The Alderton Infant School and Nursery
109%
Capacity
197
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About The Alderton Infant School and Nursery
The Alderton Infant School and Nursery is a popular choice among local families, with 42 first-preference applications for its 60 Reception places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.37. This level of demand suggests strong word-of-mouth reputation in the Epping Forest area. While the school does not publish a parent-view survey score, the high number of first-preference offers relative to total places indicates that many families who list it as their top choice are successful. The school is a state-funded, mixed-gender primary for children aged 3 to 7, with a nursery on site. It has a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has held consistently across its two most recent inspections, with the latest full graded inspection taking place in February 2023.
In its most recent Ofsted inspection, The Alderton Infant School and Nursery received Good ratings across all five key areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The previous inspection, in 2013, also rated overall effectiveness and leadership and management as Good, showing sustained performance. Academic outcomes data for Key Stage 2 is not available, as the school only covers infants up to Year 2, so pupils move on before the standard SATs. However, the local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment in Essex is 62, and the school sits within a competitive landscape: 33 out of 444 primary schools in the LA are rated Outstanding, with the nearest Outstanding school, Hereward Primary School, located 2.3 km away. This context helps parents gauge the school’s standing within the local area.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a sensory room, forest school, music rooms, art studios, and a sports hall, alongside an ICT suite and chapel. Sports provision includes swimming, netball, cricket, and athletics, while clubs extend to drama, choir, coding, and book club. The school has a dedicated SEND department covering support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, dyslexia, physical disabilities, and social, emotional and mental health challenges. With 197 pupils against a capacity of 180, the school is slightly over capacity, and 17.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is in line with national averages. This school suits families seeking a strong local infant option with good Ofsted ratings, a nursery, and a wide range of enrichment activities, particularly those who value early-years support and SEND provision.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 7 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Alderton Hall Lane, Loughton, Epping Forest, IG10 3HE |
| Headteacher | K Johnson |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 197 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 17.7% |
| School Capacity | 197 / 180 (109% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Feb 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 27 Apr 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed60
142
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
42 families put this school as their 1st choice (30% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British50.3%
- White (other)26.4%
- Mixed8.1%
- Asian7.6%
- Black2.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
6
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Alderton Infant School and Nursery
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Alderton Hall Lane, Loughton
Epping Forest, IG10 3HE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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