Speedwell Nursery School, Bristol
Speedwell Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Bristol. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Speedwell Nursery School in detail
Speedwell Nursery School in its own words
In its own words: "We recognise all our children and families are unique and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from their individual family, culture and community. As a school we endeavour to positively celebrate this and build on these unique beginnings."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
What parents say
18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Speedwell Nursery School (as of September 2025): 94% 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 (83%).
Who goes there
31.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 52.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (33%), Black (17%) and Asian (16%).
In 2026, 20 pupils (28.6%) received SEN support and 1 (1.4%) 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 Stapleton Road Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Harewood Road (e-bound), 110 metres away.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2015, 11 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
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Speedwell Nursery excels at building warm, welcoming relationships where children feel safe from day one. Staff know each child well and use this understanding to support their individual learning. The school is particularly strong in communication and language development, with tailored support for children with additional needs.
Key Strengths
- Strong relationships with children and families who settle quickly and feel safe
- Effective focus on communication and language with targeted support for children with additional needs
- Good behaviour and attitudes with children learning kindness, resilience and independence
- Personal development curriculum that builds confidence and helps children learn about diversity and their community
Areas for Improvement
- Important knowledge and ambitious vocabulary have not been fully identified across the curriculum, so children don't build knowledge over time
- Adults don't make enough use of independent learning times to help children deepen their understanding
- Assessment is not yet developed enough to check what children have learned and identify gaps in knowledge
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with a strong culture that puts children's interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Little lights project
Speedwell Nursery School has strong relationships with families and children but the quality of education requires improvement due to inconsistent curriculum delivery across all areas of learning.
At a Glance
31.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
18 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby nursery schools
Latest from Speedwell Nursery School
In Oak Room We Are Learning… (September 2026)
14 Sep 2026
In Owl Class We Are Learning… (September 2026)
14 Sep 2026
Apply for a New Reception Primary School Place
9 Sep 2026
Community Activities and Support for Families
8 Sep 2026
Family Support, Parenting Programmes and Community Activities This Term
8 Sep 2026
Free Family Summer Sessions at Vassall Community Hub
25 Aug 2026
From Speedwell Nursery School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Speedwell Nursery School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Speedwell Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Speedwell Nursery School is in Bristol, City of; for families living there:
- Bristol, City of's school travel policy: Home to school travel policy
- How to apply: Apply online for home school travel support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 17
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 14 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot.
4 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 Bristol, City of is 27 (the median across 175 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 - Bristol
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bristol
Across Bristol, City of council
Places available
4,580
Applications
4,426
Got 1st preference
84.0%
Got preferred school
96.7%
All secondary applications across Bristol, City of council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
20
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
30.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
70
Total Pupils
33
Boys
37
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
14.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,614
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Speedwell Nursery School
What is Speedwell Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Speedwell Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Speedwell Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Speedwell Nursery School is oversubscribed, Bristol, City of allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Speedwell Nursery School?
Speedwell Nursery School has around 70 pupils on roll. 31% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Speedwell Nursery School?
Apply through Bristol, City of's coordinated admissions process, naming Speedwell 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 Speedwell Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 14 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot. 4 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 Bristol, City of is 27 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Speedwell Nursery School?
Speedwell Nursery School is at Speedwell Road, Kingswood, Bristol, BS5 7SY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)