Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School

Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School is a highly effective, welcoming school where pupils are happy, feel valued and achieve very well. Inspectors found a consistently ambitious curriculum, expert teaching and strong reading provision from the start of Reception, with pupils with SEND identified quickly and supported skilfully. Behaviour is excellent, classrooms are harmonious, and pupils are resilient and proud of their work. Personal development is woven through school life, including opportunities to manage risk, contribute to the community and learn about values and online safety. Leadership is strong and governors are closely involved in checking the school's effectiveness. Staff feel well supported with workload and well-being and are proud to be part of the school team. Safeguarding arrangements are effective, and pupils benefit from nurturing relationships and a wide range of clubs and responsibilities. This was the school's first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic and its first section 5 inspection since March 2014; it had been exempt from routine inspection until November 2020. It is an infant and nursery school for pupils aged 3 to 7, and, under arrangements introduced in September 2024, no overall effectiveness grade was awarded. Inspectors identified no areas of concern.

Strengths

• Welcoming, nurturing culture where pupils feel happy, valued and listened to
• Impeccable behaviour in lessons, with quick and effective support for pupils who need help
• Highly ambitious curriculum with clearly sequenced knowledge, skills and vocabulary
• Expert teaching that checks understanding and addresses misconceptions quickly
• Swift identification of SEND and skilful adaptation so pupils access the full curriculum
• Strong, consistent phonics and early reading provision with books matched to pupils' phonics knowledge
• High achievement across the curriculum, with pupils producing high-quality work
• Personal development woven through school life, including values, treasured texts and community contributions
• Wide range of clubs and responsibilities that develop pupils' talents and interests
• Effective safeguarding arrangements and a positive safeguarding culture
• Strong leadership and governance, with good support for staff workload and well-being

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 Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School attended 95.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.5% 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, 0.4% of pupils at Malvern Way Infant and Nursery 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 Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School had 19.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.4% 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, 5.8% of pupils at Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.9% 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 Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School received £7,624 and spent £7,871 for each of its 229 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £166,000 (£727 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 Rickmansworth · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School is Outstanding, from an inspection in April 2025.

When was Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School last inspected by Ofsted?

Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School was last inspected in April 2025.

How many pupils does Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School have?

Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School has 240 pupils on roll.

What age range does Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School cover?

Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School for pupils aged 2 to 7.

Where is Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School?

Malvern Way Infant and Nursery School is at Malvern Way, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 3QQ.