Howden Church of England Infant School Review 2026: Church school warmth with a strong early reading focus

Infant schools do not publish Key Stage 2 outcomes because pupils leave before Year 6, so the best way to judge outcomes is through the quality of early literacy, early number, and the consistency of learning habits.

Reading is positioned as a priority in the most recent published inspection. The report describes reading being taught well across year groups, with regular assessment of phonics knowledge used to plan next steps, and staff training supporting consistent delivery. It also notes that the Year 1 phonics screening check outcomes increased in 2019 and were similar to the national average, which matters because it signals the school is at least keeping pace on a key early benchmark.

Mathematics is also described positively, with the inspection noting improvements since the previous inspection and outlining an approach that builds secure number facts and place value understanding, then applies these to calculation. For parents, the implication is a school that is aiming for genuine mastery, not just worksheet completion, with children expected to explain their thinking as well as get answers.

One realistic caveat appears in the published inspection’s improvement points. It highlights that some Reception children who are ready for early word reading were still being sent home picture books rather than books with words early enough, reducing practice opportunities at home. That is the kind of detail families can use constructively: ask how reading books are matched to current phonics knowledge, and how quickly home reading ramps up once children can blend sounds.

The school’s curriculum language on its website emphasises a carefully sequenced approach that is built around guiding questions and enriched through visits, visitors and experiences. In practice, that tends to work well in an infant setting because pupils learn best when topics are structured, revisited, and linked to vocabulary development. The school also publishes year group curriculum overviews that show how topics are organised across the year, which is helpful for parents who want to understand what is coming next and how learning builds.

The published inspection gives the clearest view of classroom practice. It describes a blend of adult led and play based activity in Reception that supports early reading development, and it highlights staff expertise in phonics teaching, including regular assessment and targeted support for pupils who start to fall behind.

In foundation subjects, the same inspection notes pupils cover interesting topics and learn new skills, while also flagging that curriculum sequencing was still being refined in some areas at the time, including design and technology, geography and history. For parents, the practical question is what has changed since then: how subject progression is mapped, how vocabulary is revisited, and how leaders check that learning is retained over time.

Because this is an infant school, the main transition is into Key Stage 2. Most families will be thinking about Year 3 at a junior school, and in Howden that often means Howden Junior School, which is nearby and closely linked in community terms. It is sensible to ask the infant school how transition is handled, for example, whether children have familiarisation sessions, shared events, or information transfer that supports continuity for pupils who need it.

It is also worth asking how the school supports pupils who may move to a different junior school, for example due to childcare patterns or family moves. The earlier that transition planning starts, the smoother the Year 3 adjustment tends to be, particularly for pupils with additional needs or those who are younger in the year group.

Reception admissions are coordinated by East Riding of Yorkshire Council. For children due to start Reception in September 2026, the council states the portal opens from 01 September 2025 and the deadline is 15 January 2026, with the national primary offer day on 16 April 2026. The school’s own admissions page reinforces that applications for Reception entry are made through a child’s home local authority, and that late applications are considered after on time applications.

Demand data indicates the school is oversubscribed, but not in a way that suggests extreme pressure. In the most recent figures provided, there were 73 applications for 60 offers, which is about 1.22 applications per place. That typically means distance and oversubscription criteria will matter for some families, but many local applicants will still be successful if they apply on time.

For September 2026 entry, the school website also notes an appeals timetable, with appeal forms to be submitted by 22 May 2026 and appeals planned for June and July 2026. Families who are on the boundary of likely admission should consider using FindMySchool’s Map Search to check practical travel options and to compare nearby alternatives before the deadline, rather than relying on assumptions about proximity.

In an infant school, wellbeing is not a separate programme, it is daily practice: routines, expectations, and relationships. The published inspection describes pupils as feeling safe and notes a strong safeguarding culture, with timely staff training and thorough checks on new staff and volunteers.

Behaviour is described as positive and consistent, with high expectations and pupils getting on well together. Importantly for parents, bullying is characterised as extremely rare in that report. That does not mean incidents never happen, but it does suggest the school has a culture where issues are identified early and handled quickly, which is usually what families want at this age.

The inspection also highlights that pupils with special educational needs and or disabilities are supported well. If your child has additional needs, it is worth asking how support is organised day to day, how progress is tracked, and how the school works with outside professionals.

Extracurricular life in an infant school should feel like extension, not pressure. The school’s after school clubs list gives useful specificity. Clubs are described as changing each half term, and examples include dance, Spanish club, football, gardening and choir. That mix is a good sign for this age group because it balances physical activity, creativity, and language exposure.

The published inspection adds further detail on enrichment. It refers to a range of after school activities, including art, dance and sewing, and also mentions opportunities for pupils to learn musical instruments such as recorder, violin and ukulele. The implication for families is breadth: children can discover interests early, and those interests can become part of their identity before the more complex social dynamics of junior school.

Because clubs vary, parents who care about a particular area, for example music, languages, or sport, should ask what is running this term and what typically appears across the year. For some families, a consistent weekly club is a childcare support as well as an enrichment activity, so the practicalities matter.

The school publishes clear day timings. Doors open at 08:40 and close at 08:50, with the day starting at 08:55. The end time is 15:10 for Reception, and 15:15 for Years 1 and 2.

Wraparound childcare is not set out clearly in the published school day information. The school does offer after school clubs, but clubs are not the same as a daily paid childcare provision, so parents who need reliable before school or after school coverage should ask directly what is available, and whether any external providers support pick up and drop off.

For travel, Howden has a railway station, and National Rail lists it as Howden station. In practice, many families will be walking or using local roads for drop off. If you drive, it is worth asking the school about parking expectations and any preferred routes during peak times, especially if you have siblings at nearby schools.

• Inspection date. The most recent published Ofsted inspection report is from 27 to 28 November 2019. A lot can change over several years, so ask what has developed since then, particularly around the curriculum sequencing points raised in that report.

• Oversubscription still matters. Recent demand figures indicate more applications than offers. If you are applying for September 2026 entry, on time application is important because late applications are handled after those submitted by the deadline.

• Home reading mechanics. Early reading is a strength, but one improvement point in the last published inspection related to how quickly some children moved from picture books to books with words for practice at home. Parents should ask how book banding and phonics practice are handled now.

• Wraparound clarity. Clubs are available, but if you need consistent daily childcare coverage, do not assume it is offered. Ask for the current provision and how places are allocated.

Howden Church of England Infant School offers a reassuring infant stage experience: a clear emphasis on early reading, consistent behaviour expectations, and a community minded Church of England character with local church links. The most recent published inspection supports that core picture, particularly around pupils’ wellbeing, safeguarding culture, and the priority given to reading and phonics.

Best suited to families who want a grounded, values led infant education in Howden, with a strong start in literacy and a school culture that prioritises calm routines. The main challenge is practical rather than educational, securing a place if demand remains above capacity, and lining up wraparound childcare if you need it.