Shaw Cross Infant and Nursery School, Dewsbury
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Shaw Cross provides an exceptionally caring and inclusive environment where children thrive from their earliest days in the nursery. The school excels at teaching children to read and fostering a genuine love of books, while ensuring every child - including those with special needs - feels supported and valued. Pupils develop strong behaviour, confidence and important life skills in a warm, nurturing setting where staff work closely with families.
Key Strengths
- Excellent phonics teaching with most pupils passing their screening check and developing a strong love of reading through initiatives like the '100 book challenge'
- Well-planned curriculum with clear knowledge and skills identified across all subjects
- Warm, nurturing approach in early years that helps children settle quickly and build positive relationships
- Strong inclusion and support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities through specialist 'Rainbow' provision
- Positive pupil behaviour and low bullying with pupils living the school's values of respect, resilience and reflection
Areas for Improvement
- Some checks on pupil understanding are not always effective enough to ensure all pupils secure essential knowledge before moving to more complex learning
- Variation in school attendance across different groups, particularly pupils with special educational needs and disadvantaged pupils
- New attendance tracking systems are in early stages and impact on improvement not yet evident
- Governors' accountability systems are newly implemented and still developing their effectiveness
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture where all legal requirements are fulfilled, leaders and governors fulfil their responsibilities, and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Choir, arts and crafts club, sports clubs, big bird watch, trips and visits, stay-and-play sessions
Shaw Cross Infant and Nursery School provides a warm, nurturing environment where pupils achieve well in phonics and reading. The school has made good improvements to its curriculum and provides strong support for all learners, including those with additional needs.
At a Glance
19.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
29.7
Avg class size
28.8
Infant (KS1)
7
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
124%
Over capacity
223 pupils
180 capacity
43 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Dewsbury
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Dewsbury
Admissions Demand - Kirklees
Places available
5,606
Applications
4,584
Got 1st preference
93.6%
Got preferred school
99.0%
Primary admissions across Kirklees (2025/26)
Inspection History(108)
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
5.86665%
Overall absence
18.33333%
Persistent absence
120
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Shaw Cross Infant and Nursery School
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