Tunstall Nursery School, Croydon
Tunstall Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Croydon. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2016)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Tunstall Nursery School in detail
Tunstall Nursery School in its own words
In its own words: "At Tunstall Nursery School we celebrate diversity and recognise the unique strengths and talents within every member of our school community. We are relentless in our drive to ensure that every child reaches their own full potential."
On phones, the school says: "MOBILE PHONES Visitors must switch their mobile phones off and they must not be used in the nursery."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
What parents say
16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Tunstall 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 45.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (30%), Mixed (24%) and Black (17%).
In 2026, 17 pupils (24.3%) received SEN support and 2 (2.9%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Lebanon Road Tram Stop, about 390 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Canning Road, 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 954 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Croydon (488), 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 · 1 year agoThis judgement is from February 2016, 10 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 May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Tunstall Nursery School creates a warm, trusting environment where children are genuinely happy and safe. Staff use expert knowledge of early childhood development to tailor activities that help each child progress, with particularly strong support for children with additional needs. The school provides wonderful enriching experiences—from woodland activities and forest visits to theatre performances and community trips—that broaden children's horizons and prepare them well for Reception Year.
Key Strengths
- Excellent provision for children with SEND and those learning English as an additional language
- Staff promote language and communication at every opportunity, helping children become articulate learners
- Curriculum is carefully designed with ambitious goals and clear milestones tailored to different age groups
- Children behave exceptionally well due to clear routines and high expectations
- Rich enriching experiences including woodland activities, forest visits, theatre groups, and trips to local community venues
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Woodland activities including fire-building and toasting marshmallows, forest visits with den-building, theatre group performances, nativity at local church, staff pantomime, trips to library, local care home, and seasonal exploration activities
Tunstall Nursery School is a wonderfully warm and welcoming place where respectful relationships are at the heart of the school. Children achieve well across the curriculum and benefit from a range of rich, enriching experiences during their time at nursery.
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
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby nursery schools
Social & online
Keep up with Tunstall Nursery School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Tunstall Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Tunstall 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
- 103
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 13
- Children hurt
- 11
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 103 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 13 serious and 89 slight.
11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise.
25 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 - Croydon
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Croydon
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(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
17
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
27.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
70
Total Pupils
35
Boys
35
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
14.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£64,881
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Tunstall Nursery School
What is Tunstall Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Tunstall Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2016, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Tunstall Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Tunstall Nursery School is oversubscribed, Croydon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Tunstall Nursery School?
Tunstall Nursery School has around 70 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Tunstall Nursery School?
Apply through Croydon's coordinated admissions process, naming Tunstall 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 Tunstall Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 103 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 13 serious and 89 slight. 11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise. 25 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 Tunstall Nursery School?
Tunstall Nursery School is at Tunstall Road, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 6TY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)