Maple Infants’ School Review 2026: A popular Surbiton infant school with a strong early reading focus

Infant schools do not publish the same end-of-Key Stage 2 outcome measures that parents may see for primary schools with Year 6 cohorts. For Maple, the most useful public indicators are the curriculum detail, how early reading is taught, and the independent picture presented through inspection.

The September 2023 Ofsted inspection stated that the school “continues to be a good school”, and it judged safeguarding to be effective. Beyond the headline, the same report describes pupils developing fluency and accuracy in reading by the end of Year 2, supported by regular checks and targeted help where needed.

For parents comparing local options, it is worth treating this as an “early foundations” school: if your child needs a confident start in early language, phonics and classroom routines, that can matter as much as later published test data.

The curriculum intent sets out a topic-based approach where skills are taught, revisited and built on over time, typically beginning with an engaging “hook” and then anchored through relevant experiences. A stated priority is vocabulary development across subjects, with both implicit and explicit teaching so pupils can articulate ideas and access learning as it becomes more complex.

Early reading is positioned as central rather than a single subject. The 2023 inspection report describes staff training in phonics, careful matching of books to pupils’ reading stage, and regular monitoring to spot pupils who need additional support. The implication for families is straightforward: if your child thrives with systematic routines and clear steps in learning to read, the school’s approach is designed to make that progression visible and secure.

There is also a practical thread running through learning experiences. The inspection report references regular visits to a local library, and links between off-site visits and classroom work, including a visit to the Barnes Wetland Centre used to deepen understanding of animal habitats. This is the kind of concrete enrichment that often lands well in infant settings, because it creates shared reference points that pupils can talk and write about back in class.

Because Maple is an infant school, the key transition is into Year 3. The 2023 inspection report explicitly notes that pupils are prepared well for the move into Year 3, which is a central success criterion for an infant setting.

The nearby junior option that many families consider is St Andrew’s and St Mark’s CofE Junior School. Its admissions information explicitly describes Maple as its main feeder school, with an established transition programme that includes shared activities and familiarisation.

The important practical point is that transfer to a junior school is still an application process, and it can involve additional forms depending on the school’s admissions arrangements. Kingston’s published primary admissions guide for September 2026 entry includes a specific section referencing Maple Infants’ School alongside St Andrew’s and St Mark’s CofE Junior School, and it notes the need to submit any required supplementary form by 15 January 2026.

Reception entry

Reception admissions are coordinated through Kingston upon Thames (via Achieving for Children’s shared arrangements). Maple’s admissions page directs families to apply through the London eAdmissions process and gives the closing date for Reception applications for September 2026 as 15 January 2026.

For Kingston’s September 2026 entry round, the borough guide sets out the wider timeline: applications open from 01 September 2025, the main closing date is 15 January 2026, National Offer Day is 16 April 2026, and the accept or decline deadline is 30 April 2026. Those dates matter because they shape everything from viewings to back-up preferences.

Demand indicators suggest a competitive intake. The most recent recorded entry-route figures show 288 applications for 90 offers, and the school is classified as oversubscribed, at 3.2 applications per place. For families, the implication is to approach the preference list tactically, with at least one realistic alternative you would genuinely accept.

A practical tip: if you are comparing several Kingston options, FindMySchool’s Map Search is useful for checking how your home location relates to schools you are considering, particularly when distance is a criterion in oversubscription.

Nursery entry

Nursery admissions run separately from Reception, and the school explicitly notes that attending Nursery does not remove the need to apply for Reception through the normal admissions round.

The school states it accepts Nursery applications after a child turns two, and offers places from the term after they turn three. It also outlines that it can offer places for children accessing 15 hours, plus additional places for children accessing fully funded 30 hours provision. The practical implication is that nursery places are planned and finite, so families who need a September start should watch timings closely and follow the school’s stated application process.

Visiting and open events

The school’s tours and presentations for prospective families have recently been concentrated in early autumn. For the September 2026 intake, the school published multiple visit slots across September, October and November 2025, with booking required. For families looking ahead to September 2027 entry, it is reasonable to expect a similar pattern in the autumn term, but dates can change year to year, so it is best to check the school’s current tours page.

Safeguarding information on the school website places strong emphasis on creating a culture where concerns are raised early and acted on, supported by staff training, safer recruitment and clear reporting routes. It also references partnership working with external agencies, including Operation Encompass.

Pastoral care in an infant school is often defined by routine, consistency and relationships. Here, the behaviour and regulation approach is explicit about teaching children to understand feelings and learn strategies for managing conflict and disappointment, supported by predictable adult responses. That tends to work best for families aligned with a “teach the skill, then reinforce it” philosophy, rather than relying on consequences alone.

For pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, the 2023 inspection report describes leaders identifying needs and arranging bespoke support through skilled adults and external agencies. The same report also identifies a teaching development area: some learning is not always adapted consistently enough to match the full range of needs, and continued staff development in adaptation is expected.

Extracurricular provision in an infant school is often most meaningful when it reinforces confidence, communication and enjoyment rather than building an elite pathway. Maple’s published information says activity clubs run on-site, 3.15pm to 4.15pm each day.

For what those clubs look like, the 2023 inspection report gives a useful snapshot: pupils took part in clubs including choir, tennis and Spanish, and they also had opportunities to represent the school in local sporting competitions. For families, the implication is that enrichment sits alongside the core business of early reading and numeracy, rather than replacing it.

There is also a pupil voice element that feels age-appropriate rather than performative. The inspection report notes pupils taking pride in being part of the school parliament. In an infant context, that can be an important early experience of responsibility and speaking up, especially for children who need encouragement to contribute verbally.

School hours are clearly published. Nursery sessions are listed as 8.30am to 11.30am and 12.30pm to 3.30pm, while Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 have doors open 8.35am to 3.15pm, with registers taken promptly at 8.45am.

Wraparound care is partially on-site. Maple Stars runs after school, daily 3.15pm to 6pm in term time, and the school states it does not currently offer an on-site breakfast club, instead signposting families to a nearby junior school breakfast club with staff support for the handover.

Meals are straightforward for infant-age pupils. The school states that infant pupils are entitled to a free school meal every day, and it also sets expectations for packed lunches, including a nut-free policy.

• Oversubscription. With 288 applications for 90 offers in the most recent recorded reception round, competition for places is a defining feature. Families should plan a balanced set of preferences and keep an eye on official deadlines.

• No on-site breakfast club. After-school provision is available on-site, but breakfast wraparound is not currently offered at the school itself; families who need breakfast care should factor in the alternative arrangement.

• Year 3 transition is an application. As an infant school, Maple does not take pupils through to Year 6. Moving to a junior school involves an application process and, for some schools, a supplementary form, so families should plan early for Year 3.

• SEND adaptation consistency is a stated development point. External review notes strong identification and support, alongside a need to keep strengthening how routinely teaching is adapted for all pupils.

Maple Infants’ School looks like a well-organised infant setting that prioritises early reading, language development and strong routines, with enrichment that feels age-appropriate rather than bolted on. It suits families who want a focused start from Nursery through Year 2, and who are comfortable planning ahead for the Year 3 transition. The main challenge is admission, and the second is making sure wraparound and onward transfer arrangements fit your family logistics.