Purley Nursery School, Purley
Purley Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Purley. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Purley Nursery School in detail
Purley Nursery School in its own words
In its own words: "At Purley Nursery School we are passionate about all our school community working together to inspire, strive, grow and achieve. We are relentless in our drive to inspire every member of our school community to develop a love for learning and to be proud of all achievements great or small."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Who goes there
0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 44.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (26%), Black (23%) and Mixed (18%).
In 2026, 6 pupils (6.9%) 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.
Purley Nursery School has a resourced provision: 120 places, 109 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Purley Station, about 410 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Purley Hospital, 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 220 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Croydon (488).
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 September 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 November 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Purley Nursery excels at helping children develop confidence and independence while enjoying meaningful learning experiences. The school provides a calm, purposeful environment where children behave well, are kind to each other, and engage in stimulating activities both inside and beyond the classroom - from forest school adventures to visiting local shops and cafes. Parents feel well informed and supported, and children leave exceptionally well prepared for their next stage of education.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on communication and language skills through daily story time and rhymes that prepare children for phonics learning
- Ambitious curriculum that encourages children to follow their interests and learn through play while building knowledge and skills
- Excellent support for children with special educational needs, who are swiftly identified and fully included
- High expectations for personal development, with lots of opportunities to learn values like kindness and respect
- Staff are well-trained, valued by leaders, and feel their wellbeing is taken seriously
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school keeps children safe with proper procedures in place.
Extracurricular Activities
Forest school, climbing, bike riding, vegetable growing and cooking, singing, local community visits (shops, cafes, library), breakfast club, after-school provision
Purley Nursery School continues to be an outstanding school where staff are committed to giving children the best possible start to their education. The school provides a happy, welcoming environment with well-established routines and an ambitious, well-designed curriculum.
At a Glance
0.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby nursery schools
Latest from Purley Nursery School
From Purley Nursery School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Purley Nursery School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Purley Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Purley Nursery School is in Croydon; for families living there:
Apply to Croydon for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 102
- Fatal
- 2
- Serious
- 23
- Children hurt
- 11
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 102 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 23 serious and 77 slight.
11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 10 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
22 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 Croydon is 54.5 (the median across 156 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 - Purley
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Purley
Across Croydon council
Places available
4,025
Applications
4,184
Got 1st preference
71.2%
Got preferred school
95.3%
All secondary applications across Croydon council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
6
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
6.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Purley Nursery School has a resourced provision: 120 places, 109 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
87
Total Pupils
40
Boys
47
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
2
Teachers
43.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Purley Nursery School
What is Purley Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Purley Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Purley Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Purley Nursery School is oversubscribed, Croydon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Purley Nursery School?
Purley Nursery School has around 87 pupils on roll.
Does Purley Nursery School have specialist SEN provision?
Purley Nursery School has a resourced provision: 120 places, 109 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Purley Nursery School?
Apply through Croydon's coordinated admissions process, naming Purley 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 Purley Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 102 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 23 serious and 77 slight. 11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 10 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 22 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 Croydon is 54.5 (the median across 156 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Purley Nursery School?
Purley Nursery School is at 58 Pampisford Road, Purley, Surrey, CR8 2NE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)