Merton Infant School and Nursery, Basingstoke
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Merton Infant School is a warm, inclusive community where your child will be cared for exceptionally well. The school excels at teaching reading through skilled phonics instruction and uses clever cross-curricular learning - like virtual trips and well-chosen books - to make learning exciting and meaningful. Staff focus not just on academic skills but on developing confident, emotionally resilient children who understand their place in the world and know how to manage their feelings.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding behaviour, attitudes and personal development with strong focus on pupil well-being and emotional learning
- Excellent phonics teaching and early reading support, with most pupils becoming confident, fluent readers by end of Year 2
- Exceptional support for pupils who speak English as an additional language (EAL) and those with special educational needs
- Well-designed curriculum that connects subjects together, makes learning meaningful and broadens pupils' experiences
- Strong leadership and governance ensuring continuous improvement and professional development for staff
Areas for Improvement
- Pre-school provision needs further development to match the high standard of Reception classes, particularly for two-year-olds and SEND support
- Some skills in certain subjects are not fully covered across the main school curriculum
- Recent changes to writing and mathematics programmes need more time to become fully established
- More consistent development of spoken language skills needed during adult-led play activities in pre-school
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with clear procedures and an open, positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Breakfast club, after-school club
Merton Infant School and Nursery is a Good school where pupils show outstanding behaviour and attitudes, with outstanding personal development and leadership. The school creates a nurturing, family-like environment that celebrates diversity and focuses on developing the whole child.
At a Glance
18.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
20 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
29.5
Avg class size
29.5
Infant (KS1)
6
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Latest from Merton Infant School and Nursery
From Merton Infant School and Nursery's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Getting There
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
80%
Available places
216 pupils
270 capacity
54 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Basingstoke
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Basingstoke
Admissions Demand - Hampshire
Places available
15,583
Applications
13,385
Got 1st preference
92.3%
Got preferred school
98.7%
Primary admissions across Hampshire (2025/26)
Inspection History(7)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.28086%
Overall absence
10.68702%
Persistent absence
131
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
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Merton Infant School and Nursery
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