Holtsmere End Infant and Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 May 2026

Pupils enjoy coming to school. Friendly morning greetings and caring staff help them feel a sense of belonging. Staff build positive relationships with pupils. These positive relationships help pupils feel safe and know who to go to if they need help. Additionally, pupils explain that ‘everyone is welcome at this school.’ Pupils behave well. In lessons, they focus and make good use of learning time. At playtime, they play happily together. Additionally, children learn school routines securely in the early years. They understand them and follow them well. Across the school, pupils treat each other with kindness and respect. Bullying is rare. When it happens, staff deal with it quickly. Pupils enjoy talking to visitors because they feel proud of their school. They embrace the school mantra, ‘I am kind, I am brave, I believe in myself.’ They also know the school rules well. Pupils can explain how they have shown bravery and why the rules are important. Pupils enjoy learning. They also work hard. Pupils show pride in their work. They speak with confidence about what they have learned. Generally, pupils achieve well, show self-confidence and behave well. This means they are ready for each stage of school. Pupils enjoy the wider opportunities available to them that develop their interests and talents. These include activities such as learning about opera or attending clubs, such as the science club. Pupils speak with enthusiasm about these experiences. The school helps pupils learn well because it removes difficulties that affect their learning. For example, staff make sure pupils learn to read fluently and with confidence. This helps pupils learn well in other subjects. Many pupils attend school regularly. Some pupils, including those who are disadvantaged or face other challenges, do not attend as often as they should. Attendance for these pupils is improving.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should embed their attendance strategy so that recent gains are sustained and attendance for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND rises to align with national figures over time.
• Leaders should continue to refine their work to secure greater consistency in the delivery of mathematics and writing. They should build on the current provision to ensure that all pupils experience the same quality of teaching across these subjects.

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