Eastfield Infant and Nursery School Review 2026, an infant setting that takes early reading, routines, and relationships seriously

Because this is an infant school (up to Year 2), it sits outside the usual Key Stage 2 testing picture that parents often use to compare primaries. The more relevant evidence here is how well the school establishes early literacy, number sense, behaviour routines, and readiness for the next phase.

Ofsted judged the school Good at its last graded inspection (25 September 2019). A later ungraded inspection visit on 26 to 27 November 2024, published 20 January 2025, concluded leaders had taken effective action to maintain the school’s standards.

Looking at what that means in day to day terms, the inspection evidence points to pupils who are comfortable with expectations, and teaching that aims to be clear, purposeful, and engaging from the earliest years. The published report describes Nursery children quickly understanding expectations and following simple instructions, with Reception pupils settling into rules and routines. For parents, the implication is straightforward: if your child benefits from predictable boundaries and calm, consistent adult direction, this setting’s approach is likely to suit.

Demand gives another clue about local confidence. In the most recent admissions data for Reception, 95 applications led to 51 offers, with 1.86 applications per place and an oversubscribed status. Competition is real, even before you look at individual street by street distance effects.

Parents comparing local options can also use FindMySchool’s Local Hub pages and the Comparison Tool to view nearby schools side by side, especially useful where infant and primary phases are split across different sites.

Teaching priorities are explicit and unusually detailed for an infant setting website. English and mathematics are taught daily, with three main teaching blocks separated by mid morning playtime, then a further main session in the afternoon. That rhythm is important for three to seven year olds, because shorter, repeated learning cycles tend to work better than long stretches of sustained seatwork.

Phonics is described as a daily session from Reception to Year 2, framed around mastering the 44 sounds and learning the first 100 tricky words. Early reading is tied to a named programme, Little Wandle, and the school describes structured Reading Practice sessions, aiming for children to read with an adult at least three times per week, supported by staff trained to deliver the approach. The educational implication is that progress is built through repetition and consistency, not occasional guided reading. For a child who needs frequent rehearsal to develop fluency, that can be a strong fit.

The curriculum positioning is also clear. The school describes a child centred, topic based curriculum intended to make learning meaningful and enjoyable, paired with explicit behaviour systems and high expectations. That combination can suit children who thrive on variety and narrative themes, as long as the classroom routines remain consistent.

Physical education is treated as a language rich subject rather than a break from learning. The PE approach includes deliberate vocabulary development through a Word of the Day tied to the skills being practised, and outdoor and adventurous activities feature in the planned curriculum. In early years, the school describes forest school style activity in outdoor spaces as part of developing movement, coordination, and teamwork.

The key transition here is not Year 6 to Year 7, it is Year 2 to Year 3. The school highlights strong links with Westfield Junior School, framed as supporting a good quality move into Key Stage 2. In practice, parents should treat this as an advantage if they want a coherent pathway across infant and junior stages, but still confirm the Year 3 admissions route early, since junior transfers are a separate application process.

For Nursery families, it is also important to note the internal progression rule: a Nursery place does not guarantee a Reception place. The school states this directly and asks families to apply for Reception through the local authority route.

Reception entry is coordinated by the local authority, with places offered from the September after a child’s fourth birthday. For the September 2026 intake in Cambridgeshire, the county’s published primary admissions booklet states applications open from 11 September 2025, with the national closing date 15 January 2026, and offers released on 16 April 2026.

Demand is a practical reality rather than a theoretical risk. With 95 Reception applications and 51 offers in the latest available admissions figures, families should assume competition for places and plan sensibly, particularly if you are moving house or relying on a narrow margin of proximity.

Nursery admissions run differently. The school states children start Nursery in the term after their third birthday, and highlights access to universal funded hours for eligible children, with additional hours subject to availability. The critical decision point for parents is to separate childcare convenience from school place strategy. Even if Nursery fits perfectly, you still need to apply for Reception through the formal process.

Open events follow a stable annual pattern. The school describes an open evening held at the beginning of November each year, plus guided tours during the school day by arrangement. If you are shortlisting, FindMySchool’s Map Search is the sensible next step, it helps you understand how your home location relates to realistic travel patterns and local alternatives before you pin everything on one setting.

Safeguarding information is unusually well signposted for an infant setting. The designated safeguarding team is clearly listed by role, and the school positions child welfare as the top priority, alongside work with external agencies. It also explains how Operation Encompass notifications are used to ensure appropriate support is available after domestic abuse incidents attended by police.

SEND support is presented as practical and embedded. The school identifies its Special Educational Needs Coordinator and describes an inclusion team supporting social skills, speech and physical development, and targeted help in reading and mathematics. It also notes in house speech and language expertise within the teaching assistant team. For parents of children with emerging needs, that suggests the school expects to do early identification and early intervention, which can be especially valuable at infant stage.

Online safety is treated as part of the computing curriculum and is reinforced through updates for parents and carers. At this age, the most important implication is consistency between school messaging and home practice, rather than a long list of apps or platforms.

In infant settings, the most meaningful enrichment is often a blend of structured clubs and everyday broader experiences that keep children active, social, and curious.

Wraparound provision is delivered via Club4U, with breakfast club, after school club, and holiday club referenced explicitly as options for families. That matters for working parents, but it also supports continuity for children who do better with predictable pick up and drop off routines.

The school’s approach to PE gives a second strand of enrichment. Outdoor and adventurous activities feature in the PE curriculum, and early years provision references forest school style activity in outdoor spaces. A related sports premium plan also refers to development work in a named Spinney area and a forest school type club approach, signalling that outdoor learning is not just an occasional theme day.

Community life is strengthened by an active parent and staff association, which runs events through the year. The school describes activities including children’s discos, school fayres, quiz nights, Christmas shopping events, and film nights. For families, the implication is that social cohesion is deliberately built, which can make settling in easier for both pupils and parents.

The school publishes a clear timetable. Main school doors open at 08:45 and close at 15:15, with lunch running from 11:55 to 13:05. Nursery session times are also set out, but families should check availability and arrangements directly with the school, particularly if you are considering all day patterns.

Uniform expectations are straightforward, with practical guidance for PE kit and an emphasis on naming items. The school also notes that children in the main school are currently entitled to a free lunch each day.

For travel planning, the setting sits in Eastfield, St Ives, off Pig Lane. Drop off and pick up will naturally be the busiest pinch points, so families who can walk or use short stay parking habits will usually find the daily routine easier to sustain.

• Oversubscription is not theoretical. With 95 applications for 51 offers in the latest Reception admissions data, entry can be competitive. Families should treat application strategy and realistic preferences seriously.

• Nursery does not guarantee Reception. A Nursery place is valuable childcare and a strong introduction to routines, but Reception admissions are still handled through the local authority process.

• You will face an earlier transfer point. Because the school ends at Year 2, families need to plan for a junior transfer at Year 3 rather than assuming a single setting through to Year 6.

• The setting is deliberately structured. Daily phonics, repeated reading practice, and explicit routines suit many children well. If your child struggles with tight routines or needs a highly flexible day, you should pay attention to how the classroom rhythm feels during a tour.

This is a well organised infant and nursery setting that prioritises early reading, routines, and a calm culture, with clear safeguarding structures and a strong emphasis on relationships with families. It suits children who benefit from consistent expectations, frequent reading practice, and a topic based approach that still keeps daily English and mathematics at the centre. The main challenge is admissions competition at Reception, and the practical need to plan early for the Year 3 transfer.