Littleton CofE Infant School Review 2026: Church of England nursery and infant with a strong early years focus

The 2023 inspection narrative points to calm routines and strong behaviour expectations, and it highlights the centrality of early reading as a deliberate whole-school priority.

The curriculum emphasis aligns with what matters most for ages 2 to 7, language development, early reading, early mathematics, and confidence with foundational knowledge. The latest inspection describes staff as having secure subject knowledge and adapting teaching so that pupils with additional needs are included and achieve well.

Early reading is treated as the engine room. The inspection report describes leaders prioritising reading so pupils can access the wider curriculum, with staff trained to deliver phonics and regular story-time sessions.

A useful nuance for parents is that the same report flags assessment consistency as the main development point, specifically that checking what pupils know is stronger in reading than in some other subjects. That is the kind of detail that often shows up in day-to-day experience, children may fly in phonics while teachers tighten how they spot small misconceptions elsewhere.

Because Littleton is an infant school, transition at the end of Year 2 matters. The school identifies two local junior schools in Shepperton, St Nicholas Church of England Primary School and Saxon County Primary School.

St Nicholas is described as giving priority to children transferring from Littleton, up to a stated maximum class size of 32, and the school advises parents to check the most current admissions criteria each year.

Reception entry is coordinated through Surrey, and the school publishes the key dates clearly. Applications for Reception 2026 open on 3 November 2025, the on-time closing date is 15 January 2026, and allocations are issued on 16 April 2026.

This is a voluntary aided Church of England school, so families should expect faith-based criteria to matter in the oversubscription process, and the school notes that a supplementary form is required for certain criteria, submitted by the local authority application deadline.

Demand is the other critical piece. indicates 105 applications for 30 offers for the relevant entry route, with the school marked oversubscribed and a subscription ratio of 3.5 applications per place. That level of pressure is consistent with a one-form entry school where a small change in local demand can shift outcomes materially.

Nursery admissions are separate from Reception and have their own rhythm. The nursery page states that children are admitted the term after their third birthday, with entry points in September, January and April if places are available, and applications are being accepted for September 2026.

Safeguarding is one of the areas where parents usually want a firm statement backed by the most recent official evidence. Ofsted stated that safeguarding arrangements are effective and described a strong safeguarding culture, including staff training, record-keeping, and timely action with external agencies where needed.

Beyond safeguarding, the school positions wellbeing for safety, security and belonging within a Christian framework, and it links that to parent partnership, especially in the earliest years where home routines and school routines need to align.

For a nursery and infant setting, enrichment works best when it is structured, short, and practical for working parents. Littleton publishes a clear clubs offer, including Multi Sports, Gymnastics Club and Football Club, plus Rocksteady Music Lessons delivered during the school day.

These are not token add-ons. For pupils who are still very young, clubs provide a low-stakes way to practise listening, turn-taking and perseverance in a different context to the classroom, which often helps confidence in Reception and Key Stage 1.

Family involvement also features as part of the wider offer, with the school explicitly encouraging parents to engage through Family Worship and opportunities such as Reading Ambassador activity.

The school day runs from 8.50am to 2.55pm, with gates opening at 8.30am for a soft start.

Wraparound care is clearly set out. Morning Club runs Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 8.30am. After School Club runs in two options, collection at 4.00pm or 5.30pm, and it is available for children from Nursery to Year 2.

• Oversubscription is real. With 105 applications for 30 places in the most recent entry-route data, many families will not secure an offer even if Littleton is their first choice.

• Faith criteria can shape outcomes. As a voluntary aided Church of England school, admissions can involve a supplementary form for certain criteria and families should read the 2026 to 27 admissions policy carefully before assuming how places will be allocated.

• Assessment consistency is a stated improvement area. The latest inspection identifies assessment precision as stronger in reading than in some other subjects, which is worth probing at open events if your child needs especially clear feedback loops.

• Transition planning matters at 7. This is an infant school, so you will need to plan ahead for junior transfer, including understanding how priority works at local options such as St Nicholas.

Littleton CofE Infant School suits families who want a small, community-rooted Church of England setting with a strong early reading focus, clear routines, and practical wraparound options for the nursery and infant years. The limiting factor is admission, not the day-to-day experience, so it works best for parents who engage early with Surrey’s timetable and the school’s faith-related paperwork where relevant.