Stalyhill Infant School Review 2026, a focused start for ages 5 to 7 in Stalybridge

Infant schools do not have GCSE style headline outcomes, and the most useful question for parents is usually whether early reading, writing and number work are taught clearly and systematically. On that measure, the most recent official picture is broadly positive. The February 2022 inspection notes high levels of concentration in lessons and a culture where pupils understand that leaders expect them to work hard and achieve well.

Early reading is the main area where Ofsted pointed to inconsistency for a minority. The report notes that some pupils were given reading books that were too difficult relative to their phonics security, which can slow fluency and confidence. For parents, the practical implication is simple: if your child is not taking off with early reading, you should expect the school to be open to a tight feedback loop on book matching, sounds being learned, and what is practised at home.

Beyond reading, the inspection describes a well-designed curriculum with clear sequencing, a broad and ambitious offer, and staff with strong subject knowledge supported by training. That matters most in an infant school when it translates into well-paced phonics, maths that builds secure number sense, and topic work that genuinely grows vocabulary rather than just producing a display.

The curriculum intent published by the school places explicit weight on learning behaviours, including Building Learning Power capacities and the language of “growth mindset”, taught in an age-appropriate way through “super-learner characters” and the ideas of resilience, resourcefulness, reciprocity and reflectiveness. That is not a magic ingredient on its own, but it can be useful in an infant setting because it gives teachers a consistent way to talk about effort, attention and trying again, especially for children who are still learning how to be learners.

Classroom practice, as reflected in the inspection, includes frequent quick checks on prior learning so misconceptions are surfaced early and teaching can be adapted. For young pupils, this kind of responsive teaching is often more important than any particular scheme because small misunderstandings in phonics and number can compound quickly if they are not spotted.

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are referenced in the inspection as being identified and supported through effective processes, with support helping pupils with SEND to know and remember more as they progress. The senior team list also indicates federation-level SEND leadership alongside the Head of School role, which can help consistency across the infant and junior sites.

Because this is an infant school, the main destination question is not “which secondary”, but what happens at Year 3. The infant site describes a well-established transition programme to the neighbouring Stalyhill Junior School, and also notes that the two schools are part of a federation with a single Executive Headteacher and governing body.

For parents, this usually means two things. First, day to day alignment, such as shared priorities and consistent safeguarding culture, can be stronger than in a looser “feeder” relationship. Second, you still need to engage with the junior admissions process as a separate step, even when the relationship between schools is close. (More on that in Admissions below.)

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

Reception entry is coordinated by Tameside local authority, not by direct application to the school, and the school follows the local authority admissions policy. Demand looks real rather than theoretical. The most recent admissions data available shows 68 applications for 39 offers, which is 1.74 applications per place offered, and the route is recorded as oversubscribed.

The practical takeaway is that families should treat this as a school where you need a Plan B, even if you feel very local. Where distance is a deciding factor, it can be tight, and annual patterns shift depending on where applicants live.

For the September 2026 intake, Tameside’s published timetable for primary applications includes a closing date of 15 January 2026 and an offer date of 16 April 2026. The local authority also sets a late-January cut-off for address changes to be considered within the allocations process, which matters for families moving house.

Open days are not presented as a fixed calendar event on the admissions page. The school states it is happy to show prospective parents and children around, and, once a place is allocated, it runs welcome events in the summer term before children start.

A practical tip: if you are comparing more than one local option, use the FindMySchool Map Search to check your exact distance and likely travel route, then keep your shortlist in Saved Schools so you can compare admissions timelines and notes in one place.

Safeguarding is a headline strength in the most recent inspection, with effective systems for recording concerns, staff training, and prompt referrals where needed. Pupils are described as confident about reporting worries to adults and receiving useful information on staying safe, including online safety.

On day-to-day safety, the school publishes clear procedures that parents tend to care about in infant settings: gates locked at 9.00am with late entry through the main front door and sign-in; visitor sign-in and badge system; and structured handover at classroom doors. The guidance on collection arrangements is also explicit, including the expectation that collection by older siblings is only allowed when the sibling is over 16 and the school has been informed in advance.

There is also a broader “soft pastoral” layer in the way the school frames culture. The Character Awards attributes are prosocial and self-regulatory, and are the kind of framework that can help young pupils name emotions and behaviours, even if they cannot always manage them yet.

Ofsted’s 2022 report gives unusually concrete examples for an infant setting. It notes clubs and activities including pottery, a singing club, and opportunities for pupils to write and illustrate their own comics. Those details matter because they show enrichment is not confined to the obvious sports day staples; it includes creative and practical making, which often suits this age group particularly well.

Outdoor learning is also a clear feature. The school’s Forest School page describes six-week blocks for all children across the school (in alternate weeks), delivered by a trained Forest School practitioner supported by school staff. In infant years, that kind of structured outdoor programme can support vocabulary, confidence and cooperative play, especially for children who learn best through movement and hands-on tasks.

Reading is positioned as a whole-school priority, including a dedicated Stalyhill Loves Reading section and encouragement for families to use the school library after school. The practical implication for parents is that home reading can be better supported when there is both a consistent phonics approach and a culture that treats books as normal daily life, not a chore reserved for weekends.

The compulsory learning day runs 8.45am to 3.15pm. Wraparound childcare is available through Wise Owl Before and After School Club for registered pupils, with published session times of 7.30am to 9.00am and 3.15pm to 5.45pm on weekdays in term time.

For travel and pick-up, the school publishes a one-way system for the car park opposite the site, intended to reduce congestion and improve safety around drop-off and collection. Families who drive will want to build in time for that traffic pattern, and families who walk will want to note the emphasis the school places on prompt departure from the premises after drop-off and pick-up, to keep the playground and entrances flowing on busy days.

• Competition for places. The most recent admissions figures available show 68 applications for 39 offers, with the route recorded as oversubscribed. This is the kind of demand level where having at least one realistic alternative matters.

• Early reading book matching. The most recent inspection highlighted that a small number of pupils were given reading books that were too difficult relative to their phonics security. If reading confidence is a known vulnerability for your child, ask how book bands and phonics checks are used to keep challenge appropriate.

• A planned transition is still a transition. Moving on at Year 3 can be smooth, particularly with a strong relationship and federation links, but it still means a change of site, staff and routines at age seven. Families should pay attention to how your child typically copes with change, and how the transition programme is staged.

• Wraparound is fee-funded. Wise Owl is financed by fees rather than being provided as a free extension of the school day. For many families this is a practical non-issue, but it is worth factoring into budgeting if you will rely on regular sessions.

Stalyhill Infant School suits families who want a specialist start to school life, with clear routines, a strong focus on behaviour and character language, and enrichment that includes creative clubs and structured outdoor learning. The Good judgement and effective safeguarding provide reassurance, and the federation links support continuity into junior years. It is best suited to families who can engage early with local authority admissions and who value an infant-only setting rather than an all-through primary model.