Lime Tree Primary School and Nursery

Inspection of Lime Tree Primary School Battlebridge Lane, Merstham, Surrey RH1 3LH

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years provision Outstanding Previous inspection grade Good 17 and 18 May 2022

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils and staff are proud to be part of this exceptional school. Leaders’ unwavering focus on weaving the school’s values of courage, responsibility, cooperation and resilience through every aspect of school life has created an environment in which pupils thrive. Pupils flourish. They mature into curious, articulate and well-rounded individuals.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils feel valued. Leaders listen and act upon the ideas pupils have on how to improve their school further. A sense of partnership unites the school. Pupils relish the responsibilities that leaders trust them to carry out such as being prefects, sports leaders or art ambassadors. For example, they work alongside staff at lunchtimes so that everyone can enjoy the many activities on offer.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders set the highest of expectations for pupils’ behaviour and learning. Pupils’ attitude to learning is exemplary. They work hard. Classrooms buzz with a shared sense of purpose.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils say adults listen if they are worried in any way. They know that staff will not tolerate unacceptable behaviour. It is sorted out quickly. Pupils say bullying incidents are rare and they feel safe and protected.

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better?

Much thought has gone into devising a curriculum that meets pupils’ needs and interests, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Right from the start in early years, all children are excited and motivated to learn by the experiences they are offered.

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better?

The careful construction of the ambitious curriculum means that pupils continually build on their learning until they secure a broad and deep knowledge across all subjects. Pupils know and remember a great deal of their learning. This prepares them very well for the next stages of their education as they move up through the school and beyond.

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better?

Leaders ensure that high quality professional development for all staff is a priority. This helps give staff the subject specific knowledge they need to deliver all aspects of the curriculum confidently. Teachers ensure that pupils learn things in the right order to help them to achieve high quality end points. For example, pupils designing a tent for a mountaineer were able to apply previous learning about joining materials, insulation, and strong structures to complete the task well.

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better?

Teachers expertly check what all pupils can remember from their previous learning. They use this information to set follow-up work at precisely the right level of challenge. Pupils with SEND are considered at every stage so that their learning is supported well, and they experience success. 17 and 18 May 2022

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Children get off to a flying start in early years. Staff are experts in helping children to master their phonics and learn to read. Reading has a high priority across the school. Anyone who struggles or starts to fall behind is quickly identified and given the help they need to catch up quickly. Reading and books are valued by staff and pupils alike both as a source of pleasure and information.

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An emphasis on using and understanding a wide range of words abounds. Pupils quickly develop an impressive vocabulary. The youngest confidently described life cycles with clarity and understanding. Further up the school pupils could discuss issues around democracy and protected characteristics with remarkable eloquence, insight and knowledge.

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Leaders’ work to promote pupils’ personal development truly stands out. Groups such as the parents’ cultural committee work with leaders to help ensure that pupils see difference as positive. Pupils have a strong sense of equality. Activities such as mystery guest videos from teachers and parents help pupils to understand and value a range of cultures and beliefs.

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Excellent learning behaviours are established quickly. Children in the early years enjoyed a joyfully exuberant dance session but settled down quickly when it finished. Elsewhere pupils work very well together in groups or pairs. They are full of ideas and support each other to do well.

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Staff are unanimously proud to work at the school. They are appreciative of the careful consideration that is given to their workload and well-being by leaders and school strategy board members. The trust and the school strategy board support leaders exceptionally well.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff are well trained and have detailed knowledge about how to identify safeguarding concerns. The particularly positive relationships across the school help staff to quickly spot when all is not well.

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Safeguarding

Parents have a high degree of trust in the school to help keep pupils safe. Where necessary leaders are tenacious in their work with other agencies to secure help and support for pupils.

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Safeguarding

Pupils feel very safe too. Leaders carefully weave activities into the curriculum to further develop pupils’ awareness of particular issues. Recently, for example, there has been additional work around online safety. 17 and 18 May 2022

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How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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How can I feed back my views?

If you are the school and you are not happy with the inspection or the report, you can complain to Ofsted .

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 17 and 18 May 2022

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School details

Inspection number 10227483 Type of school Primary

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School details

Date of previous inspection 6 June 2019, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school is part of the GLF Schools Academy Trust.  The school does not currently use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  During the inspection, the lead inspector met regularly with school leaders. The lead inspector met with representatives from the trust and had a virtual meeting with members of the school strategy board.  The inspectors conducted deep dives into reading, English, mathematics, science, history and art. For each deep dive, an inspector discussed curriculum planning with the subject leader, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to 17 and 18 May 2022

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some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work. The lead inspector listened to some pupils reading.  Records associated with safeguarding were reviewed including the single central record and appointment procedures. The inspectors spoke to staff about their safeguarding training and spoke to pupils about the support they have in understanding how to keep safe.  Inspectors reviewed responses to Ofsted’s parent, pupil and staff questionnaires. Inspectors spoke to parents at the school gate.  The inspectors met with groups of staff to discuss their views about the school, including workload and well-being. The inspectors met with several groups of pupils, as well as speaking to pupils during lessons, in the playground, and around the school.

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Inspection team

Deborah Gordon, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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Inspection team

Justin Bartlett Ofsted Inspector 17 and 18 May 2022

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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