Bushey and Oxhey Infant School Review 2026: A calm, can do start to primary

As an infant school, there is no Key Stage 2 results set to interpret here, so the most informative external benchmark is inspection evidence about curriculum quality, early reading and how securely pupils are prepared for junior school.

The latest Ofsted inspection (31 January and 1 February 2024) judged the school Good across all graded areas, including quality of education, behaviour, personal development, leadership and early years provision.

What matters for parents is the direction of travel since the previous inspection cycle. The 2024 report describes a curriculum that is clearly sequenced, consistently taught, and supported by trained additional adults. Reading is highlighted as an area that has improved, with staff modelling expressive reading aloud and deliberately developing vocabulary, alongside structured support for pupils who find early reading difficult.

Curriculum planning is described as organised and specific, with teachers expected to follow a sensible knowledge sequence so pupils build understanding without confusion. Classroom practice emphasises checking what pupils remember, revisiting learning and addressing misunderstandings quickly. That is particularly important in an infant school, because gaps can widen fast if early concepts in phonics, number and vocabulary are not secure.

Reading sits at the centre of the learning model. Reception children are taught the school’s reading scheme so they grasp early decoding, then Key Stage 1 builds confidence and fluency with targeted support for those who need extra practice. The combination of structured phonics, deliberate vocabulary development and high-quality books is the right recipe at this age, because it supports comprehension as well as decoding.

There are also two clear improvement points that are useful for parents to understand. First, in some subjects, staff are not always fully secure in subject knowledge and can accidentally teach misconceptions. Second, a minority of pupils can lose concentration without this being spotted quickly enough, which can reduce learning time in those moments. These are not unusual issues in primary, but they do signal where leaders are likely to keep focusing training and classroom routines.

Most families will think about two transitions, moving into Year 3 and then later into secondary. The immediate question is Year 3.

In Hertfordshire admissions terms, Bushey and Oxhey Infant School is formally listed as a linked infant school with Bushey Manor Junior School. For families who want continuity into Year 3, that link can matter, because it can be used within junior school allocation rules. It is still an application process, but the relationship between the schools is recognised officially.

Beyond Year 6, Hertsmere and Watford sit near each other geographically, so families often weigh a mix of local comprehensive options and selective routes depending on the child. The most sensible approach is to focus first on a strong Year 3 to Year 6 pathway, because that is what shapes readiness and confidence for secondary choices later.

Reception entry is coordinated through Hertfordshire County Council rather than directly by the school. The published admission number is 60 for Reception, which aligns with two classes in the year group.

Demand data indicates real competition. There were 134 applications for 59 offers in the most recent admissions snapshot provided, with the route classified as oversubscribed and 2.27 applications per place applications per offer. The practical implication is that families should assume distance and priority criteria will be applied tightly, and they should list realistic alternatives on the local authority form.

For September 2026 entry, Hertfordshire’s key dates are clearly set out. The online system opens 3 November 2025, the application deadline is 15 January 2026, and national allocation day is 16 April 2026. Offers need to be accepted by 23 April 2026.

Parents comparing options locally can use the FindMySchool Map Search to sense-check travel time and practical day-to-day fit alongside admissions rules, especially when several infant schools are within a short radius and small differences in routine make a big difference to family logistics.

Pastoral practice here is built around inclusion and early intervention. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are described as being identified promptly, with staff guidance and training supported by external specialists so pupils can access the curriculum alongside peers. In an infant setting, that combination of early identification and consistent classroom adaptation is often what prevents difficulties becoming entrenched.

The school also links personal development to real experiences rather than abstract lessons. For example, the inspection report references pupils singing at a local care home as an act of service. That kind of outward-facing activity is a good fit for this age group because it builds confidence and empathy without demanding mature reflection.

The inspection confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective, and the same report points to improved attendance this academic year, even while noting that persistent absence remained an area leaders were still working to reduce.

Clubs and activities are unusually well-developed for an infant school, and they run across both lunchtime and after school. For Spring 2026, the published club offer includes Chess Club, French Club, iRock, Lego Club, Debbie Does Dance, Year 1 and 2 football, Year 1 and 2 dodgeball, musical theatre, plus singing and drama lessons.

This matters because enrichment at this age is less about specialism and more about widening what children think school can be. A pupil who finds early reading hard may still discover confidence through Lego building challenges, music sessions or a performance-based club. Done well, that confidence carries back into classroom learning.

The federation also runs a busy calendar of community events through its Parent’s Association, including large seasonal fundraisers and smaller activities that children remember, such as themed days. These events strengthen the sense of belonging for pupils who are new to school routines, and they give parents informal ways to connect beyond the school gate.

The infant school day starts at 8.50am and finishes at 3.20pm. Before-school childcare runs from 7.30am to 8.40am, and after-school childcare runs until 6.00pm (5.30pm on Fridays), with the after-school childcare located at Bushey Manor Junior School. A separate after-school club window is listed as 3.05pm to 4.15pm.

For transport, Bushey railway station is the most obvious rail hub for commuter families, and it anchors bus and walking routes across the area.

• Competition for places. Admissions data shows more than two applications per offer in the latest snapshot, so families should plan for a realistic chance of not securing a Reception place, even with a local preference.

• Linked junior school does not remove the need to apply. The Hertfordshire linked-school arrangement supports continuity into Year 3, but it still operates within an allocation process and does not replace formal applications.

• Curriculum consistency depends on staff subject knowledge. The latest inspection highlights the risk of misconceptions being taught in some subjects when subject knowledge is less secure. Parents who prioritise depth beyond English and maths should ask how staff training and curriculum checks work in practice.

• Wraparound is strong but operationally split across sites. Breakfast care is at the infant school, while after-school childcare is based at the linked junior school site. For some families this is ideal, for others it adds a small layer of logistics at pick-up time.

Bushey and Oxhey Infant School is a solid, well-organised choice for ages 5 to 7, with clear routines, strong attention to early reading and an inclusive culture that starts in Reception and carries through the school day. The enrichment offer and wraparound care are practical strengths, and the linked junior school arrangement supports continuity for families who want a straightforward Year 3 transition.

Best suited to families who want a calm, structured start to school life, value early reading and language development, and will benefit from reliable wraparound care. The main constraint is admissions competition, so shortlisting sensible alternatives is part of applying realistically.