Elmsleigh Infant & Nursery School

About Elmsleigh Infant & Nursery School

Elmsleigh Infant & Nursery School serves children from age 3 to 7 in South Derbyshire, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 awarded a Good rating across every category judged — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision all scored 2 (Good). This marks a significant improvement from the school’s previous graded inspection in 2019, when overall effectiveness was rated Requires Improvement and both leadership and early years provision were weaker. The school now sits within a local authority where only 9 out of 353 primary schools hold an Outstanding rating, so Good is a solid and credible result. With 156 pupils against a capacity of 180, the school is not yet full, but it is oversubscribed for 2025/26: 59 applications for 30 places, with 29 first-preference offers made. That 1.97 oversubscription ratio suggests strong local demand, and 79% of parents who responded to the Parent View survey would recommend the school.

Because Elmsleigh is an infant school, it does not publish Key Stage 2 SATs results — its pupils move on to junior school before that assessment point. The local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment sits at 59, but that figure applies to primary schools with Year 6 cohorts, not infant-only settings, so a direct comparison isn’t possible here. What the data does show is a school that has turned around its performance: the 2019 inspection found early years provision graded 2 (Requires Improvement) and leadership at 3, but the 2024 inspection lifted both to Good. The school’s nursery provision means children can join from age 3, and the 41.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals is well above the national average, indicating a significant proportion of disadvantaged families. Parent views on academic expectations are notably positive — 95% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the school has high expectations for their child.

The school offers a broad set of facilities for a small infant setting, including a library, ICT suite, gymnasium, forest school area, sensory room, art studios, music rooms, and even a chapel. Sports provision covers gymnastics, athletics, cross country, and football, while clubs include film club, chess, gardening, and choir. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. The Parent View data on SEND support is mixed: 69% agreed or strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, but 30% disagreed or strongly disagreed. With 68% of responding parents confirming their child has SEND, this is clearly a school that serves a high-needs community. Oversubscription means applying early is wise, and the school’s Good rating, improved trajectory, and strong local reputation make it a realistic choice for families seeking a nurturing start in the Swadlincote area.

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