Tanglewood Nursery School

About Tanglewood Nursery School

Tanglewood Nursery School in Chelmsford is a state nursery for children aged 2 to 5, currently educating 153 pupils. As one of only two nursery schools in the Essex local authority, and the only one rated Outstanding, it occupies a distinctive position locally. The school does not publish its capacity or free school meal percentage in the available data, so it is hard to gauge exactly how oversubscribed it is relative to local demand. However, the admissions picture is clear from parent feedback: every single parent who responded to the Ofsted Parent View survey said they would recommend the school. With 42% of responding parents indicating their child has special educational needs or disabilities, the intake appears to include a significant proportion of children requiring additional support, particularly given the school’s specific SEND provisions for speech, language and communication needs and autistic spectrum disorder.

Academically, Tanglewood’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection in July 2019 awarded it an overall effectiveness rating of Outstanding, with leadership and management also judged Outstanding. This was an upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2014. An ungraded inspection in January 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained. The school does not publish Key Stage 2 SATs results or a Progress 8 score, as it is a nursery serving children only up to age 5, so there are no formal academic outcome measures to compare against the Essex local authority average. Instead, the focus is on early years provision, and the Parent View data is unusually strong: 100% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 100% felt their child is safe. On the question of whether the school has high expectations, 84% agreed or strongly agreed, with 16% saying they did not know.

The school offers a range of facilities including an outdoor playground, a forest school area, art studios, a dining hall and a chapel. Sports provision includes swimming and gymnastics, and there is an eco club for pupils. For families with children who have speech, language and communication needs or autistic spectrum disorder, the school’s dedicated SEND provisions are a clear draw, and 100% of parents responding agreed that SEND children receive the support they need. With a 100% recommendation rate from parents and an Outstanding Ofsted rating, Tanglewood is likely to suit families in Chelmsford who want a nursery with strong pastoral care and a proven track record in early years education, particularly those whose children may benefit from additional support. The lack of published capacity data means prospective parents should check directly with the school about current availability.

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