Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery

Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery has been judged as 'Good' in its recent inspection, marking the first graded evaluation since being rated 'Outstanding' 13 years ago. The school offers a solid educational environment where pupils feel proud and safe, supported by committed staff who prioritize well-being and foster strong relationships. The curriculum is well-designed and ambitious, promoting a rich vocabulary and inclusive practices, ensuring that pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, are able to engage and learn effectively. However, there are areas for improvement; some aspects of the curriculum are not being implemented as effectively as intended, which can hinder pupil learning in those subjects. Additionally, for a small number of pupils with SEND, lesson adaptations may not be sufficiently precise to meet their needs. Continued guidance for teachers and enhanced support for these pupils are recommended to ensure all students can fully benefit from the curriculum offerings.

Strengths

• Pupils feel proud and safe at school.
• Staff prioritize pupil well-being and support.
• Strong relationships between pupils and staff.
• Carefully designed and ambitious curriculum.
• Effective support strategies for pupils with SEND.
• Pupils become fluent and confident readers.
• Children in early years receive a very strong start.

Areas for Improvement

• In some subjects, the curriculum is not well implemented.
• Lesson adaptations for a small number of pupils with SEND are not always as precise as needed.

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 Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery attended 94.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 11.7% 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, 0.5% of pupils at Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery 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 Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery had 17.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 22.0% 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, 7.8% of pupils at Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.4% 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 Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery received £8,828 and spent £8,519 for each of its 160 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £347,000 (£2,170 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 Bushey · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery last inspected by Ofsted?

Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery have?

Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery has 166 pupils on roll.

What age range does Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery cover?

Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery for pupils aged 3 to 7.

Where is Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery?

Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery is at School Lane, Bushey, Hertfordshire, WD23 1ST.