Rosemary Lane Nursery School, Peterlee
Rosemary Lane Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Peterlee. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2026, ended in a report card: 6 strong standard. Before that it was rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in December 2013.
- Ofsted report card
- 6 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Rosemary Lane Nursery School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 7 July 2026 inspection grades Rosemary Lane Nursery School on 6 areas: 6 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Strong standard. "Children achieve well due to the carefully planned curriculum."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders set high expectations for all children."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "The curriculum is ambitious."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders are committed to ensuring the nursery is fully inclusive for all children and families."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders have an in-depth knowledge of child development."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Children's personal, social and emotional development is at the heart of the school's work."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should build on current strengths of the curriculum, using research-informed practice, to further deepen children's understanding of diversity, reflecting the needs of the community they serve".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Who goes there
In 2026, 12 pupils (12.6%) received SEN support and 1 (1.1%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Horden, about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Post Office (ne-bound), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 41 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84).
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 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Rosemary Lane Nursery School
Children arrive happily and settle quickly at Rosemary Lane Nursery School. The nurturing environment provides children with a safe space to learn and explore. Activities are purposeful and exciting. Children are highly motivated. They enthusiastically join in, developing their curiosity and an eagerness to try new things. Children are kind and considerate to others. They interact positively with their friends and the staff who look after them. Warm, caring relationships help the children to feel secure. Consistent routines and expectations set a high standard which the children live up to. They develop good listening skills, and with gentle instructions or support from staff learn how to manage their feelings and emotions. Older children play cooperatively, accessing resources independently. They take care of the toys and equipment, knowing how to use them purposefully in their play. Younger children learn to play by copying each other. Investigative play opportunities help them to develop their creativity as they start to learn how to share. Staff encourage children's thinking. They join in children's play with enthusiasm to support their development further, for example creating large shapes out of wood to reinforce their mathematical understanding. Parents and carers feel fully involved in their children's education. The school actively listens and supports families. Workshops and parents events enable a shared, consistent approach between home and school. The school is passionate that all children will achieve their full potential. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported to make positive progress from their starting points. All children are given learning opportunities and experiences, supported by skilled adults, which allows them to flourish. Children are well prepared to start the next stage of their journey in education.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should build on current strengths of the curriculum, using research-informed practice, to further deepen children's understanding of diversity, reflecting the needs of the community they serve.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 7 July 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its December 2013 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
0.0%
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 Rosemary Lane Nursery School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Rosemary Lane Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Rosemary Lane Nursery School is in County Durham; for families living there:
- County Durham's school travel policy: School transport policies and strategies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school travel
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot.
2 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 County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 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 - Peterlee
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Peterlee
Across County Durham council
Places available
5,720
Applications
4,986
Got 1st preference
94.2%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across County Durham council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
12
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
13.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
95
Total Pupils
45
Boys
50
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
2
Teachers
47.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Rosemary Lane Nursery School
What is Rosemary Lane Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Rosemary Lane Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Rosemary Lane Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Rosemary Lane Nursery School is oversubscribed, County Durham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Rosemary Lane Nursery School?
Rosemary Lane Nursery School has around 95 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Rosemary Lane Nursery School?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming Rosemary Lane 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 Rosemary Lane Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot. 2 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 County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Rosemary Lane Nursery School?
Rosemary Lane Nursery School is at Rosemary Lane, Easington Village, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 3BQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)