Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School, Thornton Heath
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 7 in Thornton Heath. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2023. It was 74% full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Croydon (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School in detail
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School in its own words
In its own words: "In our school community we strive to have stakeholders/partners who play an active part in the life of the school."
From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a pleasure to introduce myself as the Head Teacher of Winterbourne Nursery and Infant school. At Winterbourne Nursery and Infant School, our school motto is “Inspire, Learn, Be Proud”. This is at the heart of everything that we do."
The school runs a breakfast club, from £2.00 per day.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Getting a place at Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School
For September 2026 entry, 75 families put Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School as their first choice and 182 named it as one of their preferences, for 83 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School are Winterbourne Junior Girls' School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 91% reading, 96% maths); Winterbourne Boys' Academy (under 0.1 miles, Good, 89% reading, 86% maths); Paxton Academy Sports And Science (0.3 miles, Good, 90% reading, 90% maths); and Gonville Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 88% reading, 88% maths).
Winterbourne Junior Girls' SchoolWinterbourne Boys' AcademyPaxton Academy Sports And ScienceGonville Academy
Who goes there
69.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (60%), Black (19%) and Mixed (11%).
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School has a resourced provision for hearing impairment and autism: 12 places, 12 pupils on roll.
Staffing
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 25 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Thornton Heath Rail Station, about 1000 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Heathview Road, 150 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School are Norbury High School for Girls (0.8 miles), Harris Academy Merton (0.9 miles) and The Archbishop Lanfranc Academy (0.9 miles).
Norbury High School for GirlsHarris Academy MertonThe Archbishop Lanfranc Academy
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's September 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at creating a welcoming, inclusive community where all children feel happy and safe. Staff work hard to support children who join mid-year and those learning English as an additional language. The school offers wider enriching experiences beyond the classroom to develop well-rounded, confident children.
Key Strengths
- Strong reading programme with daily phonics lessons and careful monitoring of pupil progress
- Ambitious curriculum with clear progression from Nursery to Year 2
- Excellent support for pupils with special educational needs and those learning English as an additional language
- High expectations and clear school values that promote respect and cultural celebration
- Warm, trusting relationships between staff and pupils with a calm, orderly environment
Areas for Improvement
- Some foundation subjects lack clearly sequenced curriculum planning, meaning pupils sometimes miss building essential knowledge
- Not all support staff who have taken on additional teaching roles have received personalised development to help them in these responsibilities
- Reading attainment at end of Year 2 was below average in 2022 assessments (though school is actively addressing this)
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school maintaining strong procedures to keep pupils safe and supporting vulnerable families.
Extracurricular Activities
Extra-curricular clubs, local sports events, bike-riding lessons, community outings, secret garden vegetable growing, charity fundraising, food bank collections
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School is a welcoming community school that has made significant improvements since its previous inspection. It has moved from 'Requires improvement' to 'Good' across all areas.
At a Glance
21.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Hearing, Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
23.3
Avg class size
25.3
Infant (KS1)
16
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School
Jeans for Genes day and Denim Disco
1 Oct 2026
Reception Playground Revamp
17 Sep 2026
Hamish and Milo!
22 May 2026
🌙Eid Assembly🌙
24 Apr 2026
Reception Explorers!
24 Apr 2026
Safer Internet Day Competition Winners!
20 Mar 2026
From Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School
Before and after school care
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Croydon
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School.
- St James The Great After School Club990m away · Not yet graded
- Globe Fit Kids Clubs - Thornton Heath990m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Croydon. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Thursday 22 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' 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
- 169
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 17
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 169 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 17 serious and 152 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
32 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
Your chances of a place at Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School
Will you get a place at Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School.
- Croydon publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Croydon got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
74%
Available places
331 pupils
450 places
119 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Thornton Heath
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Thornton Heath
Across Croydon council
Places available
4,828
Applications
4,082
Got 1st preference
89.6%
Got preferred school
99.2%
All primary applications across Croydon council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(17)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
41
SEN Support
16
EHC Plans
15.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School has a resourced provision for hearing impairment and autism: 12 places, 12 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
372
Total Pupils
165
Boys
207
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
28.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,973
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,137
Per pupil
£2236k
Total funding
£129k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.7%
Overall absence
24.1%
Persistent absence
261
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School
Questions parents ask about Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School
What is Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School's Ofsted rating?
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2019 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School?
No fixed boundary. When Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School is oversubscribed, Croydon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School?
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School was not full in 2025: it ran at 74% of its 450 places.
How big are the classes at Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School?
Classes at Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School average 23.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School?
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School has around 372 pupils on roll. 22% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School have specialist SEN provision?
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School has a resourced provision for hearing impairment and autism: 12 places, 12 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School?
6.7% of sessions were missed at Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School in 2024/25. 24.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School?
Apply through Croydon's coordinated admissions process, naming Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School: St James The Great After School Club (990m away, registered, not yet graded) and Globe Fit Kids Clubs - Thornton Heath (990m away, registered, not yet graded).
What are Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School's term dates?
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Croydon. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Thursday 22 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 169 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 17 serious and 152 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 32 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 Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School?
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School is at Winterbourne Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR7 7QT.
Sources: Croydon term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)