Dimple Well Infant School and Nursery Review 2026: A CARES-led start, with reading at the centre

For an infant school (ages 3 to 7), parents should expect less emphasis on headline end-of-primary test outcomes, because pupils do not remain through to the end of Key Stage 2. What matters more here is the quality of early reading, phonics, language development and curriculum sequencing, because those are the foundations pupils take into Year 3 at a junior or primary school.

The school’s most recent inspection outcome was Good (inspection dates 01 and 02 November 2022), with Good recorded across quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.

There is also a helpful piece of context in the report for families comparing older reputations: an earlier Outstanding judgement is explicitly described as being under a previous inspection framework, with a longer-than-usual gap between inspections due to historic exemption from routine inspection. That matters because it signals that the current Good judgement reflects the modern framework rather than legacy labels.

Reading is the most clearly evidenced academic strength. The inspection describes leaders prioritising reading, staff training to deliver a relatively new phonics programme, and a logical sequence for teaching sounds across early years and Key Stage 1. Importantly for parents, the report also describes reading books being matched to pupils’ phonics knowledge, which is one of the practical “make or break” details in infant settings: when book matching is tight, confidence and fluency tend to build quickly; when it is loose, pupils often guess and fall behind.

Curriculum design is characterised as ambitious and well sequenced, with regular opportunities for pupils to practise and develop subject-specific skills. A concrete example is given in art and design, where pupils develop drawing skills through tools and techniques such as colour mixing, then apply these to self-portraits. For parents, this is a good indicator that foundation subjects are not treated as filler, but are planned with progression in mind.

The main teaching and learning caveat is also clearly stated: assessment practice is variable. Where ongoing assessment is used well, it helps teachers pinpoint what pupils can do next; where it is missed, pupils’ progress can be held back. Families deciding between local options may want to ask how assessment routines are now standardised across classes, particularly around reading catch-up and the step-by-step build in foundation subjects.

Because this is an infant school, the key transition is into Year 3 at a junior or primary school, rather than into a secondary school. In Wakefield Metropolitan District, Year 3 places are not automatically allocated at the end of Year 2, families must apply for transfer. For September 2026 transfer, the council states the online parent portal opens on 01 November 2025 and closes on 15 January 2026.

Parents who want to plan early can make good use of FindMySchool’s Map Search when comparing likely junior and primary destinations, then sense-check those options against the local admissions criteria and travel routines.

Admissions for Reception are coordinated through Wakefield Council rather than handled solely by the school. For September 2026 Reception entry, the council states the online portal opens on 01 November 2025 and the national closing date for on-time applications is 15 January 2026.

The school’s published admission number is stated as 60 per year group. Infant class size legislation is also referenced, noting that Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes will not normally exceed 30.

When the school is oversubscribed, prioritisation is described in policy terms, with distance used as the tie-break within categories, measured “as the crow flies”, and with those living nearest having priority.

Demand looks real. Recent published admissions figures show 86 applications for 33 offers, which is about 2.61 applications per place. In practice, that tends to mean families should treat admission as competitive unless their circumstances strongly match priority criteria.

Nursery admissions

Nursery entry works differently from Reception. The admissions page states that nursery takes children from the term after their third birthday, subject to application and availability. It also states 26 nursery places are available in the morning and the same number in the afternoon.

The early years admissions policy sets out how free entitlement hours are used. It states that all eligible children receive 15 universal hours, and that some are eligible for an additional 15 hours (expanded entitlement). It also states the nursery has 52 part-time places in autumn and spring terms, increasing to 64 part-time places in summer term, and that up to 8 expanded entitlement places are offered at any time (with the possibility of increase at the discretion of the headteacher and governing body).

Wellbeing and behaviour are presented as core strengths. The inspection describes warm and respectful relationships, pupils striving to meet expectations, and good behaviour around school. For parents of younger children, that matters because early years confidence is often built through predictable routines, clear adult responses, and consistency across settings.

Safeguarding is also covered directly in the inspection narrative, including appropriate checks on staff suitability and pupils being taught how to stay safe, with the curriculum supporting understanding of risk.

Personal development is described as woven through the curriculum, with a suggested improvement to strengthen this further through discrete personal, social, health and economic education sessions. For families, that is a useful prompt question: how does the school now timetable and teach relationships, health and safety learning in a way that is age-appropriate for nursery and Key Stage 1?

Extracurricular life is referenced explicitly in the inspection report, which notes pupils having opportunities to take part in activities including Taekwondo, football and choir. In an infant context, these activities are less about elite pathways and more about confidence, coordination, listening, teamwork and enjoying school.

School information suggests open events are planned with different needs in mind. The school website has listed multiple open day sessions across late January to March, including quieter sessions flagged as suitable for children who may need a more relaxed visit, such as children with SEND. Dates change each year, but the pattern is useful: families who want a lower-stimulus introduction should look for those quieter slots when booking.

The school prospectus states split-day sessions, with school sessions running 8.40 am to 12.15 pm, then 1.15 pm to 3.10 pm. It also states nursery sessions run 8.45 am to 11.45 am or 12.15 pm to 3.15 pm, and that 30-hour places operate between 8.45 am and 3.15 pm.

Wraparound care is not clearly set out in the prospectus, and parents who need breakfast or after-school provision should confirm current arrangements directly, including whether places are limited and how collection times work alongside the split day.

Uniform guidance in the prospectus indicates that items do not need to carry a logo and can be bought from typical retailers, which usually keeps costs more predictable for families.

• Competition for places. With 86 applications for 33 offers (about 2.61 applications per place), admission can be a limiting factor. Families should keep a realistic second and third preference and understand how priority categories and distance are applied.

• Assessment consistency. The inspection notes variability in how assessment is used day-to-day. If your child learns best with very clear next steps and rapid feedback loops, ask how assessment routines are now aligned across classes, especially in reading and phonics catch-up.

• Split-day logistics. The published school sessions describe a lunchtime break between morning and afternoon sessions. For working parents, midday transport and childcare can be the practical stress point, so it is worth clarifying current lunchtime supervision and collection expectations.

• Planning the Year 3 move early. Year 3 places are not automatic for infant school leavers in Wakefield. Families should calendar the Year 2 transfer application window, portal opens 01 November 2025 and closes 15 January 2026 for September 2026 transfer.

A well-organised infant school with attached nursery provision, a clear CARES values framework, and strong evidence that early reading and behaviour are handled with care and high expectations. It suits families who want a structured, supportive start to school life in the Ossett area, and who value phonics done properly alongside a broad early curriculum. The main challenge is getting a place, so use FindMySchool’s comparison tools to shortlist alternatives and sanity-check travel and admissions criteria before committing emotionally to a single option.