Victoria Park Nursery School

  • Nursery
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 2 to 5
Report card: Expected standard to strong standard

Victoria Park, Parkway, Newbury, RG14 1EHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Victoria Park Nursery School is a nursery school in Newbury for ages 2 to 5. It is one of the 98 schools in West Berkshire. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in April 2026.

Ofsted report card

Inspected 28 April 2026, report published 16 June 2026

Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.

Inclusion
Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching
Expected standard
Achievement
Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour
Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing
Strong standard
Leadership and governance
Expected standard
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 April 2026

Children arrive each day happy and eager to learn alongside their friends. They clearly enjoy attending the nursery and confidently separate from their parents and carers, walking independently into the setting. Familiar adults greet them warmly on arrival, which helps them to settle quickly and feel safe. The nursery’s broad curriculum that focuses on key skills such as communication, social and physical development, help children access activities with increasing independence. Children enjoy the activities prepared from them in the exciting and well-considered environment. Those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children with additional language needs are included effectively and well supported by staff who know them very well. Staff use simple and clear language when they talk to children with limited speech. This enables children to hear the correct pronunciation of words, which helps to build on their vocabulary. Typically, children, including those with additional needs, achieve well. Leaders establish highly effective partnerships with parents prior to children starting nursery. This embedded approach helps leaders swiftly identify any additional needs to ensure that children get the right support from day one. Leaders and staff consider children's individual circumstances, ensuring that those with limited outdoor space have plenty of opportunities to play in the garden and experience awe and wonder moments in the sensory room. Children are well supported in the nursery to develop important personal, social and emotional skills by the well-trained staff. Children bring a variety of experiences with them, including diversity in cultures, beliefs and languages. Staff ensure they provide books and resources that reflect this. Staff are highly vigilant to the emotional needs of the children. They swiftly intervene to regulate any unwanted behaviours. As such, any incident of unkindness are swiftly dealt with creating a calm and nurturing ethos.

What the school should improve

  • Leaders should continue to refine curriculum and assessment procedures to ensure staff have the information they need to maximise learning interactions across the areas of learning.
  • Leaders should continue to build on their work with parents and carers to ensure children develop positive attendance habits in readiness for school.

Pupil numbers and mix

116 pupils on roll

Eligible for free school meals0%

0%, 26.5 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language44%

44%, 22.4 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support29.3%

29.3%, 14.5 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan1.7%

1.7%, 4.3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Victoria Park Nursery School

SchoolDistanceOfsted
Hungerford Nursery School Centre for Children9 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standard
Blagrave Nursery School13 milesOfsted: Good
Norcot Early Years Centre14 milesOfsted: Outstanding
Lydalls Nursery School15 milesOfsted: Good
Blagdon Nursery School16 milesOfsted: Outstanding

School details

School type
Local authority nursery school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
2 to 5
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Miss Lynda Shepherd
Address
Victoria Park, Parkway, Newbury, RG14 1EH
Local authority
West Berkshire
URN
109757

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.