Croft Infant School

Croft Infant School has transitioned from an outstanding grade to a good overall effectiveness rating in its first inspection in 13 years. The change reflects the current inspection framework and acknowledges developments within the school. The school is characterized by a welcoming atmosphere, with strong relationships between staff and pupils, leading to a positive environment where children feel safe and happy. Improvements have been made in the teaching of reading and mathematics, and there is a commitment from leaders to support all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Strengths

• Strong relationships between staff and pupils create a nurturing environment.
• Improved structured teaching in reading and mathematics.
• Pupils achieve well in reading and writing.
• Teachers provide clear explanations and step in quickly to offer extra help.
• Wide range of personal development opportunities for pupils.
• Effective safeguarding arrangements.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum in some subjects is not coherently planned and sequenced.
• Limited assessment methods for checking long-term retention of knowledge.
• Inconsistencies remain in phonics teaching that need addressing.
• Insufficient frequency of computing lessons.

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 Croft Infant School attended 94.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 14.7% 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, 2.4% of pupils at Croft 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 Croft Infant School had 19.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 24.1% 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, 28.9% of pupils at Croft Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 7.2% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

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 Croft Infant School received £8,821 and spent £8,510 for each of its 166 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £187,000 (£1,128 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 Alfreton · Derbyshire local authority: places and applications

What is Croft Infant School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Croft Infant School is Good, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was Croft Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?

Croft Infant School was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does Croft Infant School have?

Croft Infant School has 166 pupils on roll.

What age range does Croft Infant School cover?

Croft Infant School for pupils aged 5 to 7.

Where is Croft Infant School?

Croft Infant School is at Marshall Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7BW.