Ashgate Nursery School

About Ashgate Nursery School

Just over nine in ten parents who responded to the most recent Ofsted survey said they would recommend Ashgate Nursery School to other families, a strong signal of day-to-day satisfaction. The school is popular enough to be oversubscribed, with 64 children on roll in its most recent count, and its Good rating from Ofsted’s 2023 ungraded inspection confirms that the quality of care and education remains consistent. The inspection noted that the school continues to be Good, building on a previous graded inspection in 2013 where it was also judged Good. That marks a clear improvement from its 2010 inspection, when the school was rated Requires Improvement. For parents in Derby looking for a state nursery place, Ashgate’s combination of strong parent endorsement and steady Ofsted performance makes it a credible choice, especially given that only two of the six nurseries in the local authority currently hold an Outstanding rating.

Academically, Ashgate is a nursery school for children aged two to five, so there are no Key Stage 2 SATs or Progress 8 scores to report. The focus is on early years development, and Ofsted’s 2013 graded inspection rated leadership and management, as well as overall effectiveness, as Good. The school’s early years provision was scored 3 (Requires Improvement) in 2010, but the 2013 inspection lifted the overall rating to Good, and the 2023 ungraded visit confirmed that standard has been maintained. With no published early years provision grade from the most recent inspection, parents will need to rely on the overall Good judgement and the school’s track record. Compared with the Derby local authority average for nursery schools, Ashgate sits in the middle tier — not Outstanding, but reliably Good, which for many families is a perfectly solid baseline for early years education.

The school offers a range of facilities that support its early years curriculum, including a Forest School, sensory room, art studios, gymnasium, library and chapel. Sports provision is limited to swimming, but clubs such as art, gardening and book club add variety. Ashgate’s SEND provisions are notably broad, covering social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication, hearing impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder — a useful resource for families whose children need extra support before starting primary school. The school is oversubscribed, so early application is wise. For Derby parents who value a Good-rated nursery with strong parent satisfaction, a wide SEND offer and outdoor learning through Forest School, Ashgate is a practical option. Those seeking an Outstanding rating might look at Whitecross Nursery School, 0.7 km away, but Ashgate’s consistent Good record and parent backing make it a solid contender.

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