Priory Park Infant School & Pre-School Review 2026: Values-led early years with Forest School built in

At infant phase, the most meaningful academic signals tend to be early reading, language development, and whether the curriculum is well sequenced so children remember what they have learned. The latest inspection points to a recent focus on early reading that has made a positive difference. Staff training is described as appropriate, and books are matched to the sounds pupils know. Children begin phonics in playgroup, which supports a smoother move into Reception. By the time pupils leave Year 2, many are described as confident, accurate and fluent readers.

Curriculum design is another strong theme. Leaders are described as understanding how very young children learn and develop, and the curriculum is planned with pupils’ next steps in junior school in mind. In practice, that matters because transition at Year 3 is a real change, not just a new classroom.

The main academic development point flagged in the inspection is about remembering over time. In some subjects, pupils do not revisit learning frequently enough, which can limit recall and make it harder for new learning to build securely. Leaders are reviewing curriculum and assessment processes in response.

The timetable structure shows an emphasis on reading, daily routines, and short, varied learning blocks that suit infant attention spans. The school sets out a clear daily rhythm, including guided reading in the morning and a dedicated phonics slot after lunch, with a 3.15pm finish. For parents, this kind of clarity is helpful, particularly for children who benefit from predictable routines.

Early years practice is described as practical and skills-based. The inspection notes adults using questioning well to develop reasoning and understanding, and an “interesting curriculum” in playgroup and Reception that builds the foundations for Key Stage 1.

Subject coverage is also laid out clearly in school materials. Alongside the core, pupils study foundation subjects including history, geography, computing, design and technology, religious education, music, art, physical education, and personal, social and health education. The point is not breadth for its own sake. It is about giving children enough shared knowledge and vocabulary that later learning in junior school has something solid to build on.

Inclusion is treated as a whole-school responsibility. The latest inspection notes secure identification of special educational needs and disabilities, and staff adapting learning so pupils can access the curriculum, including one to one support, hands-on activities, and quiet spaces when needed.

Because this is an infant school, the main progression point is the transfer to Year 3 at a junior school. In St Neots that typically means a move to a local junior option rather than staying on site.

The key practical point is that transfer is an application step, not an automatic roll-on. Cambridgeshire County Council states that children in infant schools need an application to transfer to Year 3 for September 2026. Families considering Reception here should plan early for that later decision, especially if they want a specific junior school.

The school’s curriculum intent is designed with this handover in mind, with leaders explicitly considering next steps for junior school in how the curriculum is planned.

Admissions are coordinated through the local authority route for Reception entry. The county’s published timeline for September 2026 entry sets out that applications open from 11 September 2025, the national closing date is 15 January 2026, and offers are issued on 16 April 2026.

Demand is real. In the latest admissions snapshot available there were 87 applications for 55 offers, which indicates an oversubscribed picture overall. With 1.58 applications per offer, the school is not in the extreme “lottery” tier, but it is competitive enough that preference strategy and distance can matter. (Families comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tools to review admissions pressure across nearby infant and primary schools.)

Capacity planning is also changing. The school states that its published admission number has been reduced to 60 from September 2025, linked to lower demographic numbers locally. That can affect class structure and availability, so parents should treat older anecdotes about year group sizes cautiously.

The school notes that it runs multiple open sessions each year and can arrange tours by appointment. If you are shortlisting seriously, use FindMySchool Map Search to check your exact distance against likely allocation patterns, then confirm the current oversubscription criteria for the specific intake year.

For infant-aged pupils, pastoral strength often shows up as adult consistency, calm routines, and clear safeguarding systems. The latest inspection confirms that safeguarding arrangements are effective. It also describes leaders providing support for families and making referrals to other agencies when needed, which is particularly relevant for children where speech, attention, or emotional regulation issues start to appear at this age.

Online safety is introduced early, in a way that fits young children. The inspection notes that pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe, including online, and are beginning to take responsibility for their own safety in an age-appropriate way.

Support for staff matters too, because staff wellbeing is closely linked to consistency for children. The inspection notes leaders considering workload and wellbeing, and that early career teachers feel supported through training.

The school avoids the trap of treating “clubs” as an afterthought. A distinctive feature is “Clubtime” on Friday afternoons, where each year group takes part in a club block, chosen by children, over a three-week cycle. The school lists examples including yoga, multi-sports, ceilidh dancing, board games, construction, singing and drawing club. This structure makes participation feel normal rather than selective, which is useful for pupils who are shy or new to the school.

Forest School is not positioned as a once-a-year treat. The school’s own materials describe a Forest School journey beginning in the pre-school environment and continuing through Reception to Year 2, with sessions every other week across the three years children are with the school. The latest inspection also references forest school experiences as part of the curriculum offer. For parents, the implication is straightforward: children who learn best through hands-on exploration get regular structured time for it, not only during summer term.

Trips and visitors are part of the wider picture. The inspection notes visits in the local area such as the library and museum, and participation in a local music festival each year. These are small experiences that add up, particularly for pupils who benefit from practising behaviour, listening, and vocabulary outside the classroom.

Wraparound care is available via an external provider based in the playgroup building, with morning provision from 7.30am to 9am and afternoon options extending to 4pm, 5pm or 6pm, plus a walking bus to and from the main school. This is a practical advantage for working families, although it does mean availability and terms sit with the provider rather than the school itself.

The school day starts early and finishes at a standard infant time. Gates open at 8.40am, classroom doors open at 8.45am, and the day runs to 3.15pm, totalling 32.5 hours per week. The school also sets out fixed points such as assembly and break, which helps families plan drop-off and collection with confidence.

Wraparound care is offered before and after school through an external provider (see Beyond the Classroom), with morning cover from 7.30am and afternoon cover up to 6pm. Parents should confirm places early if they rely on those times, as demand can be seasonal.

For transport, the school’s local authority area is designed around short journeys for most families, but admissions can still create longer trips depending on allocations. If you are weighing options, distance is worth modelling early rather than relying on assumptions.

• Infant-only structure. Transfer to Year 3 is a separate application decision rather than a simple roll-on. Families should plan ahead for junior school choices and timelines.

• Curriculum recall is an improvement focus. The latest inspection highlights that in some subjects pupils do not revisit learning often enough, which can limit recall over time. Leaders are addressing this, but it is worth asking how it is being implemented now.

• Published admission number has reduced. The school states its PAN reduced to 60 from September 2025, linked to demographic change. Fewer places can sharpen competition in some years.

• Wraparound is provider-led. Before and after-school care is available, but it is run by an external provider, so policies, availability, and day-to-day arrangements may differ from school-run clubs.

This is a Good-rated infant school with a clear focus on early reading, calm behaviour, and a curriculum that takes children’s developmental stage seriously. The combination of structured phonics, explicit values, and regular Forest School experiences should suit children who respond well to routine, hands-on learning, and steady adult guidance. Entry remains the practical hurdle in some years, especially alongside the reduced PAN, so families serious about a place should prepare early, shortlist alternatives, and use tools like Saved Schools to keep decisions organised.