Ramsey Spinning Infant School Review 2026: A values-led infant school with a strong reading focus

Because this is an infant school (ages 5 to 7), the usual end of primary Key Stage 2 measures do not apply in the same way they do for a 4 to 11 primary. What matters more for parents is the strength of early reading, phonics, language development and the transition into Year 3.

The most recent published inspection evidence describes reading as a priority across the school, with daily phonics sessions and books matched to phonics knowledge, alongside targeted support for pupils who need help to build fluency and confidence.

This means the “results” story is best understood as readiness for juniors: confident readers, secure early number sense and pupils who can manage classroom routines. If you are comparing infant options, ask for how phonics is taught, how quickly children move through sounds, and how the school spots and closes gaps early.

The curriculum described is broad and ambitious, with deliberate links to local geography and history alongside experiences designed to widen horizons. For an infant school, the practical examples matter. The inspection evidence gives a clear picture of teachers using hands-on approaches, such as exploring capacity and volume using containers and water in mathematics, which is the sort of concrete learning that helps younger pupils understand abstract ideas.

In the early years and Key Stage 1, consistency between classes is a quiet strength. Training is used to support common approaches across year groups, and recap of prior learning is described as routine. That kind of consistency is particularly helpful for pupils who benefit from predictable lesson structures, including some children with additional needs.

One caveat, also reflected in the inspection evidence, is that assessment checks are not always as sharp as they could be, meaning occasional misconceptions can go unnoticed and slow progress through the curriculum. Parents of children who need frequent feedback or rapid intervention should ask how staff identify misunderstandings in the moment, and what “same day” support looks like.

Planning beyond Year 2 is straightforward in principle, because the school sits within a local infant-to-junior pathway and the executive head’s remit covers both the infant and junior schools. In practice, parents should still treat the Year 3 move as an admissions process with its own rules and timings.

In Cambridgeshire, children transferring from infant to junior for September 2026 need to apply for Year 3 if they attend an infant school. That applies to families using this school as their Key Stage 1 base and expecting to move on at 7.

The best approach is to treat Year 3 as its own planning cycle, not an automatic next step. Use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check realistic travel options and to sense-check distances for the junior alternatives you are considering, especially if you are balancing more than one possible route.

Admissions are coordinated through the local authority, which is typical for a state infant school. The timing is not optional. For September 2026 entry, applications opened from 11 September 2025, the national closing date was 15 January 2026, and on-time applicants receive notifications on 16 April 2026.

From, the school was oversubscribed on the main entry route, with 86 applications and 68 offers. That gap is not huge, but it is enough that allocation criteria will matter, particularly for families outside the nearest streets. If you are moving house, or relying on a new address, build in time to confirm how the council will treat your proof of residence.

Open events and school tours often follow an annual rhythm rather than fixed long-range dates. If the school’s calendar shows dates that have already passed, treat those as a pattern indicator and check directly for the current cycle.

Pastoral care at infant level tends to look like routines, calm classrooms and quick adult intervention, rather than formal “wellbeing programmes”. Here, the published inspection evidence points to a happy, harmonious atmosphere underpinned by clear behaviour expectations, and it notes that the school has systems to identify needs and plan support for pupils with SEND.

There is also an explicit acknowledgement that staffing and leadership changes have created some disquiet among a minority of parents, and that work is underway to rebuild trust and communication. For parents who value stability, it is sensible to ask how staffing has settled over the last year, who your main contact is for concerns, and how feedback is gathered and acted on.

The most recent Ofsted visit was an ungraded inspection in April 2025 (published May 2025). It also confirmed safeguarding arrangements are effective.

For an infant school, extracurricular should be judged by two things: whether it is genuinely accessible to young children, and whether it supports core development, confidence, language and social skills.

The inspection evidence describes an extensive range of after-school activities, with examples including juggling and yoga, which is unusually specific and suggests active effort to offer variety beyond standard sport clubs. The pupil leadership roles (house captains, council, eco committee) also belong in this section, because they are structured opportunities for speaking, listening and taking responsibility, all of which are meaningful at ages 5 to 7.

Reading enrichment stands out as a distinctive thread. The school describes events such as bedtime reading activities and a weekly “Read for the Weekend” prize, which is the kind of ritual that can shift reading from homework to habit.

Wraparound care and clubs are provided via an external out-of-school club arrangement, which is useful for working families, but it also means you should check logistics carefully, such as handover routines and which days are covered.

Term dates are published on the school website, including training days and the spring and summer term calendars for 2026.

Wraparound provision is arranged via an out-of-school club partner, rather than being run solely in-house. If you need breakfast club or late pick-up, confirm start and finish times and whether places are capped, as these details can vary by provider and demand.

Given the High Street location in Ramsey, families should assume typical town-centre constraints, such as limited on-street parking at peak times. Walking routes often work well for local families, while those driving may want to do a dry run at drop-off time.

• Infant-only age range. The school finishes at Year 2, so you will be planning a Year 3 move. In Cambridgeshire, children moving from infant to junior for September 2026 need to apply, rather than assuming an automatic continuation.

• Oversubscription is present. With 86 applications for 68 offers small differences in criteria can matter, especially for families outside the closest streets.

• Assessment consistency. Inspection evidence notes that checks on pupils’ learning are occasionally not as effective as they could be, which can allow misconceptions to persist.

• Parent communication history. The inspection evidence references some parental disquiet linked to staffing and leadership changes, alongside work to rebuild trust. Parents who want high-touch communication should explore how updates and feedback operate now.

A well-structured infant school with a clear behaviour language, strong early reading emphasis and deliberate enrichment that goes beyond the basics. It suits families who want predictable routines, a purposeful atmosphere and a Key Stage 1 experience that prepares children carefully for the junior phase. The main challenge is planning ahead, both for admissions timelines and for the Year 3 transition, because demand exists and key deadlines are fixed.