Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 4 to 7
Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good

Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester, CO4 3JPOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery is a primary school in Colchester for ages 4 to 7. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 3 June 2025, report published 10 July 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

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

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 June 2025

Pupils enjoy attending Hazelmere Infant school. This is because the school provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for all pupils. Staff have established positive relationships with pupils. They feel safe and know that they can talk to a trusted staff member if they have any worries. Pupils are eager to learn because lessons are interesting. They show curiosity when exploring new ideas and try hard with their work. The school sets high expectations for all pupils. However, some pupils do not achieve as well as they could. This is because staff do not check what pupils understand consistently well. Pupils behave appropriately because they know and value the school's seven core values. They are usually respectful to one another and to staff. Staff help pupils to make good choices. This helps pupils to reflect and improve. In lessons, pupils listen carefully and are keen to contribute. They work together to achieve the school's vision of helping everyone reach their full potential. Pupils are proud of their reading leadership roles, such as reading ambassadors and junior librarians. These responsibilities help to inspire other pupils to enjoy reading. They also build pupils' self-esteem, confidence and teamwork skills.

What the school should improve

  • Staff do not assess what pupils know and can do frequently enough. This includes those pupils at the early stages of learning to read. Consequently, the work that pupils receive is not always adapted well enough to meet their needs. The school should ensure that staff have the appropriate knowledge and guidance to ensure that pupils are assessed frequently and accurately so that pupils' work is appropriately adapted to meet their needs.
  • The school has not effectively monitored the implementation of the curriculum well enough. This has resulted in teachers not always having sufficient knowledge and support they require to teach the curriculum consistently well. The school should rigorously monitor how well the curriculum is implemented so that teachers receive the appropriate knowledge and support to teach all subjects consistently well.

Pupil numbers and mix

156 pupils on roll, with places for 180

Eligible for free school meals21.2%

21.2%, 5.3 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language21.2%

21.2%, 0.4 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support22.4%

22.4%, 7.6 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan9.6%

9.6%, 3.6 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Hazelmere Junior School0.1 milesOfsted: Good38% met the expected standard
Roach Vale Primary School0.2 milesOfsted: Good57% met the expected standard
Parsons Heath Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School0.3 milesOfsted: Good47% met the expected standard
Unity Primary Academy0.5 milesOfsted judgements: Good to outstanding70% met the expected standard
Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery0.7 milesOfsted: Good50% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
4 to 7
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
No
Headteacher
Mr Mark Millbourne
Address
Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester, CO4 3JP
Local authority
Essex
URN
114746

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.