Lillian De Lissa Nursery School, Birmingham
Lillian De Lissa Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Birmingham. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, ended in a report card: 6 expected standard. Before that it was rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in December 2021.
- Ofsted report card
- 0 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Lillian De Lissa Nursery School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Lillian De Lissa Nursery School on 6 areas: 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff have a shared understanding of the curriculum and apply it across the school."
Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders promote regular attendance across the school."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff have a shared understanding of the curriculum and apply it across the school."
Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff create an inclusive environment where most children feel welcomed and understood."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's context."
Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Personal development is prioritised by leaders and staff."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff develop children's language and vocabulary to consistently maximise high-quality interactions"; "Leaders should ensure that transitions between different times of the school day are calm so that children consistently follow rules and routines established by staff".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Lillian De Lissa Nursery School in its own words
In its own words: "Our values underpin our practice. We believe that high quality early years care and education is about supporting and developing strong, curious, confident children. The best interests and welfare of children are at the forefront of all that we offer."
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are staffed by qualified teachers, nursery officers and support staff, many of whom have obtained additional qualifications. Lillian de Lissa Nursery School opened in 1973 and has a long history of being highly valued and well supported by our local community."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Who goes there
67.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 71.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (27%), Mixed (24%) and other ethnic groups (17%).
In 2026, 10 pupils (14.1%) received SEN support and 1 (1.4%) 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 Five Ways Rail Station, about 1100 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bellevue (adjacent), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Lillian De Lissa 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 1396 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 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 · 5 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- InclusionExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Lillian De Lissa Nursery School
Children enjoy their time in this multicultural, inclusive and nurturing nursery school. They arrive happily each day and settle quickly as staff greet them warmly and join them in play. Trusting relationships help children feel safe and happy. Some younger children seek comfort from familiar staff, while older children eagerly share their interests. They develop a sense of belonging in this caring environment. Staff understand each child's background and use this knowledge to create an environment that supports their wellbeing. Carefully selected resources help children to be ready to learn. Staff help children to talk about their emotions, and they provide quieter areas where children can rest when needed. This approach helps children to develop confidence and resilience. Children develop independence through simple routines such as selecting snacks. They build positive friendships and show care for one another. Staff model positive behaviour and most children respond appropriately. Some children do not consistently follow established rules and routines. Learning experiences are designed so that everyone can take part. These reflect children's interests. Storytime at the end of each day helps children to develop vocabulary. Staff introduce new concepts by asking questions that encourage children to share their ideas. Children show curiosity as they explore activities, from climbing trees in the outdoor area to using small tools to manipulate clay. Staff work in close partnership with families from the beginning of their child's time at the school. They gather detailed information before children join the nursery and adjust arrangements to meet the needs of each child. Leaders encourage regular attendance and remove barriers that prevent it. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive personalised support that enables them to join in and make appropriate progress from their starting points. As a result, most children achieve well and are well prepared for the next stage of their learning.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that staff develop children's language and vocabulary to consistently maximise high-quality interactions.
- Leaders should ensure that transitions between different times of the school day are calm so that children consistently follow rules and routines established by staff.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 12 May 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This nursery provides a warm, inclusive environment where every child feels welcomed and valued. Staff work closely with families to support each child's development, with particularly strong support for children with additional needs. The school successfully combines structured routines with purposeful exploration, helping children develop confidence, independence and a love of learning.
Key Strengths
- Warm, nurturing environment where children feel safe, valued and ready to learn
- Strong focus on language development through stories, nursery rhymes and positive staff interactions
- Excellent support for children with special educational needs and disabilities, enabling them to participate fully
- Well-organised learning environment that encourages purposeful exploration both indoors and outdoors
- Strong partnerships with families and the local community, with parents holding very positive views
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff need to develop children's language and vocabulary more consistently during interactions
- Transitions between activities need to be calmer, with staff more consistently following up when children don't follow rules and routines
- Learning experiences could give children more opportunities to deepen their understanding of language
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met and children are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Farm visits, community police officer visits, doctor's surgery visits, celebration tea parties
Lillian De Lissa Nursery School is a multicultural, inclusive and nurturing setting where children arrive happily each day and develop strong relationships with staff. The school meets safeguarding standards and maintains expected standards across achievement, behaviour, curriculum and all other key areas.
At a Glance
67.6%
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 Lillian De Lissa Nursery School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lillian De Lissa Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lillian De Lissa 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
- 141
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 15
- Children hurt
- 20
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 141 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 15 serious and 125 slight.
20 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 9 on foot and 11 in a vehicle or otherwise.
19 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(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
10
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
15.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
71
Total Pupils
35
Boys
36
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
17.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,044
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Lillian De Lissa Nursery School
What is Lillian De Lissa Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Lillian De Lissa Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2021, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Lillian De Lissa Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Lillian De Lissa Nursery School is oversubscribed, Birmingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Lillian De Lissa Nursery School?
Lillian De Lissa Nursery School has around 71 pupils on roll. 68% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Lillian De Lissa Nursery School?
Apply through Birmingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Lillian De Lissa 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 Lillian De Lissa Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 141 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 15 serious and 125 slight. 20 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 9 on foot and 11 in a vehicle or otherwise. 19 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 Lillian De Lissa Nursery School?
Lillian De Lissa Nursery School is at Bellevue, Birmingham, West Midlands, B5 7LX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)