Peter Pan Nursery School, Bedford
Peter Pan Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Bedford. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Peter Pan Nursery School in detail
Peter Pan Nursery School in its own words
In its own words: "Peter Pan Nursery School is based in Edward Road, Bedford and has been serving the community of Bedford for over 40 years. The nursery school offers high quality education and childcare for children aged 2 - 5 years. At Peter Pan we ensure all children have access to a wide curriculum that is based around a seasonal and cultural calendar."
From the headteacher's welcome: "I would like to warmly welcome your family to Peter Pan Nursery School. Together with Cherry Trees Nursery School and Peter Pan Training Partnership, we form Bedford Nursery Schools Federation. Providing high-quality early years education and care and developing strong partnerships between home and school are at the heart of what we do."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Who goes there
5.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 48.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (35%), White British (17%) and Black (14%).
In 2026, 15 pupils (12.7%) received SEN support and 1 (0.8%) 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 Bedford St Johns Rail Station, about 560 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bedford Hospital A&E, 210 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 844 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 Bedford (136), 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from February 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
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its February 2013 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
5.9%
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 Peter Pan Nursery School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Peter Pan Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Peter Pan Nursery School is in Bedford; for families living there:
Apply to Bedford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 65
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 15
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 65 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 15 serious and 50 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
16 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 Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 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 - Bedford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bedford
Across Bedford council
Places available
2,556
Applications
2,095
Got 1st preference
90.6%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All secondary applications across Bedford council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
15
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
13.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
118
Total Pupils
60
Boys
58
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
29.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,265
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Peter Pan Nursery School
What is Peter Pan Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Peter Pan Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Peter Pan Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Peter Pan Nursery School is oversubscribed, Bedford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Peter Pan Nursery School?
Peter Pan Nursery School has around 118 pupils on roll. 6% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Peter Pan Nursery School?
Apply through Bedford's coordinated admissions process, naming Peter Pan 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 Peter Pan Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 65 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 15 serious and 50 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 16 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 Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Peter Pan Nursery School?
Peter Pan Nursery School is at Edward Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9DR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)