Crigglestone Nursery School

About Crigglestone Nursery School

Crigglestone Nursery School has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted, a significant achievement given that it is the only nursery in Wakefield’s local authority to hold that top grade out of three state nurseries. The school’s most recent graded inspection, in 2019, awarded it an overall effectiveness score of 1, with leadership and management also judged Outstanding. This marks a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2014, when it was rated Good across the board. An ungraded inspection in February 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained, so parents can be confident the quality has held steady. For a nursery setting, the most informative metric is the parent view, and here the data is striking: 100% of the 29 respondents would recommend the school, and 97% strongly agreed that their child is happy there. Every single parent felt their child is safe, and 93% strongly agreed their child does well.

Academic outcomes at a nursery are measured differently from primary or secondary schools, but the parent feedback gives a strong sense of the school’s effectiveness. On the question of whether the school makes parents aware of what their child will learn, 97% strongly agreed, and 90% strongly agreed that the school supports their child’s wider personal development. Behaviour is also a strength: 90% strongly agreed that the school ensures pupils are well behaved, and 83% said bullying was not applicable, suggesting it is rare. The school’s SEND provision, specifically for speech, language and communication, received no responses on the parent view questionnaire, so it is hard to gauge directly, but the overall satisfaction levels are exceptionally high. With only 88 pupils, the setting is small, which likely contributes to the personalised attention reflected in the data.

The school offers a range of facilities that support its early years focus, including a Forest School, a library, music rooms, a gymnasium and a dining hall. Sports include gymnastics, swimming and dance, and clubs such as art, eco and gardening are available. For families in Wakefield, this is a nursery that clearly prioritises both academic readiness and personal development, with a strong emphasis on communication skills through its SEND provision. The school is oversubscribed in terms of parent satisfaction, but with only 88 places, competition for spots may be high. It suits families who want a proven, high-quality start for their two- to four-year-olds, particularly those who value outdoor learning and a structured yet creative environment. The headteacher, Kirsty Quinn, leads a setting that has consistently impressed inspectors and parents alike.

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