Spring Meadow Infant School

Spring Meadow Infant School has made significant improvements since its last inspection, moving from a previous grade of requires improvement to a current overall effectiveness rating of good. The pupils at this school are enjoying their education and are making good progress, particularly in reading and mathematics, due to the high expectations set by staff. The carefully planned curriculum not only engages students in a variety of subjects but also incorporates educational visits that enhance their learning experiences. While the school effectively supports students with special educational needs and creates a positive environment for learning, challenges remain in both attendance and the quality of written work produced by some students.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy a broad and interesting curriculum
• High expectations for student progress and behaviour
• Effective support for pupils with SEND
• Strong relationships among staff and students
• Good progress in reading and mathematics
• Well-planned and resourced teaching activities

Areas for Improvement

• Variable quality of pupils' written work
• Some students, including disadvantaged and SEND pupils, have frequent absences

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Spring Meadow Infant School attended 93.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 20.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 4.2% of pupils at Spring Meadow Infant School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Spring Meadow Infant School had 12.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.3% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 23.1% of pupils at Spring Meadow Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 23.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has a SEN unit with 29 pupils.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Spring Meadow Infant School received £13,136 and spent £12,942 for each of its 143 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £30,000 (-£213 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Ely · Cambridgeshire local authority: places and applications

What is Spring Meadow Infant School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Spring Meadow Infant School is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.

When was Spring Meadow Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?

Spring Meadow Infant School was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does Spring Meadow Infant School have?

Spring Meadow Infant School has 143 pupils on roll.

What age range does Spring Meadow Infant School cover?

Spring Meadow Infant School for pupils aged 4 to 7.

Where is Spring Meadow Infant School?

Spring Meadow Infant School is at High Barns, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4RB.