Ofsted
On 22nd September 2026, our Infant School and Nursery was pleased to welcome a team from Ofsted for an inspection, and we are delighted with the outcome of the report.
Ofsted praised our Early Years offering commenting that: Children at Lightwater Village Infant School and Nursery "get off to a flying start", and has said the school's early years offering is incredibly strong following its first inspection under the new type of inspection.
Alongside the ‘strong standard’ for early years, the school was judged ‘expected standard’ in every other category. Ofsted no longer issues one-word judgements like ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. They now judge schools by whether they have met the ‘expected standard’, which means a school is performing well.
“Pupils are happy, eager and proud to belong to this welcoming school. They arrive each morning to warm greetings from staff who know them well, which helps them settle quickly and start the day positively.” Ofsted 2026
The report praises the ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum across nursery and Reception, and the skilled staff who help the youngest children become confident communicators.
Inspectors found children build secure early skills in reading, writing and number and leave Reception well prepared for their future.
Phonics teaching was singled out as a clear strength, with reading books matched to the sounds pupils know. Inspectors also noted that persistent absence has fallen significantly and that pupils behave well and learn without interruption.
Our school's personal development offer drew particular praise. Its 'Passport of Opportunity' gives every pupil 50 experiences, from visits and events to workshops, while forest school, pet therapy and a pupil parliament help children grow in confidence and responsibility.
Inspectors said leaders "seize every opportunity to widen the horizons" of pupils, especially those who are disadvantaged.
Parents and carers were described as overwhelmingly supportive, recognising the positive ethos and strong relationships leaders have built since our new headteacher began in 2024.
Francesca Hooker, our Headteacher said:
"I'm delighted Ofsted has recognised the work our early years team do every day to give children the best possible start. It's lovely to see the report reflect what we see in school: children who are happy, kind to each other and proud of where they learn. Thank you to our staff, families and governors, and to the children themselves, who were brilliant during the inspection."
To read the full report please click on the link below:
Lightwater Village Infant School and Nursery Ofsted Report
Junior School Ofsted 2024
We were very pleased with the outcome of our inspection in 2024 when Lightwater Village Junior school was called Hammond Junior School. We were graded good in all areas and the Ofsted team remarked upon the high expectations for behaviour and the strength of the peer relationships.
We were also pleased with how the team acknowledged the volume of personal development opportunities that are offered at the juniors.
"Pupils behave well. They are proud of their school. Adults’ high expectations are evident in lessons and pupils rise to these. Pupils show high levels of consideration for their peers. They are polite and courteous to all. In lessons, they are attentive to adults and keen to share their thoughts and ideas. They work hard and produce high quality outcomes."
It was also wonderful to see how the Ofsted team acknowledged the way in which children with additional needs are supported across the school. We are an inclusive, supportive and diverse school community and we are very proud of well all the children achieve in their learning and personal goals.
"Leaders and teachers work well together to ensure pupils’ additional needs are accurately identified and to ensure that support is provided in a timely way. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported well in lessons to ensure they are able to learn successfully alongside their peers."
It was also wonderful to see how well the school was commended for the excellent outcomes in Reading. It is the cornerstone of our school curriculum which gives all pupils a passport to all learning.
"Pupils love to read. They have multiple opportunities to read throughout the day. The reading curriculum and extra help for phonics are well planned to ensure all pupils read with confidence and fluency. Pupil librarians, acting as role models, share books with younger pupils and recommend their favourite authors to their peers. The school’s reading spine is varied and diverse. It immerses pupils in high quality literature."
Our Junior School Ofsted Report from 2024 is available at the link below:
Junior School Ofsted Report 2024
"The curriculum goes beyond the academic with a comprehensive personal development programme." Ofsted
