Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School

Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School demonstrates a strong overall performance, with notable strengths in safeguarding practices, attendance, and pupil behavior. Staff have established a supportive environment that allows pupils to thrive academically and socially. There has been significant improvement in attendance rates, particularly among disadvantaged pupils, and pupils exhibit exemplary behavior in a calm and respectful atmosphere. The school’s curriculum and teaching are generally well-structured, providing a foundation for effective learning experiences for all pupils, including those with special educational needs. However, there are areas for improvement, primarily related to the clarity of curriculum content across some subjects. While the school’s leadership is committed and capable, systems for evaluating the long-term impact of their work need development to ensure sustained success. The governors also face challenges in planning for future leadership transitions, which is crucial for maintaining stability and effective governance as the school continues to grow and develop its practices.

Strengths

• Strong safeguarding culture with all standards met
• Significant improvement in pupil attendance rates
• Exemplary pupil behavior rooted in positive relationships
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities
• Well-planned early years curriculum that prepares children effectively
• Engaging and well-structured lessons delivered by knowledgeable teachers
• Proactive approach to personal development and wellbeing

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistencies in curriculum clarity across some subjects
• Need for systems to evaluate long-term impact of leadership efforts
• Lack of planning for future governance transitions

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 Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School attended 95.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 13.6% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Hallcroft 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 Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School had 16.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.0% 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, 15.6% of pupils at Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.1% 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 Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School received £9,563 and spent £10,397 for each of its 85 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £191,000 (£2,255 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 Retford · Nottinghamshire local authority: places and applications

What is Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School is Expected standard, from an inspection in May 2026.

When was Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School last inspected by Ofsted?

Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School was last inspected in May 2026.

How many pupils does Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School have?

Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School has 90 pupils on roll.

What age range does Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School cover?

Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School for pupils aged 3 to 7.

Where is Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School?

Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School is at Whitaker Close, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7QH.