Hassocks Infant School Review 2026: High-expectation infant education with an outstanding start in early years

Because Hassocks Infant School is an infant school, it does not sit neatly in the standard Key Stage 2 comparison world many parents are used to seeing for primary schools, and published headline performance measures can be less prominent than they are for junior or full primary schools. What you can use instead is the quality of the curriculum and early learning practice described in official evaluation, combined with what the school publishes about its approach.

The most recent inspection confirms a Good judgement across overall effectiveness and the main judgement areas, with Outstanding early years provision. That is a strong signal for families whose priority is a high-quality Reception experience and an orderly transition into Year 1 and Year 2.

The school also sits in an admissions context that signals demand. In the most recent admissions, there were 166 applications for 88 offers, which is about 1.9 applications per place, and the entry route is marked oversubscribed. For parents, the implication is simple. If you are targeting a September start, you should treat planning as time-sensitive and make sure you understand the local authority timetable and criteria early.

If you want to compare options locally, the FindMySchool local hub and comparison tools can be a practical way to line up school characteristics and admissions pressure alongside other nearby infant and primary schools, then shortlist based on what matters to your family.

The curriculum emphasis is on building strong foundations. The latest inspection notes that leaders have made important curriculum improvements over a recent three-year period, and that leaders have set out the knowledge they want pupils to learn across subjects, with strong practice in areas such as mathematics.

Early reading is a clear priority. The inspection describes effective phonics teaching in Reception, using a structured programme with established routines, while also identifying that consistency in Year 1 reading practice, particularly around book matching, was an area to strengthen. For parents, this is a useful type of detail because it is actionable. When you visit or talk to staff, you can ask specifically how book banding and phonics progression are handled now, and how children who need extra practice are supported to build fluency.

Writing development includes specific approaches in Reception such as Drawing Club, described as a way to immerse children in stories, art and imaginative play, and to build early composition and vocabulary. That kind of approach often suits children who learn best through talk, pictures and play before they are ready to sustain longer written work.

The school also appears to invest in staff development and subject expertise. The inspection highlights the use of specialists and external expertise, including a specialist music teacher who teaches ukulele and provides teacher training, and training led by a university lecturer to strengthen design and technology. The practical implication is that pupils are more likely to experience consistent teaching approaches across classes, rather than a patchwork that depends heavily on individual staff preferences.

The main transition point is from Year 2 into junior provision. The school notes that children transfer to junior school at the start of the autumn term in the year they turn seven, and that the majority move on to The Windmills Junior School. For parents, that means you should think of Hassocks Infant as one part of a wider primary journey, and consider how the junior school curriculum, pastoral approach and practicalities align with your child.

Transition is supported by shared experiences. For example, pupils in Year 2 take part in Sports Day at The Windmills Junior School, described as part of experiencing a transition day while participating in track and field events. This kind of structured familiarity can be particularly helpful for children who find change daunting, or who benefit from knowing the physical environment and routines before the formal move.

Families thinking longer-term can also consider Downlands Community School as part of the local education landscape, since the junior school shares a site in Dale Avenue with Downlands.

Admissions are coordinated by West Sussex County Council, rather than directly by the school. For September 2026 starters, the school states that applications open at 9.00am on Monday 06 October 2025 and must be submitted by Thursday 15 January 2026. West Sussex also states that outcomes for on-time applications are issued on Thursday 16 April 2026.

Demand is a key theme. The admissions indicates oversubscription, with 166 applications for 88 offers, and 1.89. applications per place In practice, that means it is worth understanding the oversubscription criteria early, and using tools such as FindMySchoolMap Search to check your distance and local context before making housing or childcare assumptions.

For prospective parents, the school runs tours for September 2026 starters during the Autumn term 2025, from the week commencing 22 September through the week commencing 01 December, scheduled on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11.00am (with specific exclusions noted). If you are planning around these, treat the weeks as the key planning window and rely on the school website for the most up-to-date booking arrangements.

Pastoral care at infant level is about routines, safety, and fast response when worries arise. The inspection describes a school where pupils feel safe, know how to get help, and where bullying is described as rare and dealt with promptly. In an infant context, that focus on early intervention and clear adult availability tends to reduce anxiety and improves readiness to learn.

Safeguarding culture is described as effective, with strong practice and a culture of vigilance. Parents weighing schools often care less about policy documents and more about whether the day-to-day culture is consistent. A good question to ask on a visit is how staff spot emerging worries in children who do not yet have the language to explain what is wrong, and how the school works with families when concerns arise.

The school also positions itself as inclusive for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, with high expectations alongside appropriate support.

Extracurricular provision matters even in an infant school because it shapes confidence, friendships, and willingness to try new things. The school describes a range of sports-related clubs during the week, including yoga, multi-sports, football, tennis and dancing. These options can suit different temperaments, from children who want structured team games to those who prefer movement and rhythm-based activities.

There are also leadership-style opportunities designed for young children. In physical education, pupils can be part of a Sports Leadership team that supports events and promotes physical activity. For Year 2 pupils, that kind of role can be a first taste of responsibility, and it often benefits quieter children who might not be the most confident athlete but enjoy helping organise.

Enrichment is not only sport. The writing curriculum references Drawing Club in Reception, and also points to opportunities such as publishing stories, performing poetry, and taking part in author visits and storytelling events. For many families, that signals a school that treats communication as broader than handwriting and spelling, and sees talk and creativity as part of literacy.

Music is also visible as a feature. The inspection references specialist music teaching, including ukulele, with specialist support extending to staff training. In an infant school, that can be a real differentiator, because early music-making supports listening, turn-taking, rhythm and confidence.

The core day runs from a morning gate opening at 8.45am, with registration from 8.50am to 9.00am, and a 3.00pm finish. Lunch is staggered, with Reception eating earlier than Years 1 and 2, which can help the youngest pupils manage the day without fatigue.

Wraparound care is available through an on-site provider, with breakfast club from 7.30am and after-school care up to 6.00pm, plus holiday club offered at a local junior school site.

For travel, this is a village school, so many families will prioritise walkability and the rhythm of drop-off and pick-up. A sensible practical step is to map out your exact route and timings at peak school hours, especially if you are juggling nursery runs or commuter trains, and to check whether wraparound care is likely to be part of your routine.

• Oversubscription pressure. The available admissions data shows 166 applications for 88 offers, and the entry route is marked oversubscribed. Families should plan early and understand the local authority criteria and deadlines.

• Reading consistency question to ask. The latest inspection flagged that early reading practice in Year 1 needed greater consistency, particularly around how well books match pupils’ phonic knowledge. Ask what has changed since that report, and how fluency practice is organised week by week.

• Infant-only structure. The school finishes at Year 2, so you are choosing a first stage rather than a full primary journey. The majority transfer to The Windmills Junior School, so it is sensible to consider the junior transition from the start.

• Tour timing. Tours for September 2026 starters run across a defined Autumn term 2025 window. If you miss that period, you may have fewer chances to see routines in action before applying.

Hassocks Infant School is a well-established, community-rooted infant school with clear routines, a curriculum described as ambitious, and an especially strong Reception experience, reflected in Outstanding early years provision alongside a Good overall judgement. The offer is likely to suit families who want a structured start to schooling, value calm behaviour expectations, and appreciate a school that invests in early reading, mathematics and communication from the outset.

The main challenge is admission competition rather than what follows after entry. It best suits families who can work with West Sussex’s admissions timetable, and who are also happy to plan for the junior transition as an integral part of the wider primary journey.