Highfield Nursery School, Wellingborough
Highfield Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Wellingborough. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Highfield Nursery School in detail
Who goes there
0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 57.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (29%), Black (19%) and White British (10%).
In 2026, 6 pupils (8.2%) received SEN support and 2 (2.7%) 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 Wellingborough Rail Station, about 730 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Albert Road (before), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 372 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in North Northamptonshire (141), 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school has improved significantly.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Highfield Nursery provides a warm, supportive environment where children develop confidence, independence and resilience. Staff know each child exceptionally well and tailor learning to their individual needs, whether through mathematics activities like counting and sorting outdoors, or through specialist support for children with additional needs. The nursery strengthens family partnerships and enriches children's learning through visits, visitors and celebration of diverse festivals and local community events.
Key Strengths
- Children are happy, eager learners with excellent behaviour and strong relationships with staff and peers
- Well-considered curriculum clearly sets out what children should know and do across all areas of learning
- Skilled identification and support for children with additional needs and those learning English as an additional language
- Exceptional promotion of communication, language and literacy through stories, rhyme and music
- Strong partnerships with parents and families that enrich children's well-being and development
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the nursery has created a positive culture that puts children's interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Stories, rhyme, music, visits, visitors, exploration of religious festivals and community events
Highfield Nursery School is a maintained nursery for children aged 2-5 that was previously judged good. The inspection found evidence of significant improvement across all areas, with children thriving in a safe, nurturing environment where they make positive progress and are exceptionally well prepared for their next stage of education.
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 Highfield Nursery School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Highfield Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Highfield Nursery School is in North Northamptonshire; for families living there:
- North Northamptonshire's school travel policy: Home to school transport policies and codes of conduct
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 18
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 14 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
2 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 North Northamptonshire is 9 (the median across 154 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 - Wellingborough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wellingborough
Across North Northamptonshire council
Places available
4,402
Applications
4,186
Got 1st preference
85.2%
Got preferred school
96.4%
All secondary applications across North Northamptonshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
6
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
11.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
73
Total Pupils
31
Boys
42
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
1
Teachers
73.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Highfield Nursery School
What is Highfield Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Highfield Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Highfield Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Highfield Nursery School is oversubscribed, North Northamptonshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Highfield Nursery School?
Highfield Nursery School has around 73 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Highfield Nursery School?
Apply through North Northamptonshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Highfield 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 Highfield Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 14 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 2 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 North Northamptonshire is 9 (the median across 154 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Highfield Nursery School?
Highfield Nursery School is at Finedon Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 4AB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)