The Limes Nursery School, Bristol
The Limes Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Bristol. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Limes Nursery School in detail
Who goes there
25.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 35.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (34%), Mixed (19%) and Black (17%).
In 2026, 10 pupils (8.2%) 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 Stapleton Road Rail Station, about 730 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bruce Road (n-bound), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 746 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 Bristol, City of (417), 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from June 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Limes creates a warm, welcoming environment where children thrive through play and exploration. Staff skillfully support children's learning while helping them develop important skills like sharing, taking turns and managing emotions. Parents value how the school teaches children to stay safe, solve problems and be good friends.
Key Strengths
- Warm, caring relationships between staff and children create a secure, inclusive environment where everyone feels valued
- Rich, hands-on curriculum based on core experiences like baking, gardening and storytelling that captures children's curiosity
- Excellent support for children's emotional development, helping them manage feelings and resolve conflicts
- Strong focus on developing language through high-quality books and stories throughout the day
- Skilled staff who use precise observations to understand each child's interests and support their individual learning
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff lack confidence and knowledge to support children with early phonics skills, meaning a small number of children ready to learn letter sounds don't get the precise support they need
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with a strong culture of safeguarding, appropriate staff training, careful listening to children, and close working with agencies to support families.
The Limes Nursery School is a good school that provides a lovely, calm learning environment full of fun and laughter. Relationships between staff, children and families are a real strength, with everyone included and valued.
At a Glance
25.4%
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 The Limes Nursery School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Limes Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Limes 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
- 59
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 16
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 59 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 16 serious and 43 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
15 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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
10
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
9.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
122
Total Pupils
60
Boys
62
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
20.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,061
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about The Limes Nursery School
What is The Limes Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
The Limes Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for The Limes Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When The Limes 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 The Limes Nursery School?
The Limes Nursery School has around 122 pupils on roll. 25% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to The Limes Nursery School?
Apply through Bristol, City of's coordinated admissions process, naming The Limes 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 The Limes Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 59 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 16 serious and 43 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 15 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 The Limes Nursery School?
The Limes Nursery School is at Johnsons Road, Whitehall, Bristol, BS5 9AT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)