Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre, Bristol
Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 4 in Bristol. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre in detail
Who goes there
36.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 12% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (73%), Black (8%) and Mixed (8%).
In 2026, 42 pupils (20.1%) received SEN support and 2 (1%) 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 Parson Street Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Symes Avenue (w-bound), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from October 2014, 12 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 October 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Hartcliffe Nursery provides a caring, welcoming environment where children feel safe and valued. Staff skilfully use storytelling, songs and play to develop children's communication skills and confidence. The school is particularly strong at supporting children with additional needs, working closely with specialists to give them the right help from the start.
Key Strengths
- Staff create a warm, welcoming atmosphere with strong relationships between children and adults
- Communication and language is prioritised throughout the day with storytelling, songs and poetry woven into learning
- Children with SEND receive effective support tailored to their needs, with good liaison with outside professionals
- Clear routines and consistent expectations help children behave well and develop independence
- Children show strong personal and social skills, including kindness, sharing and taking turns
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff lack confidence teaching certain curriculum areas, so children don't build knowledge as securely as in established subjects
- Adult interactions with children don't always consistently extend speech and language development
- Subject-specific guidance in some areas of learning is recent and staff expertise is still developing
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with a culture that prioritises children's interests and safety.
Extracurricular Activities
Celebrating religious festivals, exploring musical instruments, outdoor learning in nature area
Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre has made rapid improvement under new leadership and now provides a good quality education. The school has moved from an inadequate rating and created a welcoming, caring environment where children feel safe and develop well.
At a Glance
36.4%
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 Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre is in Bristol, City of; for families living there:
- Bristol, City of's school travel policy: Home to school travel policy
- How to apply: Apply online for home school travel support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 15
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 10 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 1 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 Bristol, City of is 27 (the median across 175 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 - Bristol
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bristol
Across Bristol, City of council
Places available
4,580
Applications
4,426
Got 1st preference
84.0%
Got preferred school
96.7%
All secondary applications across Bristol, City of council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(10)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
42
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
21.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
209
Total Pupils
113
Boys
96
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
20.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£37,815
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre
What is Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre's Ofsted rating?
Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre?
No fixed boundary. When Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre is oversubscribed, Bristol, City of allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre?
Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre has around 209 pupils on roll. 36% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre?
Apply through Bristol, City of's coordinated admissions process, naming Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre 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 Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 10 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 1 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 Bristol, City of is 27 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre?
Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children's Centre is at Hareclive Road, Hartcliffe, Bristol, BS13 0JW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)