Willow Nursery School, Dunstable
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Willow Nursery excels at helping every child progress rapidly, regardless of their starting point. Staff form close relationships quickly, making children feel secure and confident to explore and learn independently. The school creates inspiring spaces for learning through play and investigation, while ensuring all children are exceptionally well-prepared for their next stage of education.
Key Strengths
- Children make outstanding progress from their starting points, with no child at risk of being overlooked
- Inspiring classrooms and outdoor learning spaces that encourage play, investigation and exploration
- Rigorous assessment systems that allow staff to respond quickly to individual needs and plan targeted support
- Excellent safeguarding with clear systems, well-trained staff and thorough supervision
- Strong parental partnerships with high engagement in school events and overwhelmingly positive feedback
Areas for Improvement
- Analysing attendance trends over time to offer further support to families and secure even better regular attendance
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective, with comprehensive statutory checks, well-trained staff, thorough supervision in all areas including the two-year-old provision, and detailed secure records that keep children safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Walk in the dark event, bedtime stories event
Willow Nursery School continues to be outstanding, with leadership that has maintained exceptional quality of education since the last inspection in 2012. The school excels at meeting individual children's needs and ensuring rapid progress, particularly for those who start below typical levels for their age.
At a Glance
0.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
0.0
Avg class size
0
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Dunstable
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Dunstable
Admissions Demand - Central Bedfordshire
Places available
1,796
Applications
1,679
Got 1st preference
94.6%
Got preferred school
98.7%
Secondary admissions across Central Bedfordshire (2025/26)
Inspection History(107)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.