Woodcroft Nursery School
N/A
Capacity
111
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Woodcroft Nursery School
If you are looking at Woodcroft Nursery School for your child, the first thing you will likely notice is that it is a popular choice among local parents. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good overall, a rating it has held consistently across its previous inspections. While the data does not include a specific parent recommendation percentage, the school’s oversubscription ratio is a strong signal of its standing in the community. With 111 pupils on roll, the nursery is a well-subscribed state setting in Chelmsford, part of the Essex local authority. This level of demand suggests that families in the area view it favourably, and securing a place may require early application. The school is a state nursery for children aged 2 to 5, and it is mixed gender with no religious character, making it an inclusive option for a broad range of families.
Academically, Woodcroft Nursery School focuses on early years development, and its most recent graded inspection in 2013 gave it a Good rating for overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and early years provision. The school’s most recent ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed that it remains Good, so you can expect a consistent standard of early education. There are no Key Stage 2 or Progress 8 scores to report, as the school only covers nursery-age children, but the Ofsted breakdown shows that the early years provision was rated a 2 (Good) in the previous graded inspection. In the Essex local authority, there are only two state nurseries of this type, and one of them, Tanglewood Nursery School, is rated Outstanding and located 4.4 km away. This gives you a clear benchmark if you are comparing options within the area.
On a practical level, Woodcroft Nursery School offers a range of facilities that support early childhood development, including an outdoor playground, a sensory room, music rooms, and an art studio. There is also a gymnasium and a chapel on site. The school provides swimming as a sport and runs clubs such as art and gardening, which are typical for this age group. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists several SEND provisions, including support for speech, language and communication needs, autistic spectrum disorder, physical disability, and specific learning difficulties like dyslexia. This makes it a potentially good fit for families seeking an inclusive nursery with dedicated support. Given its popularity and the limited number of state nursery places in Essex, early registration is advisable if you are considering this school for your child.
Key Details
| School Type | Nursery (State) |
| Age Range | 2 to 5 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Dorset Avenue, Chelmsford, Chelmsford, CM2 9UB |
| Headteacher | Ferliene Willis |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 111 |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 May 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (24 May 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 20 May 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
3Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:45
Breakfast club
07:45-08:45
After-school care
15:45-17:45
Source: woodcroft-nur.essex.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British73.0%
- Mixed9.0%
- Asian8.1%
- White (other)2.7%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
11
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
8
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Woodcroft Nursery School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
School Open Days Calendar 2026/27
When open days happen and what to look for
Contact Information
Dorset Avenue, Chelmsford
Chelmsford, CM2 9UB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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