Squirrel Hayes First School Review 2026: Small first school, big emphasis on relationships and learning habits

Squirrel Hayes is not currently presented with published national ranking data in the available results for primary outcomes, so the most useful indicators for parents come from the way the curriculum is structured and externally validated school quality measures.

The most recent Ofsted inspection, dated 23 April 2024, concluded that the school continues to be good.

Within that report, reading is positioned as a high priority, and pupils are described as making progress well through a broad and carefully planned curriculum. The practical takeaway is that the school’s academic story is more about consistent learning routines and literacy focus than about headline test statistics.

The school’s approach becomes clearer when you look at how it describes literacy and maths.

Literacy and reading

Early reading is built around daily phonics in the early stages, followed by a transition into guided reading as pupils move beyond phonics. The school describes guided reading sessions as deliberately targeting retrieval, inference and deduction, evaluation, and vocabulary work, which is helpful for parents who want to know that comprehension is taught explicitly rather than assumed.

At home, there is also a structured digital reading component through Bug Club, where teachers can monitor what pupils are reading and how they answer associated quiz questions. That monitoring element is the key detail, it gives the school a way to keep reading practice connected to classroom teaching rather than leaving it entirely to family habit.

Maths

In maths, the school uses Inspire Maths, described as a whole school programme built on the Singapore approach, with a concrete pictorial abstract sequence so pupils handle practical representations before moving to symbols. For younger children especially, that matters because it reduces the number of pupils who learn procedures without understanding.

Early Years Foundation Stage

In Early Years, the school describes a personalised baseline approach when children start, then planning next steps from observation. Learning is presented as a blend of adult led activities, continuous provision, and child choice, with indoor and outdoor learning as routine when weather allows. That structure generally suits children who need frequent changes of activity and varied modes of engagement, which is most children at three and four.

Because Squirrel Hayes is a first school (to age 9), transition is not straight to secondary, it is typically to the next tier in Staffordshire’s three tier areas.

A useful local indicator is the school’s partnership context. The Biddulph Schools Partnership Trust lists local partner schools including James Bateman Junior High School and Woodhouse Academy, alongside several first schools. For many families, that provides a realistic shortlist for later moves, subject to admissions criteria and catchment.

If you are planning ahead, the practical step is to check Staffordshire’s catchment tools and the relevant admissions arrangements for the year your child will transfer, because three tier transfer patterns can vary by address and cohort size.

Reception

Reception admissions are handled through Staffordshire County Council rather than directly by the school. For the September 2026 intake cycle, the school states that applications open on 01 November 2025, close on 15 January 2026, and outcomes are sent on National Offer Day on 16 April 2026.

Demand can be meaningful even for a smaller school. The latest available entry route data indicates that the Reception route was oversubscribed, with around two applications per place. With no published “furthest distance at which a place was offered” figure here, it is wise to treat proximity as important but not rely on assumptions. Parents considering this school should use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check distances precisely and to build a shortlist that is resilient if allocations move year to year.

Nursery

Nursery admissions operate differently. The school states that children can join nursery the term after they turn 3, with three intake points, September, January, and April, and parents apply directly to the school for nursery places.

The nursery admissions policy sets out clear application deadlines for each intake. For the January 2026 intake, apply by 01 October 2025. For the April 2026 intake, apply by 01 February 2026. For the September 2026 intake, apply by 01 May 2026. The policy also makes an important point that nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place, families must apply separately through the coordinated Reception process.

Safeguarding roles are clearly signposted, with the headteacher named as the designated safeguarding lead and additional deputy leads listed. That clarity is a practical strength for parents, because it shows defined responsibility rather than a generic statement of intent.

Beyond safeguarding, the school’s wellbeing stance is reinforced by its learning culture. When resilience and teamwork are part of everyday classroom language, children have more tools to talk about frustration, persistence, and social problem solving. This is especially valuable in a first school where pupils are still developing self regulation and peer relationship skills.

For pupils with SEND, the school frames classroom teaching as the first line of support, with personalised learning and barrier removal embedded into routines. The SENCo is identified, which can make it easier for parents to know who to speak with when planning support or transitions.

Clubs are varied and appear to rotate termly, which is a sensible model for a smaller school because it gives more pupils the chance to try activities without over committing staffing. Named examples include Gymnastics, Gardening, Arts and Crafts, Dance through Inspire Dance, Singing through Young Voices, Computer Coding, and Film Club.

The best way to interpret this list is through the lens of breadth versus depth. A rotating model tends to suit younger pupils who are still discovering interests, and it avoids locking the school into a narrow “sports heavy” or “arts heavy” identity. If your child thrives on long term mastery, it is worth asking how often specialist clubs repeat across the year, and how continuity is handled for pupils who want to continue, particularly in dance, coding, or music.

The school day timings are clearly published. Nursery morning sessions run 8.45am to 12.00pm, while Reception and Years 1 to 4 run 8.45am to 3.15pm. Gates close at 8.55am.

Wraparound is available through Space Cadets, with before school sessions starting at 7.30am and after school sessions running beyond the end of the teaching day. However, the school also notes a change: as of 20 January 2026, the before and after school club and wraparound nursery provision are expected to move after the Easter holidays to Space Cadets’ sister site in Biddulph. Families relying on wraparound should verify the post Easter logistics, especially transport and collection arrangements.

There is also a published breakfast club offer with two arrival options and stated prices, £5.50 for 7.30am to 9.00am or £3.50 for 8.00am to 9.00am.

School lunches are priced at £3.20, with payment handled through ParentPay, and the school notes a provider change to Edwards and Ward for the Autumn term 2025 to 2026 menu cycle.

• Small school dynamics. A smaller setting can feel secure and personal, but it also means friendship groups can be tighter and harder to reset if a child falls out with peers. Ask how staff support friendship issues and playground inclusion across year groups.

• Wraparound changes. If you depend on before and after school care, the planned move to another site after the Easter holidays could affect commute patterns and childcare feasibility. Confirm the operational detail early.

• Nursery to Reception is not automatic. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place, and Reception applications go through the local authority process with specific deadlines. Plan for that administrative split.

• Limited published performance metrics for comparison. If you are choosing primarily on academic data, you may need to rely more on inspection evidence and curriculum clarity here than on simple score comparisons.

Squirrel Hayes First School suits families who value a smaller, relationship led first school where learning habits are taught deliberately from the start. The combination of early reading structure, Singapore influenced maths teaching, and a clear language around resilience and teamwork points to a school that cares about how children learn, not just what they cover.

Best suited to local families who want a steady, supportive early years and key stage 1 experience, with a nursery route that starts at age 3 and a clear plan for progression through to age 9. The practical challenge is aligning admissions routes and wraparound logistics, particularly in 2026 given the announced childcare site change.