Balksbury Infant School Review 2026: High expectations in the early years, with behaviour a clear strength

As an infant school (ages 4 to 7), this is not a setting where you should expect GCSE-style headline metrics. What matters more is whether pupils build secure early reading, number sense, and learning habits by the end of Year 2, because those become the platform for Key Stage 2.

Early reading is treated as a priority. Phonics starts in Reception, and the approach is described as carefully delivered with strong training and ongoing support. The practical implication for families is straightforward: if your child arrives needing confidence with early sounds and blending, the school’s systems are designed to catch that early rather than letting gaps widen.

If you are comparing local options, use the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool to keep like-for-like comparisons, infant schools and junior schools can publish different types of data, so looking at the right measures for the right phase avoids false conclusions.

The curriculum is described as broad and ambitious, with leaders mapping key concepts in a logical order so that knowledge builds rather than repeating loosely from topic to topic. Where this really matters for families is consistency: young pupils do best when classrooms share language, routines and learning sequences across the year group.

Reading sits at the centre of classroom life, and not only as a phonics exercise. Staff use a structured approach to match books to pupils’ decoding knowledge while also building vocabulary and comprehension, so that pupils move from “I can read the words” to “I understand and can talk about what I read”.

Assessment is treated as an area still being refined in some subjects. The practical takeaway is not that learning is weak, it is that, in a few areas, staff are working towards more consistent checks so that gaps are spotted quickly and pupils are helped to recall key knowledge when it is needed. For parents, that often shows up as clearer “next step” feedback and more consistent small-group catch-up within the school day.

Most families are thinking one step ahead even while settling into Reception: what happens after Year 2? The federation structure means pupils are educated alongside a linked junior school under the same umbrella, which can smooth transition and maintain consistent expectations around behaviour, learning routines and pastoral support.

It is still worth understanding the formal process. In Hampshire, Year 3 (infant to junior transfer) has a defined admissions round with its own dates and timelines, even when the junior school is closely linked. Families who assume transfer is automatic can get caught out, so it pays to read the local guidance early.

For longer-term planning beyond Year 6, the key is building strong early literacy and confidence now. A calm start tends to widen the range of secondary options later, particularly for children who need structure and positive reinforcement to enjoy learning.

Admissions are coordinated by Hampshire County Council, and the school’s published admissions policy is explicit about how places are prioritised when the school is oversubscribed. The Published Admission Number (PAN) for Reception entry for 2026-2027 is 90.

Demand is real. For the most recent, Reception entry received 201 applications for 89 offers, which equates to 2.26 applications for every place offered, and the route is marked Oversubscribed. That does not mean families should write it off, but it does mean you need to treat deadlines and criteria as non-negotiable.

Oversubscription criteria follow a familiar Hampshire pattern: children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school are admitted; then looked-after and previously looked-after children; then exceptional medical or social need; then children of staff in defined circumstances; then catchment area priorities (with siblings and without), and finally other children. Distance is used as a tie-break within oversubscribed criteria, measured as straight-line distance using the local authority’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

For September 2026 Reception entry in Hampshire, the key dates are published clearly: applications opened on 1 November 2025, the deadline was 15 January 2026, and the national notification date is 16 April 2026. Waiting lists are established from 30 April 2026.

A practical tip: if you are borderline on catchment distance, use FindMySchool Map Search to measure your home-to-school distance consistently, then compare it with the most recent allocation patterns. Even small differences can matter in oversubscribed years.

Pastoral care is built around familiarity and fast response. Staff are trained to spot concerns early, and the approach to safeguarding is documented as effective, with clear processes for recording and following up concerns, and good awareness of local risks and family context.

Beyond safeguarding, the wellbeing offer includes structured support for groups who can be overlooked in mainstream settings, including service families and young carers, with the federation describing targeted pastoral support when parents are deployed or away.

There is also a strong emphasis on communication with families, both through day-to-day systems and through broader federation routines. For infants, that consistency matters: small worries can escalate quickly at this age if home and school are not aligned on routines, expectations and reassurance.

For a school serving Reception to Year 2, enrichment needs to be practical and accessible, not an exhausting schedule that overwhelms families. The school’s enrichment offer is designed to widen experiences while keeping cost from becoming a barrier, and clubs are described as part of that equity approach.

Named clubs and activities include outdoor learning, choir and coding, along with sports clubs. That mix matters because it gives pupils multiple ways to feel competent: a child who is not yet confident in formal literacy can still thrive in outdoor learning or sport, then bring that confidence back into the classroom.

The federation also references a large number of free after-school enrichment places, listing cookery, outdoor learning, rock choir and orienteering as examples. For parents, the implication is that extracurricular life is treated as part of the entitlement, not an optional extra only some families can access.

Wraparound is practical rather than tokenistic. A morning Drop Off Club runs from 7:45am, and an after-school Pick Up Club runs after the school day on weekdays, which is helpful for working parents managing commuting patterns.

The infant school day starts at 8:45am and ends at 3:15pm, with a weekly total of 32.5 hours.

Wraparound care is available through federation clubs. Drop Off Club runs Monday to Friday from 7:45am until the start of school, and Pick Up Club runs Monday to Thursday from 3:15pm until 5:30pm.

For families who drive, the federation notes specific morning gate timings associated with drop-off routines, which is useful context if you need predictable access for childcare handover and onward travel.

• Oversubscription is the norm. With 201 applications for 89 offers in the latest provided admissions results, competition is real. Families should read the criteria carefully and keep to the published timeline.

• Catchment matters. The admissions policy prioritises children living in the catchment area, with distance used as a tie-break. If you are new to the area, confirm your catchment status early using official Hampshire tools.

• Some curriculum and assessment refinement is ongoing. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, but in a few areas the essential knowledge and assessment routines are being tightened so that gaps are identified more consistently.

• Wraparound has structure and cost. Drop Off Club and Pick Up Club are clear options for working families, but they have defined days, hours and fees, so check whether they fit your weekly pattern.

Balksbury Infant School offers a structured start with clear expectations, strong early reading practice, and behaviour that is treated as a strength rather than a constant battle. It suits families who want a calm, well-organised infant phase and who value continuity within a federated setting. Competition for places is the limiting factor, so admissions planning needs to start early.