Crabtree Infants' School Review 2026: Outstanding early years and infant education in Harpenden

Infant schools do not publish KS2 outcomes because pupils leave at the end of Year 2, so there is no statutory Year 6 SATs data to use as a simple headline. for this school, primary performance metrics and rankings are not available, so there is no FindMySchool England rank to report here.

What parents do have, and it is highly relevant, is the most recent inspection outcome and the detail behind it. The latest Ofsted report rated the school Outstanding overall (7 February 2024), with Outstanding judgements across the graded areas. That is an unusually clear external signal for families weighing up early years quality.

The practical way to interpret this in an infant context is less about test technique and more about learning habits: secure phonics foundations, language-rich classrooms, and staff who understand how to move children from play-based early years learning into more sustained tasks in Year 1 and Year 2. The inspection report also highlights that pupils can flourish, including children in the early years, which aligns with what many parents most want at this age: confidence, curiosity, and readiness for the next stage.

Reception practice is described on the school site in practical terms, including “child initiated learning” within continuous provision, and an approach where the timetable shifts as children grow in independence and concentration. That signals a developmentally aware model: start with routines and exploratory learning, then gradually increase the proportion of more directed tasks.

Curriculum planning is framed across the infant and junior schools, with a stated emphasis on understanding pupils’ prior learning and the typical next steps as children progress through the linked schools. For families, this can reduce transition friction: if your child stays on into the junior school, curriculum sequencing should feel coherent rather than like a reset.

Outdoor learning is also positioned as a regular feature through “Woodland Learning” sessions, designed to build understanding of the natural environment. In an infant school, this kind of structured outdoor learning can be more than “fresh air”; it supports vocabulary development, early scientific thinking, and teamwork in a context that suits many young children.

As an infant school, the main “destination” question is Year 3. Crabtree Infants’ School is linked with Crabtree Junior School on the same site, but the school is explicit that there is no automatic transition, and parents must still complete the common application process for a junior place. Linked-school status can be relevant within oversubscription criteria, but it does not remove the need to apply.

For parents, the implication is straightforward: if your plan is to continue into the junior school, you should treat the Year 3 move as a real application step, not a formality, and keep an eye on Hertfordshire’s published timelines.

Reception entry is coordinated through Hertfordshire, and the school publishes key dates for the 2026 to 2027 cycle: applications open 3 November 2025; the closing date is 15 January 2026; offers are made 16 April 2026; and the accept or decline deadline is 23 April 2026, with appeals by 15 May 2026 at 4pm.

Demand indicators suggest competition: 264 applications for 59 offers, and an oversubscribed status, with around 4.47 applications per place. This does not mean every applicant is equally likely to be offered, but it does mean families should be realistic about relying on a place without a strong admissions-case fit under the published criteria.

The school also references prospective parent information sessions for Reception 2026 to 2027, which is worth using as a decision tool if your child is sensitive to transitions. Reception transition arrangements described by the school include summer-term visits, a parent welcome meeting, a transition day, and familiarisation materials such as videos and photographs.

The school website positions wellbeing as part of everyday practice rather than a bolt-on, and staffing roles listed for the infant school include a mental health lead and wellbeing support alongside SEND leadership. For parents, the key question is how quickly concerns are noticed and acted upon at this age; having named responsibility can help with clarity and communication.

The inspection report language around a harmonious, inclusive environment is especially relevant for Reception and Year 1, when friendships, self-regulation, and confidence to speak up are forming rapidly.

Extracurricular at infant age only works when it is concrete and age-appropriate, and the school publishes a detailed infant clubs offer. Examples include Chess Club, Gardening Club (Years 1 and 2), Sewing Bugs Club (Years 1 and 2), Art Club, Dance Club, Drama Club, and a FizzBug STEM Lego Club. Music options include Rock Choir and a Year 2 Ukulele Club.

This breadth has a practical implication for families: a child can try structured enrichment without a heavy weekly load. Gardening and woodland learning support confidence outdoors; chess and Lego support concentration and early problem-solving; performance options like dance and drama can suit children who learn best through movement and storytelling.

The school publishes the compulsory week length and day timing for the infant school as 08:45 to 15:15, and notes that this total includes lunch and breaks and does not include optional wraparound provision.

Wraparound care is provided via FizzBug, with breakfast club running 07:30 to 08:45 and after-school club 15:15 to 18:30. For working parents, those hours are a meaningful part of feasibility, not an afterthought.

For term planning, the school publishes term dates and identifies some early finishes (for example, last day of term closing at 13:00 on stated dates). Families should still check the latest calendar each year, especially around INSET days.

• Competition for Reception places. Recent demand data indicates an oversubscribed picture, with more than four applications per place. If you are moving into the area, do not assume a place is “typical” without reading the admissions rules carefully.

• Infant to junior transition is not automatic. Even with linked-school status, families must apply for the junior school place when the time comes. Plan ahead to avoid surprises in Year 2.

• Clubs often run on specific days and some take place on the junior site. This can be convenient, but it can also add logistics at pick-up. It is worth mapping your weekly routine before committing to multiple activities.

Crabtree Infants’ School offers a very strong start for children aged 4 to 7, backed by an Outstanding inspection outcome and a clearly articulated values-led culture. The breadth of age-appropriate clubs and wraparound care strengthens day-to-day practicality for many families.

Who it suits: families seeking a calm, well-organised infant setting with strong early years practice, a clear enrichment menu, and a structured transition into Reception. The main hurdle is admission, because demand appears to outstrip places.