Tibshelf Infant School Review 2026: A small infant school where early reading and routines are taken seriously

As an infant school, the core story is less about headline end of primary outcomes and more about how effectively children learn to read, write, and handle number early, then carry that into junior phase. Here, published performance metrics are limited in the available results for this review, so the most reliable evidence comes from the curriculum intent and external evaluation of how well the curriculum is working.

Mathematics is positioned as a clear strength. The inspection evidence points to strong training, consistent approaches in lessons, and the expectation that all pupils can access the curriculum, including pupils with special educational needs and disabilities and those who are quick, able mathematicians. The implication for families is a steady build of number sense and methods rather than a reliance on worksheets or narrow test rehearsal.

Reading is the area where the school has been most explicit about improvement. The 2022 inspection record states that too many pupils were not developing quickly enough as fluent readers at that point, and leaders were moving towards a more systematic approach. The key question for parents is what happened next. The school’s current phonics and reading approach is now built around a systematic synthetic phonics programme, Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, with foundations work beginning in nursery and formal lessons starting in Reception.

That matters because, in infant settings, the quality of phonics instruction has an outsized impact on confidence, behaviour, and independence. When children can decode reliably, they access the wider curriculum with less friction and less anxiety.

Teaching is built around a clear sequencing model in the early years, then consistency through Reception, Year 1, and Year 2. Reading is taught through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, described by the school as systematic synthetic phonics, with a progression that aims to ensure children build and master the alphabetic code as they move through school.

Two aspects are worth highlighting because they often separate “fine” phonics from genuinely effective early reading. First, the school describes a foundations stage in nursery and a “pre-phonics progression of skills” plan, which suggests deliberate work on listening, attention, vocabulary, and sound discrimination before formal grapheme-phoneme correspondences dominate the day. Second, the school’s stated aim is that children leave as confident readers for meaning and enjoyment, not just children who can get through a decodable book.

Mathematics teaching is described in external evidence as confident and consistent, underpinned by staff training and a structured approach from nursery through Year 2. In practical terms, families should expect explicit teaching, regular checking for understanding, and intervention when misconceptions appear, rather than a “wait and see” approach.

Inclusion is treated as the default rather than as separate provision. The inspection evidence describes well planned support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, strong staff knowledge of pupils, and effective liaison with parents and external agencies. That tends to translate into clearer routines, better scaffolding, and a more predictable day for all pupils, not only those on the SEND register.

Because the school’s age range finishes at 7, transition is a major part of the parent journey. The school’s admissions information sets out that children typically move into Year 3 in the September following their seventh birthday, with junior phase admissions aligned with local authority processes. The federation relationship with Town End Junior School provides a natural next step for many families, and the formal collaboration between the schools began in January 2022.

For parents, the practical implication is to treat Year 3 planning as part of the overall decision, not as an afterthought. Ask how information is shared, how SEND plans transfer, and how children are prepared socially for the shift to a larger setting and different routines.

Reception entry is coordinated through Derbyshire County Council rather than direct application to the school. The school states that children are admitted into Foundation Stage 2, Reception, in the September following their fourth birthday, and that applications are made during the autumn term in the year before starting school.

For September 2026 entry, Derbyshire’s published timeline shows applications opening on Monday 10 November 2025, with a closing deadline of midnight on Thursday 15 January 2026. National Offer Day is Thursday 16 April 2026, and the closing date for appeals is Friday 15 May 2026. These dates matter because missing the deadline sharply reduces realistic options in oversubscribed areas.

The school also publishes a pupil allocation number of 50 per year group for the federation infant and junior intakes. However, demand indicators show the school is oversubscribed in the most recent recorded figures, with 58 applications for 39 offers. That points to competition for places, and it strengthens the case for parents to use FindMySchool’s Map Search and local comparison tools when shortlisting, especially if you are weighing multiple infant or primary options across the same travel area.

Nursery entry runs differently. Applications for nursery places are made directly through the school, and the school describes a waiting list process. If a child turns 3 before 31 August, the school indicates they could be offered a nursery place for a September start, with letters sent around April for those places.

Pastoral practice is grounded in relationships and routines. External evidence describes the school as close-knit, with staff knowing pupils well and acting quickly on concerns, supported by effective safeguarding systems and regular training. Pupils are also taught how to keep themselves safe through the curriculum and assemblies, including online safety and respect for personal boundaries.

Behaviour expectations are clear. The inspection evidence describes good behaviour and strong response to staff expectations, with children understanding that bullying is wrong and feeling confident that adults deal with issues. For parents, this usually means calmer classrooms, fewer learning interruptions, and better outcomes for children who are sensitive to noise and unpredictability.

The federation’s shared language around values is also part of wellbeing. The published values framework spells out an explicit vocabulary, Tenacious, Imaginative, Brave, Skilful, Honest, Enthusiastic, Lifelong Learners, Friendly, designed to help children self-evaluate learning behaviours over time. That may sound abstract, but in infant settings it often becomes very concrete, for example, children being coached to keep trying, explain their thinking, or repair friendships after playtime disagreements.

Extracurricular life is well established for an infant school, and it is not limited to one sport or a single club run when staff availability allows. The 2022 inspection evidence refers to a wide range of activities open to all pupils, including sports, music, computing, clay creators, art, and eco clubs.

School communications also name specific clubs and sessions. Examples include Computing Club, Singing Club, ECO Club, and Music Club, alongside sports options such as football and gymnastics sessions. The key implication is breadth. Children who are not sporty still have structured options, and children who thrive on practical, hands-on making have routes into that too.

The pupil leadership roles also sit alongside this wider offer. Play leaders organise activities and iVengers help build safe habits online, which supports a culture where children see contribution as normal rather than exceptional.

The school day for Reception and Key Stage 1 runs 8:30am to 3:00pm. Nursery sessions are listed as 8:30am to 11:30am for morning nursery and 12:00pm to 3:00pm for afternoon nursery.

Wraparound care is clearly defined. Breakfast club runs from 7:30am until the start of the school day, and after school care runs in hourly blocks from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Breakfast club is priced at £4 per session, and after school care is £4 per hour session.

Transport and drop-off arrangements are not consistently described in the available public sources used for this review, so families should check the school’s current guidance before assuming parking or access will be straightforward at peak times.

• Oversubscription is real. Recent admissions figures show 58 applications for 39 offers and an oversubscribed status. Families should plan early and keep alternative options live until offers are confirmed.

• Phonics improvement has been a focus area. The 2022 inspection evidence highlighted that reading fluency was not developing quickly enough for too many pupils at that time. The school now uses a structured phonics programme with nursery foundations, which is promising, but parents of children who may find early reading hard should ask how interventions work in practice.

• Transition planning matters. Because the school finishes at age 7, families need to think about Year 3 early. Ask how the school supports social readiness and how information transfers, especially for children with additional needs.

Tibshelf Infant School suits families who want a structured, values-led start to education, with a clear focus on early reading, mathematics, and routines that support good behaviour. The outdoor and extracurricular offer is stronger than many infant settings manage, and wraparound care is unusually clear and practical. Best suited to families who value consistency and early academic foundations, and who are ready to plan ahead for a competitive Reception intake and a planned move into junior phase.