Healdswood Infants' and Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 January 2026

This is a school where care, support and nurture are abundant. From the moment children enter the Nursery Year, they develop a strong sense of belonging that builds their confidence as learners. The early years provision has a delightful, homely feel, enabling children to explore and learn with enthusiasm. Across the school, pupils enjoy their lessons, often describing them as ‘fun’. This positive engagement supports pupils' progress through a broad and well-sequenced curriculum. However, pupils are not consistently supported well enough to secure the essential knowledge and skills they need in reading, writing and spelling. Staff do not routinely address errors in pupils’ written work, which hinders pupils' achievement. The school’s inclusive ethos ensures that all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, are fully involved in day-to-day school life. Pupils in ‘The Nest’ benefit from bespoke support in an engaging environment that supports their needs very well. Relationships across the school are strong. Pupils treat each other with respect, get on well together and feel valued by staff. Bullying is rare, and pupils trust staff to respond quickly and effectively to any concerns. They feel safe because staff know them well and prioritise their welfare. Behaviour is a strength, and pupils show pride in their school community. Attendance, however, remains too low for some pupils, limiting their access to the full curriculum and wider experiences. Beyond academic learning, pupils benefit from rich opportunities that broaden their horizons. From trips to the seaside and local farms, to sports and jewellery clubs, there is something for everyone at this school. The school council makes a valuable contribution to the community through litter-picking, and many pupils sing in local residential homes for the elderly. This helps to develop pupils’ growing understanding of responsibility and kindness, and what it means to be an active citizen.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that highly effective teaching is embedded across the school, so that pupils' gaps and misconceptions are addressed effectively, particularly in early reading and writing, enabling pupils to achieve as well as they can across the curriculum. • Leaders should ensure that their work consistently improves pupils' attendance and reduces rates of persistent absence. • Leaders should continue to strengthen their oversight of the school's work so that their actions lead to more rapid improvement, particularly around pupils' achievement, attendance, and teaching.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)