Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School, Fareham
Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 7 in Fareham. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, ended in a report card: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2022. It was 76% full in 2025.
- Ofsted report card
- 3 of 7 areas strong or better
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Hampshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School on 7 areas: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders manage attendance with precision and effectiveness."
Early years - Strong standard. "Children receive a first-class start to their education."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders provide a rich and well-considered personal development programme that benefits all pupils."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils make suitable progress through the curriculum from their starting points."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school has an ambitious and well-thought-through curriculum that starts in the early years."
Inclusion - Expected standard. "This is an inclusive school where pupils are known well as individuals."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The school is well led and managed."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Governors should develop their knowledge and skills to enable them to hold leaders to account more effectively for the quality of education pupils receive"; "Leaders should ensure that all staff embed the changes made to the school's curriculum and teaching, so that pupils' knowledge builds over time and they make even more progress from their starting points".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Getting a place at Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School
For September 2026 entry, 64 families put Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School as their first choice and 120 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 5 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School are Crofton Anne Dale Junior School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 70% reading, 53% maths); Crofton Hammond Infant School (0.3 miles, Good); Crofton Hammond Junior School (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, 84% reading, 93% maths); and Peel Common Primary School (1.6 miles, Good, 58% reading, 55% maths).
Crofton Anne Dale Junior SchoolCrofton Hammond Infant SchoolCrofton Hammond Junior SchoolPeel Common Primary School
Who goes there
10.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 5.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 12 pupils (6.7%) received SEN support and 4 (2.2%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Fareham Rail Station, about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mancroft Avenue (e-bound), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School issued 5 suspensions, 2.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 6 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Early yearsStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- InclusionExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School
Pupils take great pride in their school. They feel safe, included and valued. Staff know pupils well as individuals and nurture them carefully. This creates a calm, ambitious and supportive environment where every child can thrive. From the early years onwards, pupils experience high-quality care and consistency. The school's motto of being ready, respectful and safe is evident throughout daily life at the school. Pupils enjoy learning, form secure friendships and build very positive relationships with committed staff. They attend school regularly and treat one another with courtesy and respect. Pupils behave extremely well throughout the day. They listen attentively, move sensibly around the school and follow routines confidently. Lunchtimes and playtimes are harmonious and purposeful. Older pupils from the neighbouring junior school support activities and model fair play and cooperation, helping younger pupils learn how to enjoy social times positively. Pupils understand what bullying is and find that it is not a problem at this school. They know who to go to for help and trust adults to act quickly to keep them safe. Visitors are welcomed warmly, and pupils speak enthusiastically about their learning and school life. Pupils enjoy their learning and are proud of what they achieve. They engage with a wide range of activities that develop their knowledge, curiosity and confidence. Pupils particularly enjoy mathematics, where learning is clear and meaningful to them. They can recognise their progress and can apply their skills in different mathematical contexts. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are fully included across school life. They receive carefully tailored support to access learning alongside their peers. Overall, pupils achieve well. Leaders ensure that pupils develop secure foundations in their communication skills and their knowledge of reading, writing and mathematics.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Governors should develop their knowledge and skills to enable them to hold leaders to account more effectively for the quality of education pupils receive.
- Leaders should ensure that all staff embed the changes made to the school's curriculum and teaching, so that pupils' knowledge builds over time and they make even more progress from their starting points.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 21 April 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at giving children an outstanding start through excellent early years teaching focused on phonics, reading and language. Staff create a warm, inclusive environment where behaviour is calm and positive, and pupils with additional needs receive tailored support. The school offers rich enrichment opportunities in music, sport, drama and art, ensuring all children feel valued and develop confidence alongside strong academic foundations.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional early years provision with children making much progress in reading, writing and mathematics from their starting points
- Calm, respectful behaviour across the school with rare incidents, supported by high expectations and consistent approaches
- Strong pastoral care and wellbeing support that helps pupils feel safe and ready to learn
- Above-average attendance rates, particularly for pupils with special needs and disadvantaged pupils
- Well-considered personal development programme including music, sport, art, drama and swimming
Areas for Improvement
- Further development work needed in English and mathematics teaching, though early improvements are evident
- Governors' knowledge of the school's work could be more well-developed in some areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and all legal requirements are fulfilled.
Extracurricular Activities
Music, sport, art, drama, swimming, drama club, charity work including Paralympian-linked projects
Crofton Anne Dale Infant School provides a first-class start to children's education with strong standards across early years, behaviour, and personal development. The school creates a safe, respectful environment where all pupils, including those with additional needs, make suitable progress and feel valued.
At a Glance
10.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
30.0
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School.
- Globe Fit Kids Clubs - Stubbington510m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School is in Hampshire; for families living there:
Apply to Hampshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 19
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 13 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 on a bicycle.
3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Hampshire is 9 (the median across 617 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School
Will you get a place at Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Hampshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Hampshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
76%
Available places
205 pupils
270 places
65 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Fareham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Fareham
Across Hampshire council
Places available
15,642
Applications
12,982
Got 1st preference
93.4%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All primary applications across Hampshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
12
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
8.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
180
Total Pupils
95
Boys
85
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
20.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,382
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,263
Per pupil
£1195k
Total funding
£26k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.6%
Overall absence
5.3%
Persistent absence
150
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School
Questions parents ask about Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School
What is Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School's Ofsted rating?
Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2022, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School?
No fixed boundary. When Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School is oversubscribed, Hampshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School?
Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School was not full in 2025: it ran at 76% of its 270 places.
How big are the classes at Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School?
Classes at Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School average 30 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School?
Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School has around 180 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School?
3.6% of sessions were missed at Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School in 2024/25. 5.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School?
Apply through Hampshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School: Globe Fit Kids Clubs - Stubbington (510m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 13 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 on a bicycle. 3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Hampshire is 9 (the median across 617 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School?
Crofton Anne Dale Infant and Pre-School is at Cuckoo Lane, Stubbington, Fareham, Hampshire, PO14 3PH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)