The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
A clear through-line runs from the front-gate routine to the classroom culture here, children are encouraged to arrive with growing independence, settle quickly, and get learning straight away. The school’s own language sets the tone, “Everyone is valued and learning is fun”, and the latest external check aligns with that picture, describing calm classrooms, well-established routines, and a strong focus on personal development alongside early literacy and maths.
This is a state infant school serving pupils aged 4 to 7, with places coordinated through Hampshire County Council. It sits in Havant and has capacity for 270 pupils. Competition for Reception places is real, with 122 applications for 73 offers in the most recent admissions data. (Admissions patterns can shift year to year, but it is clearly not a walk-in option.)
Leadership is stable, with headteacher Lara Jelliff in post since September 2020.
The day is structured to help very young children feel safe and capable. Drop-off is deliberately short and purposeful, staff are present to welcome children, and pupils are encouraged to come into class independently, with class “animal” markers used to help children find their way.
That same “learning through symbols” approach shows up in the wider culture. The school uses a set of “learning animals” to give Reception and Key Stage 1 children an accessible vocabulary for behaviours such as thinking carefully, making links, and persevering. It is a simple device, but it helps children talk about learning in concrete terms rather than abstract ones.
Pastoral tone matters in infant schools because small worries become big ones quickly. Here, the emphasis is on early support and strong relationships with families before children start school. The most recent report notes that staff take time to understand what is behind children’s barriers, and that “any hint of harmful language or behaviour” is dealt with quickly.
As an infant school, there are no GCSE, A-level, or Key Stage 2 outcomes associated with this setting, pupils move on to junior provision at the end of Year 2. Instead, the most useful “results” indicators are curriculum quality, early reading, and how well pupils are prepared for the next phase.
The latest Ofsted inspection (1 and 2 November 2023) confirmed the school remains Good.
Early reading is a clear priority. Phonics starts promptly in Reception, staff are described as knowledgeable, and the school has invested in books matched to the sounds pupils are learning, so children can practise with a high chance of success. Maths is also described as accurate and carefully checked through regular assessment, with groups adjusted to meet need, including very small group or individual support where required.
One improvement theme is worth noting because it tells you how leaders are spending their energy. The report highlights variability in the clarity of the “pathway” from early years into Year 1 in a couple of subjects, and points to ongoing work to refine progression and build subject leadership.
The curriculum is designed around three stated drivers: real-life, hands-on experiences; vocabulary development; and a love of reading and books. These drivers are practical for an infant school because they translate into daily classroom decisions, what stories are chosen, how talk is structured, and how topics are made memorable.
Reading is treated as a core “engine” for the rest of the curriculum. That shows up not only in phonics and matched reading books, but also in the way the wider curriculum is described as coherent and progressive, with leaders drawing on published schemes and adapting them sensibly to local needs.
Outdoor learning is not an occasional enrichment bolt-on. The prospectus describes weekly outdoor learning, including use of a meadow area within the school grounds. For children who learn best through doing, this can be a decisive “fit” factor, especially in the early years where confidence, language, and self-regulation develop fast outdoors.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
FMS Inspection Score calculated by FindMySchool based on official inspection data.
The main transition point is into Year 3 at a junior school. Families should plan ahead because the move from infant to junior is a formal admissions step, not an automatic continuation. Hampshire provides a dedicated application route for Year 3 transfer for children in Year 2 at infant schools.
It is also worth noticing that the school’s travel planning work is explicitly described as being done in cooperation with Bosmere Junior School and local partners, which signals active local links around day-to-day logistics and the wider community context.
For families thinking longer-term, the practical implication is simple: shortlist junior schools early, check catchment arrangements, and keep an eye on key dates. FindMySchool’s Map Search can help you sanity-check distance and local alternatives before you commit to a move.
Reception admissions are coordinated by Hampshire. For September 2026 entry, the school’s own admissions page states applications opened on 01 November 2025 and closed on 15 January 2026. Hampshire’s published key dates confirm the same deadline and give the on-time notification date as 16 April 2026.
The most recent demand figures available indicate oversubscription at Reception entry, with 122 applications and 73 offers (a ratio of 1.67 applications per place offered). This is the headline reality check: families should treat admission as competitive, particularly if they are relying on a late change of address or a last-minute application.
If you are applying late, Hampshire provides a late application route for Year R.
Applications
122
Total received
Places Offered
73
Subscription Rate
1.7x
Apps per place
In infant settings, pastoral strength often looks like lots of small, consistent interventions rather than headline programmes. Here, early identification and support for pupils with additional needs is explicitly described as a strength, and the school is clear about building relationships with parents from before children start.
The prospectus describes an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), trained and supervised by educational psychologists, and a Therapeutic Active Listening Assistant (TALA) role, intended to give children a safe space to talk through worries. It also describes a Child and Family Support Worker working with families across the year.
Safeguarding is stated as effective in the most recent inspection.
For a school of this age range, extracurricular “success” is less about elite performance and more about breadth, confidence, and giving children a first taste of interests that may stick.
Outdoor learning and Forest School activity are a standout feature because they are described in concrete, practical terms. The Forest School round-up lists activities such as den building, using woodwork tools, making crafts, and cooking on a campfire (including popcorn and simple breads). These sessions do more than entertain, they build language, teamwork, and resilience through managed risk and shared routines.
Clubs are also referenced as deliberately mixed, with the inspection noting opportunities to “have a go” and start building an interest or skill, including examples such as gardening, cooking, or sport. On the more formal club side, a football club for Year 1 and Year 2 run by CM Sports, finishing at 4.15pm on Tuesdays.
The school operates a flexible start. Children can be dropped off between 8.30am and 8.40am, and the school day ends at 3.10pm. The published total compulsory opening time is 32.5 hours per week.
Wraparound care is provided on site by Active8 Minds. The “Wake-Up Club” runs from 7.30am and is priced at £5.00, with a drop-off option after 8.10am priced at £3.00; after-school provision runs until 6pm with sessions priced at £6.00 (to 4.30pm) or £11.00 (to 6pm), with a Friday single session option.
For travel, the Park and Stride scheme is designed to reduce congestion at the gates and uses town-centre car parks during agreed times.
Competition for Reception places. The latest admissions data indicates 122 applications for 73 offers, so entry is competitive and planning matters.
Infant-only setting means a second admissions step later. Families will need to apply again for Year 3 at a junior school; it is not an automatic continuation.
Curriculum refinement is an active workstream. The latest inspection highlights that progression from early years into Year 1 is less clearly defined in a couple of subjects than in most others; families who care about foundation subject sequencing may want to ask how this has developed since November 2023.
Wraparound is available, but it is an extra cost. On-site provision runs 7.30am to 6pm with published session prices, so it is worth modelling weekly costs early if childcare flexibility is a key need.
This is a structured, child-centred start to schooling that puts early reading, routines, and personal development at the core, backed by a stable leadership picture and a recent inspection that aligns with the school’s stated ethos. It will suit families who want a clear daily rhythm, strong early literacy foundations, and outdoor learning as a real part of school life. The main hurdle is admission, and the second planning point is the later move to junior school.
The most recent inspection in November 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. The report describes calm classrooms, strong routines, and a clear focus on early reading and mathematics, alongside effective safeguarding.
Reception applications are coordinated by Hampshire County Council. For September 2026 entry, applications opened on 01 November 2025 and closed on 15 January 2026, with offers notified on 16 April 2026 for on-time applicants.
No. This is a state school, so there are no tuition fees. Families should still budget for typical school costs such as uniform and optional wraparound childcare if needed.
Pupils transfer to a junior school for Year 3, and families must make a separate application through the Hampshire Year 3 (junior) transfer process. It is sensible to research junior school options early and track key dates for the transfer round.
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