Callis Grange Nursery and Infant School Review 2026: A well organised start, with standout personal development and clubs

Because Callis Grange is an infant school (up to Year 2), there is less public exam style data available than parents might be used to seeing for junior or primary schools. What you can usefully judge is whether the building blocks are in place: reading and language development, early number sense, routines, and behaviour that makes learning possible.

The most recent inspection outcome is clear and current for the school’s phase. The latest Ofsted inspection (20 April 2022, published 16 June 2022) judged the school Good, with Outstanding grades for Behaviour and Attitudes and for Personal Development.

Underneath the headline grade, the report paints a picture of an ambitious curriculum and good learning habits. It highlights themed days such as French Day and International Day, used to broaden pupils’ understanding of cultures and diversity, which is a strong fit for infant age curiosity when done consistently.

Teaching at this age lives or dies on clarity, repetition, and careful sequencing. The school’s published curriculum pages indicate structured subject planning across areas such as history and character education, with progression built in rather than treated as a loose set of topics.

There is also evidence that the school takes digital learning seriously as a teaching tool, not a bolt-on. Callis Grange has been awarded the Naace Mark for the fifth consecutive time (October 2021), which is typically used by schools to validate effective use of technology to support teaching and learning. For parents, the practical implication is that computing and digital tools are likely to be used confidently by staff across the week, rather than appearing only in occasional specialist lessons.

A fair reading of the 2022 inspection also suggests the school is attentive to how assessment supports teaching. One improvement point in the report focuses on making sure assessment approaches beyond reading and mathematics are aligned closely to curriculum content, so teachers can identify what is secure and what needs revisiting. This is the sort of technical, nuts and bolts improvement that tends to matter more than families expect, because it directly affects how quickly gaps are spotted in the early years.

As an infant school, the key transition is into Year 3 at junior level. The school’s extended services information describes it as based on the same site as St Peter’s Junior School and notes shared use of space for junior school events at times. In practice, that kind of co-location often supports smoother transition, with familiar physical spaces and established links between staff teams.

For parents who are thinking longer term, it is worth viewing this school as a foundation stage and Key Stage 1 specialist. The best question to ask on tours is not “where do pupils go at 11”, but “what does the school do in Year 2 to prepare pupils for the junior curriculum”, especially around independent writing stamina, core number facts, and routines for longer lessons.

There are two distinct admissions routes to understand: Nursery (Rainbow Class) and the main school intake.

Reception entry is coordinated by Kent County Council

The council’s published key dates for September 2026 entry are precise: applications open Friday 7 November 2025, the national closing date is Thursday 15 January 2026, and offers are issued on Thursday 16 April 2026.

Callis Grange’s own admissions page reinforces that the local authority manages admission arrangements and applications for the main school intake.

Demand is high

The school is oversubscribed in the latest main entry data, with 217 applications for 90 offers, a ratio of 2.41 applications per place. If you are shortlisting on proximity grounds, use the FindMySchool Map Search to check your precise distance from the school gate, then keep a realistic Plan B shortlist alongside it.

Nursery admissions are handled separately

For September 2026 Nursery entry, the school states that applications become available in March 2026, and it has published tour dates in late April and early May 2026.

Nursery sessions are set out clearly, which helps parents model childcare patterns alongside travel time and working hours.

Wellbeing at infant age is rarely about formal counselling systems and far more about predictable routines, fast adult response, and clear safeguarding practice. The school identifies designated safeguarding leadership on its public information pages, and the inspection report confirms that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

There is also a strong thread of social learning and friendship management. School achievements information references a Think and Talk approach to solving friendship difficulties, framed as helping pupils build problem solving skills and resilience. For parents of younger children, that can be a meaningful differentiator, because early friendship fallouts can quickly spill into reluctance to attend.

Clubs are a major strength here, and the details matter because they show the school is thinking about skill development, not just keeping children busy.

A current clubs booklet (updated September 2025) sets out a structured programme across Key Stage 1 with a mix of sport, creative, and enrichment options. Examples include Gymnastics (linked to the British Gymnastics Proficiency Awards Scheme), Speed Stacking (cup stacking sequences that build concentration and coordination), Now Press Play (immersive audio adventures through headphones), and Forest School club sessions that use features like a mud kitchen and a treetop platform, plus den building, fires and tool safety.

For children who prefer quieter activities, there are lunchtime options such as Gardening Club and Book Club, and a free Choir that focuses on learning songs and building confidence singing as a group.

Sports participation also has visible milestones. The school’s sports page highlights specific events such as football festivals and agility podium events, which suggests children are given chances to participate in structured competitions rather than only informal playground sport.

School day structure is published clearly, which is a big help for working families and for those weighing nursery versus main school patterns. Nursery sessions run 8:45am to 11:45am (morning) and 11:45am to 2:45pm (afternoon), and the main school day is split into 8:35am to 12:00 noon and 1:00pm to 3:05pm.

Wraparound care exists in two main forms. Breakfast Club runs in the hall from 8:00am to 8:35am, and the published charge is £3.00 per day, with limited daily places.

After school clubs typically run 3:00pm to 4:00pm, and the school’s extended services information also references links with local childminders and an external childcare provider relationship for families needing longer cover. Availability and arrangements can change year to year, so confirm the current setup when you enquire.

Lunch arrangements are also straightforward for parents to plan around. Nursery children who attend all day bring a packed lunch, while children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free hot school meal, with lunchtime running from 12:00pm to 1:00pm supervised by midday staff.

• Competition for places. With 217 applications for 90 offers in the latest main entry data, admission is a genuine hurdle for many families. Have a strong backup list, and keep your distance checking precise rather than relying on rough map estimates.

• The day is split. Main school sessions are published as morning and afternoon blocks rather than a single continuous timetable. For some families this is simple and familiar; for others it requires careful planning around wraparound, clubs, or childcare handovers.

• Clubs can be a commitment. The clubs booklet sets expectations around attending once a place is agreed, and some clubs have limited places or selection processes (for example gymnastics). That structure suits many children well, but it can be tricky for families with variable work patterns.

• Assessment alignment is an improvement area. The 2022 inspection points to the need for tighter alignment between curriculum content and assessment approaches beyond reading and mathematics. It is a technical point, but it is worth asking how it has been addressed, because it affects how quickly learning needs are spotted.

Callis Grange is a strong option for families who want an organised, routines-led start to schooling, with personal development and behaviour as clear priorities, and with unusually detailed extracurricular planning for Key Stage 1. It suits children who respond well to structure, enjoy clubs, and benefit from consistent adult guidance around emotions and friendships. The main constraint is admission pressure, so families should shortlist realistically and keep alternatives live alongside it.