Newdigate CofE Endowed Aided Infant School Review 2026: Small village infant school with forest learning and strong early reading

As an infant school (to age 7), the usual national performance metrics families look for at junior or primary level are less consistently available in public results, and no current Key Stage 2 outcomes apply because pupils move on before Year 6. The latest inspection provides the best externally verified picture of academic quality and curriculum strength.

The latest Ofsted inspection, dated 26 September 2023, states the school continues to be Good.

Within that, early reading is described as a clear priority. Phonics is described as very well taught by trained staff, with Reception starting letter sounds and blending immediately and a consistent approach that builds confidence. The inspection also references a “reading café” model where parents share books with children, supporting reading for pleasure alongside decoding.

Mathematics is also positioned as a strength, especially early number. The inspection describes frequent opportunities for younger children to count forwards and backwards and a structured approach that builds mathematical language and explanation, not only correct answers.

There is also a useful improvement point for parents to understand. The inspection notes that in a small number of foundation subjects, the precise steps of knowledge have not been identified sharply enough, meaning some pupils may not build learning as well as they could. In a small school, this sort of curriculum refinement can be very fixable, but it is still a real question to ask: which subjects are being tightened up, and how does the school check that knowledge builds over time.

The teaching picture here is coherent: clear routines, close checking of progress, and intervention when children are not keeping up. The inspection describes teachers regularly reviewing progress and stepping in quickly when pupils fall behind, then adapting approaches so pupils get the support they need. In practice, in an infant setting, that usually means more guided group work, additional phonics practice, and tighter feedback loops with families.

Early years provision is described in particularly positive terms, with staff characterised as skilled practitioners who adapt tasks for children who find learning harder. That matters because the range in Reception can be wide, summer born children, children new to English routines, and children still developing speech and self regulation. Strong early years practice shows up in the basics: settling quickly, following routines, and building language through structured play.

Parents often ask whether “small school” means “limited curriculum”. The evidence here suggests the opposite intent. The inspection describes an ambitious curriculum with carefully chosen topics to capture imagination and stimulate interest, plus deliberate sequencing of knowledge in most subjects. The outdoor element, including forest learning, is also used for cross subject links such as geography, art, and physical education.

Because this is an infant school, the main transition is into Year 3 at a junior or primary school. For most families, the key question is less “destinations” and more “continuity”, whether a child can move into a junior setting smoothly and whether friendships and routines are protected.

The school is within Surrey’s coordinated admissions context. Parents should expect to apply through the local authority route for the next stage, and to use the published admissions information for the relevant area when planning Year 3. Surrey produces local admissions booklets by district, which are the best place to confirm options and criteria for the next school stage.

A practical suggestion: families comparing multiple infant and primary routes can use FindMySchool’s local hub and comparison tools to see how nearby options differ on size, phase structure, and admissions pressure, especially if you are deciding between an all through primary versus an infant plus junior path.

Entry is primarily at Reception, with applications coordinated through Surrey’s primary admissions process. For September 2026 entry, Surrey states the on time closing date for applications is 15 January 2026. Offer outcomes are issued on 16 April 2026 for Surrey applicants using paper routes, aligning with national offer day timing.

Demand is not extreme in absolute numbers, but it is meaningful in ratio terms for a small school. The most recent admissions figures provided show 34 applications for 17 offers for the primary entry route and a status of oversubscribed, which is consistent with a school where places can be tight if you apply late or if criteria do not favour your family.

The best way to plan is to treat admissions as a criteria exercise, not a vibes exercise. Confirm how the school’s voluntary aided status and Church of England character affects priority, check whether supplementary forms apply, and use precise address based checks rather than assumptions. Families can also use FindMySchool’s map search tools to sanity check travel distance and day to day practicality, especially in a village area where small differences in journey time matter.

Open events appear on the school’s news stream, including a listed open day timing in November in prior years. If you are applying for a future intake, assume open events often run in the autumn term and check the school’s current calendar for confirmed dates.

Pastoral work in infant schools is mostly about consistency, emotional language, and adult availability. The inspection evidence indicates the school values pupils as individuals and provides support for learning and emotional wellbeing, with pupils knowing there is always an adult to turn to. That is a strong baseline.

Behaviour is described as positive and linked to high expectations, with low level disruption described as uncommon. For parents of younger children, the implication is that classroom time is not being constantly reset, and that staff time goes into learning and support rather than repeated crowd control.

The wider culture piece is also worth noting, because it is distinctive. The inspection references an “Is it OK?” culture, a simple, repeated prompt that encourages children to consider whether actions are acceptable and to speak out if they are not happy with a situation. For many families, that translates into a practical, child friendly approach to boundaries and early safeguarding language.

Extracurricular provision at infant level is often more about variety and childcare wraparound than elite performance, and that seems to be the case here.

The school lists specific clubs including multi sports, drama, coding club, and football. These are exactly the kinds of activities that can broaden confidence at this age, especially for children who are not naturally drawn to formal classroom tasks. Multi sports builds coordination and turn taking, drama supports speaking and listening, and coding clubs at infant level usually focus on sequencing and problem solving rather than screens.

There is also a very specific facility hook: the school notes that during the summer its swimming pool is open after school, Monday to Friday, for parents to enjoy with their children. That is unusual for an infant school, and it points to a community use mindset rather than facilities that sit idle outside lesson time.

Forest learning is another pillar, and it shows up in both the inspection narrative and the school’s own description of woodland sessions. On the pre school side, forest sessions are described as taking place in the school’s woodland, with den building, mini beast hunts, and practical outdoor activity. In the main school context, the inspection notes pupils particularly enjoy outdoor learning in forest school, and teachers link it to subjects such as geography, art, and physical education.

This is a state school, so there are no tuition fees. Families should still plan for the normal costs that come with infant schooling, including uniform items, trips, and optional clubs.

Wraparound care is clearly signposted. The school states that breakfast club runs daily from 8:00am and an after school “Rainbow club” runs from 3:10pm to 5:00pm Monday to Thursday.

Term dates for 2025 to 2026 are published on the school site, including inset days and the core term structure.

On travel, this is a village setting in Newdigate, so most families will be thinking for walkability within the village and short drive routes from nearby rural areas, rather than train station commutes. If you are choosing between multiple schools, test the actual school run timing at drop off and pick up, because a small infant school can feel very different if your journey is easy versus a daily squeeze.

Nursery provision note: the school site also hosts a separate on site pre school for younger children, which can be valuable for continuity. For nursery and pre school fee details, use the official pre school information directly, and also check eligibility for government funded hours if relevant.

• Competition for places. Recent admissions figures indicate roughly two applications per place for the main entry route, and the school is described as oversubscribed. If you are outside priority criteria, you should plan alternatives early rather than relying on late movement.

• Curriculum refinement in a minority of subjects. External review points to a small number of foundation subjects where the knowledge steps were not yet defined precisely enough at the time of inspection. Ask how this has been addressed, and how leaders check consistency across subjects in a small staff team.

• Faith character is real. The Church of England ethos is central, not cosmetic. Families who are unsure should ask about collective worship arrangements and how inclusive the school feels for children from other backgrounds.

• Infant only structure means a planned transition at Year 3. Some children thrive on a fresh start at seven, others benefit from staying in an all through primary. If continuity matters for your child, look carefully at the junior stage options and how transition is handled.

Newdigate CofE Endowed Aided Infant School looks strongest where it matters most for ages 4 to 7: early reading, early number, routines, and relationships. The setting offers more than the basics too, with forest learning and a clear set of clubs for young children, plus wraparound care that will matter to working families.

Who it suits: families who want a small, community rooted Church of England infant school with a strong emphasis on phonics, early maths, and outdoor learning, and who are comfortable planning the Year 3 move to a junior school.