Stoneygate Nursery School, Preston
Stoneygate Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 4 in Preston. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Stoneygate Nursery School in detail
Stoneygate Nursery School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a busy, yet extremely friendly nursery school, offering provision for children aged 2, 3 and 4 years old in the heart of Preston City Centre. We always have lots going on here at Stoneygate and highly recommend that you pop down to pay us a visit to see just what it is that we are talking about!"
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
What parents say
16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Stoneygate Nursery School (as of September 2025): 100% 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 (81%).
Who goes there
0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 56.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (37%), White British (33%) and Black (10%).
In 2026, 15 pupils (31.3%) received SEN support and 1 (2.1%) 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 Preston Rail Station, about 740 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
44 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church Street (stand j), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Stoneygate Nursery School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 3rd decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 857 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Children thrive at Stoneygate with caring staff who create happy, supportive relationships. The school has high expectations for every child, including those with additional needs, and children typically move to primary school ready for the next stage. A particular strength is the focus on early communication skills and emotional development, helping children express themselves confidently.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on developing children's early communication and language skills through carefully chosen books, songs and nursery rhymes
- Children with SEND are identified early and receive effective support, with good outcomes
- Staff skilfully teach positive behaviour and help children develop emotional vocabulary from age two
- Building independence is prioritized, with children learning practical life skills
- Children have access to enriching activities and visitors that prepare them for modern Britain
Areas for Improvement
- In one or two areas of learning, the school is still identifying the essential knowledge children should learn, which sometimes prevents deeper learning
- Some newly appointed governors lack an accurate view of the school's strengths and priorities, limiting their ability to challenge the school effectively
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Library visits, yoga, visitors from emergency services
Stoneygate Nursery School has maintained good standards since its previous inspection. Children are happy, achieve well from their starting points, and benefit from caring staff and well-equipped learning environments.
At a Glance
0.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
16 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Keep up with Stoneygate Nursery School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Stoneygate Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Stoneygate Nursery School is in Lancashire; for families living there:
- Lancashire's school travel policy: school transport policies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 78
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 20
- Children hurt
- 12
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 78 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 20 serious and 58 slight.
12 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
14 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 Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 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 - Preston
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Preston
Across Lancashire council
Places available
14,702
Applications
13,782
Got 1st preference
87.1%
Got preferred school
97.2%
All secondary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
15
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
33.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
48
Total Pupils
31
Boys
17
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
2
Teachers
24.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Stoneygate Nursery School
What is Stoneygate Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Stoneygate Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Stoneygate Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Stoneygate Nursery School is oversubscribed, Lancashire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Stoneygate Nursery School?
Stoneygate Nursery School has around 48 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Stoneygate Nursery School?
Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming Stoneygate 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 Stoneygate Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 78 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 20 serious and 58 slight. 12 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 14 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 Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Stoneygate Nursery School?
Stoneygate Nursery School is at Stoneygate Walk, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 3XU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)