Martin Frobisher Infant School Review 2026, Early Years to Year 2 with a strong outdoor learning strand

This is an infant school, so Key Stage 2 outcomes do not apply. The most relevant public measures are Early Years Foundation Stage outcomes and the Year 1 phonics screening check, alongside school reported end of Key Stage 1 teacher assessment information.

In 2025, the school reports that 67% of children achieved a Good Level of Development at the end of Reception, compared with 68% in England’s published comparator data that the school references. In the same year, 82% met the phonics screening threshold in Year 1, compared with 75% in the England comparator cited on the school website.

The school also publishes teacher assessment summaries for Year 2, including an overall reading, writing and mathematics combined figure of 71% at the expected standard for 2025, alongside greater depth figures across subjects. Because statutory national Key Stage 1 assessments have changed, these figures are best read as a direction of travel rather than a like for like league table comparison. They are still useful for parents, because they indicate whether the school’s internal assessment is ambitious and whether a meaningful proportion of pupils are being stretched beyond the expected standard by the end of Year 2.

Curriculum intent is described as themed and responsive to children’s interests, while still being grounded in the National Curriculum and the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. The practical benefit of that combination is breadth without losing sequencing, children get motivating themes and talk rich tasks, but leaders are still accountable for coverage and progression.

Early reading is positioned as a cornerstone. The school’s reading and phonics information focuses on building from phonics knowledge into comprehension and enjoyment, and explicitly links school progress to what happens at home through shared reading. In infant settings, that home school alignment is often the single most powerful lever for sustained reading development.

Writing is described as sitting on three foundations, systematic phonics, enriched reading, and planned development of talk and vocabulary. That emphasis is developmentally sensible at this age, because sentence level control and spoken language typically predict later writing confidence more strongly than premature extended writing targets.

The main transition point is into Year 3 at a junior or primary school. Wakefield runs a coordinated transfer process for children moving from Year 2 in an infant school to a junior or primary school for September 2026, with the parent portal opening on 1 November 2025 and on time applications closing on 15 January 2026. Offers are available from 16 April 2026.

Locally, one of the obvious next step options is Normanton Altofts Junior School, which references that parents of pupils at infant school are usually asked to complete preference forms in the autumn before transfer. The local authority’s school listings also group Martin Frobisher Infant School within the Freeston pyramid, which gives families an additional starting point for shortlisting nearby partners and likely transfer routes.

Admissions work differently depending on the entry point, and it is worth being clear about that before you plan childcare or a house move.

Nursery

The school describes a 78 place nursery, delivered as up to 39 part time places across morning and afternoon sessions, with a minimum of eight places designated for the extended entitlement. Nursery admissions are handled by the governing body and follow the local authority’s part time admissions policy. A nursery place does not guarantee a Reception place.

Reception

Reception entry is coordinated by Wakefield Council. For September 2026 entry, the online parent portal opens on 1 November 2025, the national closing date is 15 January 2026, and offers are available from 16 April 2026.

Demand

For the most recent published demand snapshot provided, Reception route demand is oversubscribed, with 74 applications for 39 offers. That equates to around 1.9 applications per place, which is competitive for a small infant school and suggests that timing and accurate preferences matter.

Parents who want a clearer picture of whether their address is likely to be in range should use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check their practical journey and compare it with recent admission patterns, and keep in mind that allocation distances, where used, vary year to year.

Safeguarding language on the school website is clear and direct, emphasising moral and statutory responsibilities, prompt action, and early help. That kind of clarity is meaningful in an early years context because the home school relationship is often at its most intensive in Nursery and Reception, and families need to know how concerns will be handled.

Beyond safeguarding, the wider wellbeing picture is reinforced by routines and relationships. Official evidence highlights strong relationships between adults and pupils, mutual respect, and pupils’ confidence that adults will help if they have a worry. For most children, that combination is what makes a first school experience settle quickly, especially for those new to group settings.

This is where the school differentiates itself. Three strands stand out because they are named, intentional, and linked to development outcomes rather than being a generic clubs list.

Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL)

The school is participating in OPAL, a structured approach to improving the quality of play through better resourcing and planning. In practice, this matters because play is not treated as downtime. It becomes a space for turn taking, negotiation, physical confidence, and imaginative language, all of which support classroom learning without pushing formal instruction too early.

Forest School

Forest School is described as interest led learning that develops skills week by week and uses a changing natural environment. The implication is greater independence and practical problem solving, which tends to suit pupils who learn best through doing, building, and exploring, not just sitting and listening.

Early years family engagement

The school references the 50 Things To Do Before You’re 5 initiative, which is explicitly framed as a way of involving parents in practical activities with guidance. In an infant setting, that kind of shared programme can reduce inequality of experience, because it gives families an easy menu of ideas that build vocabulary, attention, and curiosity.

Wraparound provision adds another practical layer. Breakfast club runs 7:45am to 8:45am, and after school club offers three time bands up to 6:00pm, with published session prices and food options for longer sessions.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Most cost conversations are about wraparound care, uniform, trips, and optional extras.

The main school day is 8:55am to 3:20pm, with classroom doors opening at 8:45am. Nursery sessions are 8:30am to 11:30am or 12:30pm to 3:30pm for the universal 15 hour offer, and the school also describes patterns for the 30 hours entitlement for eligible parents.

For travel planning, the school sits in Altofts, near Normanton, and families should factor in drop off routines and parking constraints on local roads at peak times. For precise route planning and realistic walking times, FindMySchool’s Map Search is the quickest way to compare options across nearby schools.

• Reception places are separate from nursery places. The school is explicit that nursery admission does not guarantee a Reception place. Families relying on an all through childcare plan should read this carefully and plan a Reception application early.

• Competition for places. Recent demand data indicates oversubscription at the Reception entry route, at around 1.9 applications per place. That does not mean a place is impossible, but it does mean preferences and deadlines matter.

• Year 3 transfer is another decision point. Children will need to apply to move on to a junior or primary school. For September 2026, the closing date for on time applications is 15 January 2026, so families should treat Year 2 as the planning year for the next step.

• Be clear on session patterns if you need wraparound. Breakfast club and after school club have defined booking requirements and session options. If you rely on them for work patterns, check availability and booking lead times early.

A small, community anchored infant school that takes the early years seriously, not just as childcare but as a foundation for learning habits. The curriculum emphasis on themed learning, early reading, and structured outdoor play is coherent, and the published wraparound offer makes day to day logistics more workable for many families. Best suited to families in Altofts and the surrounding Normanton area who want a nursery to Year 2 setting with strong routines and an outdoors led approach. The limiting factor is typically admission demand rather than the educational offer.