Arden Forest Infant School Review 2026: A small Bulkington infant school with strong routines and a reading-led start

Because Arden Forest is an infant school (to age 7), it is also common for the headline KS2 measures parents see for many primaries to be less relevant to the school’s own phase.

Instead, what parents can usefully focus on is curriculum intent and implementation at infant level, particularly early reading, vocabulary development, number fluency, and how teachers check understanding. In this context, the school explicitly positions reading as central to learning, emphasising that frequent exposure to books supports engagement and lifelong learning.

At infant stage, strong teaching is typically visible through structure: systematic phonics, clear modelling, frequent short practice, and rapid identification of children who need additional help. Arden Forest’s published reading and phonics information signals that reading is a consistent priority rather than an add-on, and that pupils are offered varied reading opportunities.

Curriculum breadth also matters even in an infants-only setting. The 2022 Ofsted report highlights that pupils enjoy a broad curriculum and that trips help enrich it, with pupils recalling learning in subjects such as history. The implication for families is that the school aims to build knowledge and curiosity beyond the basics, which can be particularly motivating for children who are more verbally confident early on.

One practical detail that can matter more than parents expect is how the school starts the day. Published timings show gates open at 8:25am, with the school day starting at 8:35am, giving a short, purposeful runway from arrival to learning. For some children that predictability is settling, especially in Reception.

Because Arden Forest is an infant school, transition happens early. Pupils typically move on to a junior school for Key Stage 2, and in Warwickshire the local authority admissions information and published partner-school arrangements are often the most reliable way to understand likely routes.

Warwickshire’s admissions arrangements list Arden Forest Infant School as partnered with St James C of E Academy (Bulkington). For many families, that kind of local pairing is a helpful starting point when planning the junior-stage transition, although it does not remove the need to follow the relevant application process and criteria at the time.

A good question to ask at an open event is how transition is handled in practice: whether there are joint events with the likely junior destination, how records are shared, and how the school supports children who need extra reassurance about a new setting at age 7.

Reception applications are coordinated by Warwickshire County Council rather than submitted directly to the school. For September 2026 entry, Warwickshire’s published process states that applications open on 1 November 2025, with a deadline of 15 January 2026, and offers released on 16 April 2026.

Demand suggests the school is oversubscribed for Reception entry, with 93 applications and 54 offers recorded, and 1.72. applications per place (These figures are presented as the figures provide them.) This level of demand usually means families should treat deadlines as non-negotiable, and should be realistic about the possibility of not receiving their first preference.

The school website has published admissions information, but the dates shown on that page relate to a prior cycle, so parents should use the local authority page for current deadlines and treat school-based dates as contextual unless clearly updated for the relevant year.

The school also posts dates and events on its website, including items relevant to prospective parents, although an “open day” post may not always display the event detail in a structured format. When planning a visit, rely on the most current entry in the dates feed, or contact the office for the next scheduled slot.

Parents comparing options can use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check practical travel distance and day-to-day convenience, especially if you are balancing multiple infant and junior routes across Bulkington and Bedworth.

Infant pastoral care is often less about formal programmes and more about daily micro-support: who meets children at the door, how worries are noticed, and how quickly staff communicate with parents. The school’s safeguarding page communicates a structured safeguarding team and identifies leadership roles clearly. That visibility is often a reassuring sign for parents who value straightforward escalation routes if an issue arises.

A second useful lens at this age is how the school talks about belonging and confidence. Arden Forest’s published welcome messaging stresses supportive parents, inspirational staff, and an enjoyable and safe place to learn. In practice, parents may want to ask how the school supports children who are summer-born, anxious at separation, or slower to settle into phonics, since early experiences can colour a child’s relationship with school for years.

A strong infant school typically offers small, accessible clubs that build confidence and coordination, rather than a sprawling programme. Arden Forest’s own newsletters indicate a rotating set of after-school activities, including Short Tennis, Dance, Multi-sports, and a creative club. These matter less as “CV-builders” and more as gentle ways for children to practise turn-taking, listening, and perseverance in a different setting.

Wraparound clubs are also part of the wider offer. The school’s before and after school clubs page sets out Breakfast Club (7:30am to 8:30am) at £5 per session, and an After School Club that runs until 5:00pm, with a 4:30pm finish on Fridays, with pricing depending on sessions booked. For many families, that combination of timing and flexibility is what makes a school realistically workable over the long term.

The published school day is 8:35am to 3:05pm. Gates and classroom-door timings are also published in school communications, which can help families plan punctual drop-off routines. Breakfast club and after-school club are available on-site with published start and finish times.

For transport planning, the school sits in Bulkington (Bedworth area). Families usually find it helpful to trial the route at typical drop-off time, because infant drop-off can be materially different from later primary phases due to shorter windows and higher adult presence.

• An infant school means an earlier transition. Children move on at age 7, so parents should plan ahead for the junior stage and ask about transition support and typical destination patterns.

• Reception places can be competitive. The supplied admissions figures indicate oversubscription, so meeting Warwickshire’s application deadlines matters.

• Open day information may be posted in different formats. The school uses a dates and news feed, but not every post displays a clear event schedule, so families may need to check the latest dates listing or ask the office for the next visit slot.

• Wraparound is available, but plan for availability. Breakfast and after-school clubs are published, and places can be limited, so early enquiry is sensible if you will rely on them consistently.

Arden Forest Infant School suits families who want a structured, supportive start to school life in Bulkington, with reading positioned as central and practical wraparound options available. It is likely to work well for children who benefit from clear routines, gentle enrichment through trips and clubs, and a consistent approach across Reception to Year 2. The main decision point is not only securing a Reception place, but also being comfortable with the age 7 transition into a junior setting.