Herne Church of England Infant and Nursery School, Herne Bay

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Herne Church of England Infant and Nursery 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.

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "From the Nursery to the end of Year 2, leaders have designed an ambitious and coherently sequenced curriculum."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "The school places inclusion at the heart of its work."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's personal, social and health education curriculum includes age‑appropriate relationships and health education."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Right from the start in the Nursery, pupils learn the important knowledge they need in communication, reading, writing and mathematics."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders know pupils and their families well."

Early years - Expected standard. "The school works extremely well with parents and carers."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors have clear, shared values and are committed to equality, which underpin all that the school does."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to embed their adaptive practices so that pupils with low starting points catch up rapidly and are very well prepared for the key stage 2 curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils with barriers to learning and/or wellbeing attend school regularly".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our school is a Church of England school. Our Christian ethos is a firm foundation for the whole life of the school and will be evident to all who come here. We will ensure that the children enjoy their time with us."

The school runs after-school care.

For September 2026 entry, 126 families put Herne Church of England Infant and Nursery School as their first choice and 224 named it as one of their preferences, for 90 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 37 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Herne Church of England Infant and Nursery School are Herne Church of England Junior School (0.1 miles, Outstanding, 88% reading, 90% maths); Herne Bay Infant School (1.3 miles, Good); Herne Bay Junior School (1.3 miles, Good, 56% reading, 40% maths); and Hoath Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 86% reading, 79% maths).

11.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (90%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 48 pupils (15.1%) received SEN support and 8 (2.5%) 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 autism.

The nearest railway station is Herne Bay Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Streetfield (adjacent), 250 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 48 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).

Herne Church of England Infant and Nursery School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.