Lydalls Nursery School, Didcot
Lydalls Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 3 to 5 in Didcot. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2023.
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Lydalls Nursery School in detail
Lydalls Nursery School in its own words
In its own words: "Our vision is to: 1/ Have high expectations and aspirations for all children. 2/ Develop self-motivated, happy, considerate and confident learners. 3/ Provide an inspirational and dynamic learning environment. • Providing a welcoming, happy and safe place where there is time for laughter and joy in learning together."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Who goes there
0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 38.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (55%), Asian (17%) and Black (7%).
In 2026, 7 pupils (11.7%) received SEN support and 3 (5%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Didcot Parkway Rail Station, about 120 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Melton Drive (opposite), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 163 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Oxfordshire (52), 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 agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
0.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Social & online
Keep up with Lydalls Nursery School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lydalls Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lydalls Nursery School is in Oxfordshire; for families living there:
- Oxfordshire's school travel policy: Free home to school travel assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 16
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 13 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
5 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 Oxfordshire is 5 (the median across 369 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 - Didcot
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Didcot
Across Oxfordshire council
Places available
7,654
Applications
6,814
Got 1st preference
85.4%
Got preferred school
96.3%
All secondary applications across Oxfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
7
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
16.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
60
Total Pupils
29
Boys
31
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
2
Teachers
30.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Lydalls Nursery School
What is Lydalls Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Lydalls Nursery School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2017 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Lydalls Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Lydalls Nursery School is oversubscribed, Oxfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Lydalls Nursery School?
Lydalls Nursery School has around 60 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Lydalls Nursery School?
Apply through Oxfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Lydalls 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 Lydalls Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 13 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 5 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 Oxfordshire is 5 (the median across 369 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Lydalls Nursery School?
Lydalls Nursery School is at Lydalls Road, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 7HX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)