Hillfields Nursery School, Coventry
Hillfields Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Coventry. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Hillfields Nursery School in detail
Who goes there
0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 70.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (31%), Asian (31%) and other ethnic groups (15%).
In 2026, 39 pupils (27.1%) 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 Coventry Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bretts Close (opposite), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hillfields 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 1108 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Coventry (253), 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from March 2013, 13 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 May 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Hillfields creates a lovely, joyful place for children to start school with excellent home-school connections before children join. Staff are exceptionally well trained and work as a strong team to ensure every child achieves their best, with particular strength in building communication skills and a love of reading. Children behave very well, play cooperatively, and are well prepared for primary school.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional focus on communication and language skills through rhymes, songs, and precise adult questioning -
- Strong emphasis on literacy and developing children's love of books through well-planned story experiences -
- Highly ambitious curriculum with no ceiling to what children can achieve, threaded through the school's motto 'Enquiring, exploring, learning' -
- Excellent leadership and staff training, with considerate approach to staff work-life balance -
- Inclusive support for children with SEND, with needs identified early and precise individual plans in place
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating a strong safeguarding culture, providing regular staff training, and ensuring all necessary pre-employment checks are completed.
Extracurricular Activities
Outdoor learning, visitor speakers (e.g. construction workers discussing safety equipment)
Hillfields Nursery School continues to be an outstanding school where children are very happy and well prepared for primary school. Leaders and staff have the highest expectations for all children and create a vibrant, joyful learning environment.
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 2 nearby nursery schools
Keep up with Hillfields Nursery School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hillfields Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hillfields Nursery School is in Coventry; for families living there:
Apply to Coventry for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 45
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 10
- Children hurt
- 9
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 45 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 35 slight.
9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 4 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 Coventry is 14 (the median across 130 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 - Coventry
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Coventry
Across Coventry council
Places available
4,567
Applications
4,348
Got 1st preference
82.1%
Got preferred school
94.6%
All secondary applications across Coventry council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
39
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
27.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
144
Total Pupils
70
Boys
74
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
3
Teachers
48.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,208
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Hillfields Nursery School
What is Hillfields Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Hillfields Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Hillfields Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Hillfields Nursery School is oversubscribed, Coventry allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Hillfields Nursery School?
Hillfields Nursery School has around 144 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Hillfields Nursery School?
Apply through Coventry's coordinated admissions process, naming Hillfields 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 Hillfields Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 45 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 35 slight. 9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 4 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 Coventry is 14 (the median across 130 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hillfields Nursery School?
Hillfields Nursery School is at Clifton Street, Hillfields, Coventry, West Midlands, CV1 5GR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)