Reddish Vale Nursery School

About Reddish Vale Nursery School

Reddish Vale Nursery School is a state-funded nursery in Stockport for children aged two to four, and it is currently operating with 132 pupils on roll. That figure is worth noting because the school is one of only three state nurseries in the entire local authority, and it is the only one rated Outstanding. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 4.7%, which is notably low compared with national averages for this age group, suggesting the intake draws from a relatively affluent catchment. Demand appears strong: the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in December 2024, confirmed that standards are being maintained, and the parent view survey, collected between September 2024 and September 2025, shows 100% of the 16 respondents would recommend the school. That kind of unanimity is rare and signals a community that is genuinely pleased with what is on offer.

Academically, this is a nursery rather than a primary or secondary school, so there are no Key Stage 2 SATs or Progress 8 scores to report. Instead, the most meaningful measure is the Ofsted rating. The school’s graded inspection in December 2012 awarded an overall effectiveness of Outstanding, with leadership and management also judged Outstanding. That rating was reaffirmed in the ungraded inspection of December 2024, where inspectors concluded that standards were being maintained. The previous graded inspection, back in November 2009, had rated the school Good overall, with early years provision and leadership both at a Good level. So the trajectory has been upward, and the school has now held the top grade for over a decade. For a nursery, the focus is on early development, and the parent survey backs this up: 94% of parents strongly agreed that their child feels safe, and 88% strongly agreed that their child is happy.

The school offers a range of facilities that are unusual for a nursery, including a gymnasium, art studios, a library, a chapel, and a Forest School area. Sports provision covers dance and gymnastics, and there is a gardening club. For children with additional needs, the school lists speech, language and communication support as a specific SEND provision. The parent view survey on SEND support returned no responses, so it is difficult to gauge how that provision is experienced in practice, but the school’s overall approach clearly resonates with families. With only three state nurseries in Stockport and Reddish Vale being the sole Outstanding-rated one, competition for places is likely to be high. This is a school that will particularly suit families who want a strong early-years foundation in a setting that feels both structured and creative, and who are able to secure a place in a very popular local option.

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