Lionwood Infant and Nursery School, Norwich
Lionwood Infant and Nursery School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 7 in Norwich, part of Clarion Corvus Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2025 did not change this grade. It was 94% full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2016)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Norfolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Lionwood Infant and Nursery School in detail
Getting a place at Lionwood Infant and Nursery School
For September 2026 entry, 44 families put Lionwood Infant and Nursery School as their first choice and 87 named it as one of their preferences, for 47 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Lionwood Infant and Nursery School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Lionwood Infant and Nursery School are Lionwood Junior School (0.3 miles, Good, 62% reading, 57% maths); Charles Darwin Primary School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 84% reading, 90% maths); Mousehold Infant & Nursery School (1 mile, Outstanding); and Heartsease Primary Academy (1 mile, Good, 64% reading, 61% maths).
Lionwood Junior SchoolCharles Darwin Primary SchoolMousehold Infant & Nursery SchoolHeartsease Primary Academy
The trust
Lionwood Infant and Nursery School is one of 13 schools run by Clarion Corvus Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
56 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Lionwood Infant and Nursery School (as of September 2025): 98% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (86%).
Who goes there
16.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 42 pupils (19.8%) received SEN support and 15 (7.1%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Lionwood Infant and Nursery School has a SEN unit for speech, language and communication needs: 8 places, 6 pupils on roll.
Staffing
Lionwood Infant and Nursery School had 15 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Norwich Rail Station, about 790 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cremorne Lane (opposite), 300 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 469 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Lionwood Infant and Nursery School issued 6 suspensions, 2.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Lionwood Infant and Nursery School are Notre Dame High School, Norwich (1 mile); Jane Austen College (1.1 miles); The Open Academy (1.2 miles); and Hewett Academy (1.6 miles).
Notre Dame High School, NorwichJane Austen CollegeThe Open AcademyHewett Academy
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from March 2016, 10 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
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Lionwood provides a nurturing environment where children thrive and develop a genuine love of learning. The school excels in early years education with expert staff who adapt teaching to each child's needs. Outstanding behaviour and pastoral support mean pupils are happy, well-prepared and ready to learn, with excellent trips and enrichment activities that broaden their experiences.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional early years curriculum with staff who expertly adapt activities to meet children's diverse needs - Outstanding rated
- Consistent, effective phonics teaching across the school with strong support for pupils who fall behind
- Specialist SEN unit (SHIP) providing personalised support for pupils with complex needs and strengthening staff expertise across the school
- Outstanding behaviour and personal development, creating a calm and respectful learning environment
- Well-planned trips and enrichment activities that build pupils' confidence, curiosity and love of learning
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects, staff do not consistently check that pupils have secure understanding of important knowledge before moving to new learning, creating gaps that slow progress
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Breakfast club, trips, outdoor learning experiences including paddling in rivers and beach visits, daily story times, 'Lionwood passport' activities
Lionwood Infant and Nursery School is a thriving school where pupils are valued and supported to be successful and happy. The school has an ambitious curriculum designed around pupils' needs and interests, with particularly outstanding early years provision.
At a Glance
16.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Speech and language
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
56 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
26.1
Avg class size
25.8
Infant (KS1)
7
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Lionwood Infant and Nursery School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Lionwood Infant and Nursery School.
- Premier Charles Darwin Wrap Around Care1000m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lionwood Infant and Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lionwood Infant and Nursery School is in Norfolk; for families living there:
Apply to Norfolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 4 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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 Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 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
Your chances of a place at Lionwood Infant and Nursery School
Will you get a place at Lionwood Infant and Nursery School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Lionwood Infant and Nursery School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Lionwood Infant and Nursery School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Lionwood Infant and Nursery School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Norfolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Lionwood Infant and Nursery School for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Norfolk got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
94%
Near capacity
176 pupils
187 places
11 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Norwich
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Norwich
Across Norfolk council
Places available
9,547
Applications
7,482
Got 1st preference
94.4%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All primary applications across Norfolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
42
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
26.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Lionwood Infant and Nursery School has a SEN unit for speech, language and communication needs: 8 places, 6 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
212
Total Pupils
118
Boys
94
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
14.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,195
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,676
Per pupil
£1154k
Total funding
£58k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
12.7%
Persistent absence
126
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about Lionwood Infant and Nursery School
What is Lionwood Infant and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Lionwood Infant and Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2016, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Lionwood Infant and Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Lionwood Infant and Nursery School is oversubscribed, Norfolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Lionwood Infant and Nursery School?
Lionwood Infant and Nursery School was not full in 2025: it ran at 94% of its 187 places.
How big are the classes at Lionwood Infant and Nursery School?
Classes at Lionwood Infant and Nursery School average 26.1 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Lionwood Infant and Nursery School?
Lionwood Infant and Nursery School has around 212 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Lionwood Infant and Nursery School have specialist SEN provision?
Lionwood Infant and Nursery School has a SEN unit for speech, language and communication needs: 8 places, 6 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Lionwood Infant and Nursery School?
5.4% of sessions were missed at Lionwood Infant and Nursery School in 2024/25. 12.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Lionwood Infant and Nursery School?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Lionwood Infant and Nursery School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Lionwood Infant and Nursery School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Lionwood Infant and Nursery School: Premier Charles Darwin Wrap Around Care (1000m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Lionwood Infant and Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 4 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Lionwood Infant and Nursery School?
Lionwood Infant and Nursery School is at Telegraph Lane East, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 4AN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)