St Margaret's Nursery School

About St Margaret's Nursery School

If you're a parent weighing up nursery options in Barnet, the signals from St Margaret's Nursery School are strong. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in 2023, confirmed that it remains Outstanding, a rating it has held consistently across its previous graded inspections. This is particularly notable given that St Margaret's is one of only four nursery schools in the entire local authority to hold an Outstanding grade. While the school does not publish a parent-view recommendation percentage, the fact that it is a state nursery with 92 pupils and no oversubscription ratio data suggests it is a well-regarded but not oversubscribed setting, meaning local families are likely to find a place without the scramble seen at some other schools. The headteacher, Kelly Brooker, leads a team that has clearly maintained high standards since the school's last graded inspection in 2013, when it also received Outstanding across the board.

Academically, St Margaret's is a nursery school for children aged two to five, so formal exam results like SATs or GCSEs do not apply. Instead, the school's quality is measured through its Ofsted judgments. In its most recent graded inspection in 2013, inspectors rated the early years provision, leadership and management, and overall effectiveness all as Outstanding, with a score of 1 out of 4 on each. The 2023 ungraded inspection confirmed that the school continues to meet this standard, with no decline noted. For parents concerned about early development, the school's focus on speech, language and communication, as well as support for autistic spectrum disorder, indicates a targeted approach to the foundational skills that matter most at this age. Compared with the local authority average for nursery schools, St Margaret's sits at the very top, given that all four nurseries in Barnet are rated Outstanding, making it a consistently strong choice within a high-performing local system.

On a practical level, St Margaret's offers a range of facilities that suit a young child's development, including an outdoor playground, a sensory room, a library, a forest school area, and even a chapel. Sports provision includes swimming and gymnastics, while after-school clubs cover art and gardening, giving children a varied experience within the nursery day. The school's SEND provisions are specifically tailored to speech, language and communication needs and autistic spectrum disorder, which may appeal to families whose children require additional early support. As a state nursery in Barnet, it is likely to be a good fit for local families seeking a high-quality, free or low-cost early years setting that is not oversubscribed. With no boarding and a mixed gender intake from age two, it suits parents who want a straightforward, well-regarded nursery close to home, particularly those living near the neighbouring Brookhill Nursery School, which is just half a kilometre away.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About St Margaret's Nursery School

Helpful Guides for Parents