Featherstone Nursery School, Birmingham
Featherstone Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 4 in Birmingham. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, ended in a report card: 3 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2012.
- Ofsted report card
- 3 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Featherstone Nursery School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 30 June 2026 inspection grades Featherstone Nursery School on 6 areas: 3 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders' work on attendance helps children and their families develop good habits in readiness for when children move on to primary school."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Inclusion is a key strength of the nursery."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders give high priority to children's personal development and wellbeing."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Children make steady progress from their starting points across all areas of learning."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed an effective curriculum that builds children's skills step by step from age 2 to 4."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders focus on improving the outcomes and experiences for all children."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that all staff use high-quality interactions consistently to extend children's language, thinking and independence across all areas of learning"; "Leaders should strengthen professional development and support so that all staff develop their expertise in early child development and apply training consistently in their daily practice".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Featherstone Nursery School in its own words
In its own words: "We offer a creative stimulating balance of child initiated and adult led activities and follow the Early Years Foundation stage curriculum. We are committed to outdoor learning, with our children having daily access to our garden for the majority of their session and a fortnightly half day session in our on-site Forest School."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Who goes there
13.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 51.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (25%), Black (24%) and White British (21%).
In 2026, 29 pupils (26.1%) 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 Gravelly Hill Rail Station, about 720 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Highcroft Road (after), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Featherstone Nursery School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 673 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, vehicle crime and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Birmingham (435), as is usual near a town centre.
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
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Featherstone Nursery School
This nursery sits at the heart of a diverse community and reflects the many cultures of the families it serves. Children arrive happily and settle quickly because staff greet them warmly and know them well. Parents and carers speak positively about the care their children receive and the difference it makes to their confidence, language and communication skills. Children enjoy their learning. They explore a range of exciting activities each day and take part in routines that help them feel safe and secure. They begin to develop independence, for example by choosing activities, managing their own belongings and joining in with more focused group times. They learn to share, take turns and build friendships. Relationships between children and staff are warm and respectful. Children make steady progress from their starting points. They develop language, confidence and social skills over time. Staff work carefully to reduce barriers to learning for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities through consistent routines, familiar songs to support understanding and targeted support. This helps children feel ready for their next steps, including moving on to primary school. Children take part in a rich range of experiences beyond the classroom, including outdoor learning and cultural activities. These help them understand the world around them. Pastoral support is a significant strength. Leaders and staff provide extensive support for children and their families that really makes a difference. Parents and carers value this highly. Children's behaviour is highly positive. They respond well to clear expectations and routines. They feel safe and know that adults will help them if they are worried. Bullying does not happen. Staff help children to get along well with one another, understand difference and manage conflict. Promoting positive attendance is a real priority and most children attend regularly.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that all staff use high-quality interactions consistently to extend children's language, thinking and independence across all areas of learning.
- Leaders should strengthen professional development and support so that all staff develop their expertise in early child development and apply training consistently in their daily practice.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 30 June 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This nursery excels at making every child feel valued and supported. Staff build warm relationships and provide extensive pastoral care that helps children and families thrive, with particular strength in supporting children with additional needs. Children develop confidence, language skills and positive behaviour through clear routines, engaging activities and careful adult support.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional inclusion practices with early identification of needs and highly tailored support for children with SEND and disadvantaged learners
- Excellent pastoral care and family support that extends beyond the classroom
- Strong attendance and behaviour, with children feeling safe and settled
- Warm staff-child relationships and calm, nurturing environment
- Effective tracking of progress and use of data to plan support
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistency in staff use of high-quality language interactions and questioning to extend children's learning
- Some gaps remain in staff subject knowledge
- Governors' role in challenging teaching quality and achievement outcomes is limited
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture where safety is everyone's responsibility and all legal requirements are fulfilled.
Extracurricular Activities
Outdoor learning, music, cultural events, trips and visits
Featherstone Nursery School is a strong early years setting in Birmingham that prioritizes inclusion, wellbeing and pastoral care. Children make steady progress from their starting points and develop confidence and social skills in a warm, nurturing environment.
At a Glance
13.5%
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 Featherstone Nursery School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Featherstone Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Featherstone Nursery School is in Birmingham; for families living there:
- How to apply: Travel passes for 5 to 16 year olds
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 67
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 13
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 67 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 54 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
7 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 Birmingham is 41 (the median across 517 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 - Birmingham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Birmingham
Across Birmingham council
Places available
14,956
Applications
14,483
Got 1st preference
75.7%
Got preferred school
97.4%
All secondary applications across Birmingham council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
29
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
26.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
111
Total Pupils
59
Boys
52
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
3
Teachers
37.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,009
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Featherstone Nursery School
What is Featherstone Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Featherstone 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 November 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Featherstone Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Featherstone Nursery School is oversubscribed, Birmingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Featherstone Nursery School?
Featherstone Nursery School has around 111 pupils on roll. 14% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Featherstone Nursery School?
Apply through Birmingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Featherstone 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 Featherstone Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 67 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 54 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 7 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 Birmingham is 41 (the median across 517 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Featherstone Nursery School?
Featherstone Nursery School is at 29 Highcroft Road, Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands, B23 6AU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)