skilled staff who tailor learning to meet individual needs, including children with SEND
- Exceptional behaviour and attendance, creating an interruption-free learning environment
- Thoughtful selection of books and stories that develop children's vocabulary and love of reading
- Regular staff training and coaching that deepens teaching expertise
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts children's interests first.
Douglas Valley Nursery School continues to be an outstanding school where children are very settled and happy, benefiting from expert support and a calm learning environment. Children achieve highly through a remarkably well-thought-out curriculum delivered by knowledgeable and skilled staff.
At a Glance
0.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby nursery school
Keep up with Douglas Valley Nursery School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Douglas Valley Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Douglas Valley Nursery School is in Wigan; for families living there:
Apply to Wigan for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 34
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 10
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 34 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 10 serious and 23 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot.
8 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 Wigan is 10 (the median across 146 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 - Wigan
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wigan
Across Wigan council
Places available
4,061
Applications
3,718
Got 1st preference
91.1%
Got preferred school
97.6%
All secondary applications across Wigan council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
24
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
24.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
100
Total Pupils
49
Boys
51
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
2
Teachers
50.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Douglas Valley Nursery School
What is Douglas Valley Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Douglas Valley Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Douglas Valley Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Douglas Valley Nursery School is oversubscribed, Wigan allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Douglas Valley Nursery School?
Douglas Valley Nursery School has around 100 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Douglas Valley Nursery School?
Apply through Wigan's coordinated admissions process, naming Douglas Valley 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 Douglas Valley Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 34 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 10 serious and 23 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot. 8 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 Wigan is 10 (the median across 146 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Douglas Valley Nursery School?
Douglas Valley Nursery School is at Turner Street, Off Greenough Street, Wigan, Lancashire, WN1 3SU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)