Larklands Infant School
Park Road, Ilkeston, DE7 5DROpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Larklands Infant School is a primary school in Ilkeston for ages 3 to 7. It is one of the 449 schools in Derbyshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in December 2014.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 11 December 2014, report published 9 January 2015
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 22 October 2024
Staff and pupils are proud to work and learn at Larklands Infant School. The school is committed to giving every pupil the best start in life. The school is ambitious for all pupils. There is a sharp focus on refining the quality of education so that pupils can achieve in line with these high expectations. Pupils say they love to learn. They are achieving well. The number of pupils who meet the standard in the phonics screening check in Year 1 is above the national average. Pupils behave exceptionally well. They know they must always remember the school's big behaviour rule, 'kind hands, kind feet and kind lips'. They attentively follow instructions from staff. Pupils enjoy opportunities to help one another, to sing in assembly and to visit local places of interest, including local museums and libraries. Pupils appreciate the wide range of equipment they can use at playtime. They especially like learning to play with lunchtime staff. At lunchtime, large groups of pupils can be heard confidently singing traditional songs, such as 'The Farmer's in His Den'. Many families shared their overwhelmingly positive views of the school during the inspection, typically stating that 'The teachers go above and beyond for each and every child.'
What the school should improve
- On occasion, staff introduce large amounts of knowledge in a short space of time when they teach the wider curriculum. This information is not broken down sufficiently to make it manageable. Pupils sometimes struggle to remember all of this content and make the necessary links to previous learning. The school should make further decisions about the exact knowledge that is taught and how this is broken down over time and presented to pupils.
- Attendance rates are currently below national levels and a number of pupils are persistently absent. As a result, some pupils are not forming good attendance habits and are missing important opportunities to learn the curriculum. The school should ensure that attendance remains a high priority and that families are given further support to reduce absence further.
Pupil numbers and mix
145 pupils on roll, with places for 179
Schools near Larklands Infant School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kensington Junior Academy | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 60% met the expected standard |
| Chaucer Infant School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | Not published |
| Chaucer Junior School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 63% met the expected standard |
| Field House Infant School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| St Thomas Catholic Voluntary Academy | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 70% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 7
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Helen Smith
- Phone
- 01159324288
- Address
- Park Road, Ilkeston, DE7 5DR
- Local authority
- Derbyshire
- URN
- 112708
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.