Whitecross Nursery School, Derby
Whitecross Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 4 in Derby. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Whitecross Nursery School in detail
Whitecross Nursery School in its own words
In its own words: "Safeguarding - is at the heart of everything we do. Everyone is fully committed to keeping all children safe. Staff - Our experienced early years team understand child development and know all children incredibly well. Relationships with parents - Staff quickly establish trusting and supportive relationships with parents and carers through excellent mutual communication."
Coming up: an open evening on Friday 2 April 2027 at 4.15pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Vision and values (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Who goes there
4.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 19.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 11 pupils (12.8%) received SEN support and 1 (1.2%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Derby Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Alkmunds Church (opposite), 240 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Whitecross Nursery School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 799 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 Derby (267), 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from January 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its January 2015 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
4.7%
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 Whitecross Nursery School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Whitecross Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Whitecross Nursery School is in Derby; for families living there:
Apply to Derby for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 36
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 9
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 36 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 27 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
13 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 Derby is 24 (the median across 119 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 - Derby
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Derby
Across Derby council
Places available
3,747
Applications
3,099
Got 1st preference
81.7%
Got preferred school
95.7%
All secondary applications across Derby council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
11
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
14.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
86
Total Pupils
49
Boys
37
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
3
Teachers
28.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,784
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Whitecross Nursery School
What is Whitecross Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Whitecross Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Whitecross Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Whitecross Nursery School is oversubscribed, Derby allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Whitecross Nursery School?
Whitecross Nursery School has around 86 pupils on roll. 5% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Whitecross Nursery School?
Apply through Derby's coordinated admissions process, naming Whitecross 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 Whitecross Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 36 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 27 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 13 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 Derby is 24 (the median across 119 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Whitecross Nursery School?
Whitecross Nursery School is at Watson Street, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1 3PJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)