Turncroft Nursery School, Darwen
Turncroft Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 3 to 4 in Darwen. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Turncroft Nursery School in detail
Turncroft Nursery School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We see Turncroft Nursery School as the first stage in your child's educational journey. We strive to build on the excellent work you have already done with your child. Together, we can support your child in all areas of their learning and development."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
What parents say
13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Turncroft 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 their child is happy at the school (100%).
Who goes there
0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 10.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Asian (10%).
In 2026, 0 pupils (0%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Darwen Rail Station, about 580 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
23 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primrose Street (adjacent), 100 metres away.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from November 2014, 11 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
Turncroft provides a vibrant, nurturing environment where children thrive and develop a love of learning. The school excels at supporting all children, including those with additional needs, and has created a strong community where parents feel genuinely valued and staff wellbeing is prioritised. Children develop important life skills like independence and self-care while enjoying engaging activities such as nature exploration and weekly sports sessions with specialist coaches.
Key Strengths
- Children are happy, confident and eager to learn with high expectations for their achievement
- Strong focus on reading with high-quality stories, rhymes and songs central to learning
- Excellent support for children with SEND who receive timely help and access the full curriculum
- Well-developed personal development programme teaching independence and self-care skills
- Strong staff wellbeing and parent partnerships with parents praising staff for going 'above and beyond'
Areas for Improvement
- Some areas of the curriculum lack precise knowledge goals, making it unclear how staff should build on children's prior learning
- Inconsistent quality in how some staff support children's communication, language and thinking skills, meaning some children do not learn as well as they could
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created a calm, harmonious environment where children feel safe and secure.
Extracurricular Activities
Weekly sports sessions with specialist coaches, yoga activities, baking, family events at school and local church, minibeasts watching and exploration
Turncroft Nursery School is a happy and nurturing setting where children enjoy rich learning opportunities and staff care greatly for their wellbeing. The school has successfully maintained the high standards it was previously judged outstanding for.
At a Glance
0.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
13 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 Turncroft Nursery School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Turncroft Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Turncroft Nursery School is in Blackburn with Darwen; for families living there:
Apply to Blackburn with Darwen for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 16
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 13 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
9 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 Blackburn with Darwen is 24 (the median across 89 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 - Darwen
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Darwen
Across Blackburn with Darwen council
Places available
2,284
Applications
2,116
Got 1st preference
78.9%
Got preferred school
94.1%
All secondary applications across Blackburn with Darwen council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
0.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
58
Total Pupils
32
Boys
26
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
2
Teachers
29.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Turncroft Nursery School
What is Turncroft Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Turncroft Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Turncroft Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Turncroft Nursery School is oversubscribed, Blackburn with Darwen allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Turncroft Nursery School?
Turncroft Nursery School has around 58 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Turncroft Nursery School?
Apply through Blackburn with Darwen's coordinated admissions process, naming Turncroft 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 Turncroft Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 13 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 9 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 Blackburn with Darwen is 24 (the median across 89 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Turncroft Nursery School?
Turncroft Nursery School is at Highfield Road, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 2DN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)