Dorothy Gardner Nursery School
293 Shirland Road, 293 Shirland Rd, London, W9 3JYOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Dorothy Gardner Nursery School is a nursery school in Westminster for ages 2 to 5. It is one of the 85 schools in Westminster. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2022.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 24 May 2022, report published 13 July 2022
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 24 May 2022
The school helps all children to thrive. Children benefit from an ambitious curriculum. They explore the stimulating environment and enjoy their learning. Staff are excellent role models for children. They have high expectations of what children can achieve. Children enjoy a wide range of planned activities and experiences. Books are a core part of children's learning. Regular educational visits, including outings to the zoo, are linked to what children learn at school. Through varied curriculum opportunities, leaders encourage children to be independent and confident. For example, children made bread which they later cooked on the campfire. Children learn about responsibility. For instance, they are taught to handle the school's pet snake with care. Staff provide children with great support and guidance, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders build close partnerships with parents and carers, who value how safe their children feel. Staff expect children to behave sensibly. Children settle quickly into new routines when they join the school. This is because of the caring and consistent approach of staff. Children work and play kindly together. Should any problems arise, staff are quick to step in and resolve them.
What the school should improve
- Occasionally, leaders' curricular thinking does not identify in detail the most important knowledge and skills that children should learn. As a result, the knowledge children learn over time is not as well developed as could be expected. Leaders should ensure that curriculum thinking takes account of the key content that children should know and by when.
- Not all staff have the expertise to deepen children's learning. This means, at times, children do not learn as well as they could. Leaders should ensure that all staff have the training and support, including from best practice within the school, to maximise their interactions with children.
Pupil numbers and mix
71 pupils on roll
Schools near Dorothy Gardner Nursery School
| School | Distance | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| Mary Paterson Nursery School | 0.1 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding |
| Granville Plus Nursery School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good |
| Golborne & Maxilla Nursery School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding |
| College Green School and Services | 1 mile | Ofsted: Outstanding |
| St Anne's & Avondale Park Nursery School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good |
School details
- School type
- Local authority nursery school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 2 to 5
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mr Ben Commins
- Phone
- 02089695835
- Address
- 293 Shirland Road, 293 Shirland Rd, London, W9 3JY
- Local authority
- Westminster
- URN
- 101105
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.