Croft Infant School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 5 to 7
Ofsted: Good

Marshall Street, Alfreton, DE55 7BWOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Croft Infant School is a primary school in Alfreton for ages 5 to 7. It is one of the 449 schools in Derbyshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2020.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 28 January 2020, report published 1 March 2020

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 22 October 2024

This is a welcoming school where pupils are happy and safe. Parents and carers value the school's nurturing ethos. Many parents comment that the school is not just a school, but like a family. The school is ambitious for all pupils to achieve well, and many pupils do. They enjoy learning. Pupils are good friends with each other and they socialise together well. They enjoy taking part in a wide range of energetic activities during social times. Engaging activities, such as disco dancing, building assault courses and playing with hoops, make breaktimes fun. The school is a calm, caring and orderly environment. Pupils respond well to routines, such as lining up to get their lunch. They follow adults' instructions well. Pupils understand the school's high expectations for positive behaviour and respect. They have confidence that they can talk to adults about any worries they might have. The school's inclusive vision for education celebrates 'a rainbow of possibilities where everyone can shine'. Pupils agree that everyone is welcome here and they 'can be their own unique self'.

What the school should improve

  • In some subjects where the curriculums are quite new, teachers do not always choose suitable pedagogical approaches to teach new content. When this happens, pupils struggle to secure their knowledge. The school should ensure that teachers deliver the curriculum effectively so that pupils learn new information and deepen their understanding.
  • Teachers do not always resolve pupils' misconceptions or knowledge gaps in a timely way. As a result, some pupils perpetuate small errors or mistakes in their understanding. The school should ensure that teachers use appropriate strategies to check pupils' learning and remedy any gaps or misunderstandings swiftly.
  • Governors' checks of leaders' work to improve the school sometimes lack rigour and consistency. As a result, governors are not always confident about what is improving and what needs more work. Governors should ensure that they hold leaders to account effectively.

Pupil numbers and mix

166 pupils on roll, with places for 180

Eligible for free school meals39.8%

39.8%, 13.3 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language11.4%

11.4%, 10.2 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support28.9%

28.9%, 14.1 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan7.2%

7.2%, 1.2 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Croft Infant School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Woodbridge Junior School0.1 milesReport card: Needs attention to expected standard43% met the expected standard
Kingdom Christian School0.3 milesNo Ofsted inspectionNot published
Copthorne Community Infant School0.4 milesReport card: Urgent improvement to expected standardNot published
Christ the King Catholic Voluntary Academy0.5 milesOfsted: Good80% met the expected standard
Leys Junior School0.6 milesOfsted: Good58% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
5 to 7
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
No
Headteacher
Mrs Sally Swain
Address
Marshall Street, Alfreton, DE55 7BW
Local authority
Derbyshire
URN
112493

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.