St Andrew's Church of England (VA) Infant School Review 2026, a faith-rooted infant school with a strong behaviour and personal development profile

An infant school sits outside the familiar Year 6 SATs headline measures, so the best “results” lens is whether the early curriculum is structured, whether reading and phonics are prioritised, and whether assessment is used to identify pupils who need extra practice early.

The school explains that pupils are assessed across subject areas using clear categories, and that parents are updated through consultation evenings and end-of-year reports. In an infant setting, that clarity can make a real difference, it helps families understand whether a child is secure in early reading, writing and number, before gaps become entrenched.

FindMySchool rankings and KS2 measures are not available for this setting, so parents comparing local options may find it more useful to focus on inspection outcomes, curriculum detail, and the practicalities of wraparound care and the school day.

The school’s published approach to Reception draws on the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and sets out how learning is organised across both indoor and outdoor environments, mixing adult-led teaching with structured play and independent activities. The practical implication is simple, children who learn best through doing, making and exploring should find plenty of opportunity to practise language, number, and social skills through routines that still feel age-appropriate.

A strength in infant provision is often how well the school moves pupils from Reception curiosity into Year 1 and Year 2 literacy expectations. The prospectus describes the Reception curriculum as laying foundations for Key Stage 1 and preparing pupils for Year 1. That kind of “bridge” matters for summer-born pupils and for children who are still developing attention, fine motor control, or confidence with early writing.

For families who want a more musical early experience, there is a visible thread running through the timetable beyond the classroom, including lunchtime and after-school opportunities that link to performing and rhythm.

The school explicitly positions itself as the start of a wider pathway, noting that the majority of children move on to St Andrew’s Church of England (VA) Junior School after Year 2. For many families, that continuity is the main appeal, it reduces the number of transitions in the early years and can help children settle quickly into Year 3.

It is still sensible to check how transfer works in practice, especially if you are considering moving into the area or applying from outside the usual local pattern. Calderdale’s admissions guidance also highlights that the infant school is one of the named feeder schools for junior transfer in September 2026, which helps confirm the expected pathway.

Reception admissions are coordinated through Calderdale Council, rather than applying directly to the school, which keeps the process consistent across the local authority. The council’s published timeline for September 2026 entry is clear, applications open on 18 November 2025 and close on 15 January 2026. Offers for primary places are made on 16 April 2026.

As a voluntary aided Church of England school, faith considerations can play a role in how places are prioritised. The school’s admissions page explains that families who are regular worshippers at a Christian church can complete a supplementary information form, which is used for Reception starters and in-year transfers. That does not mean non-faith families cannot apply, but it does mean you should read the admissions policy carefully and understand what evidence is required, and by when.

Demand is real. The published demand figures show 101 applications for 53 offers, which is around 1.91 applications per place. That level of oversubscription means families should treat admission as competitive, even before considering any faith-related criteria.

If you are shortlisting several local options, FindMySchool’s Map Search can help you sanity-check practicality, including likely walking routes and time at drop-off, before you commit to a catchment-based decision.

The school identifies an Inclusion Manager and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator as part of its staffing structure, alongside pastoral roles, which is often the difference between “support exists” and “support is visible”. In infant schools, the best pastoral work is usually preventative, early identification of speech and language needs, careful handling of friendship issues, and routines that help pupils regulate.

The safeguarding page also points parents towards wider sources of support, including local emotional health and wellbeing signposting, and it explicitly references staff training for bereavement support through a recognised approach. For families, the practical implication is that the school expects pupils’ needs to be broader than academics, and it has a framework for responding.

The club list is refreshingly specific, and it changes by half term rather than pretending every option runs all year. The current half-term offer includes Year 2 Glockenspiel, Pebble Painting, Year 2 Gymnastics, Lego Club, Multisports, KS1 Choir, Sewing Club and Karate Club.

That mix matters in an infant setting because it covers several developmental “wins” at once. Glockenspiel and choir support rhythm, listening and confidence; sewing and pebble painting build fine motor control and sustained attention; gymnastics and multisports help coordination, balance and teamwork; Lego Club quietly reinforces spatial reasoning and problem-solving.

There is also a practical benefit for working families. When clubs are planned on a half-term rhythm, you can often try one activity, see how a child responds, then adjust without feeling locked into a full-year commitment.

The school day runs from 8:45am to 3:15pm. Wraparound care is clearly set out, Breakfast Club operates from 7:30am to 8:45am, and Kids Club runs from 3:15pm to 6:00pm on weekdays.

Costs are published for wraparound sessions, Breakfast Club is £4.50 per session, Kids Club is £10 per session, with a sibling rate for children attending the infant school. Parents who want a sense of the wider school rhythm can also look for school communications such as the Walk To School initiative referenced on the letters page, which suggests an effort to support active travel for local families.

• Oversubscription is a real constraint. The demand figures show 101 applications for 53 offers, about 1.91 applications per place. Families should plan with alternatives in mind, especially if applying from outside the immediate area.

• Faith criteria may shape who gets a place. As a voluntary aided Church of England school, the admissions process can involve supplementary information for families who worship regularly at a Christian church. Read the admissions policy early, and do not leave evidence gathering to the last week.

• The school day is split around lunch. Published hours show a morning and afternoon session with a lunch break in between. That is normal for many infant schools, but it can affect childcare logistics unless you use the on-site wraparound provision.

• The age range is intentionally narrow. This is an infant school, so children move on after Year 2. For some families that mid-primary transition is a positive, for others, an all-through primary is simpler.

This is a well-established infant setting with a clear Church of England identity, a practical approach to early learning, and a wraparound structure that is unusually well spelled-out for a small primary-phase school. The inspection profile strengthens confidence around daily culture, especially behaviour and pupils’ personal development.

Who it suits: families who want an infant-only start with a faith-led ethos, clear routines, and a reliable wraparound day for work patterns. The main hurdle is admission, competition for places looks meaningful, so treat this as a strong option within a wider, realistic shortlist.