Limpsfield CofE Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

A culture of positive praise enables pupils to thrive in this warm and caring school.

Pupils try their best because their individual successes are celebrated by staff that know them very well. Pupils understand what is expected of them and rise to high standards of behaviour and effort. They take turns when playing and treat each other with kindness and respect.

In assemblies, pupils joyfully sing songs of positive affirmation about being 'wonderful and marvellous'. They proudly show off their work and talk eagerly about the famous artists and important people they learn about. The school supports the needs of each pupil to ensure that they receive a good start in edu...cation.

Pupils receive effective support to learn to read. As soon as children join the school in Reception, they learn the letters and sounds they need to read new words. Each classroom has a vibrant display of interesting books for pupils to enjoy reading.

Pupils sit enthralled as they listen to staff read exciting tales about characters who make a positive change in the world. Engaging texts provide a stimulus for learning in the classroom. Consequently, pupils develop a wide and impressive vocabulary to talk about learning.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has been through a number of recent changes in leadership and staff. New leadership has brought stability and instilled a sense of professional challenge. Alongside strong governance, leaders have a clear understanding of the school's priorities.

They check that actions have a positive impact on pupils' learning. Staff have received extensive training to enable them to deliver a revised school curriculum. This has been enhanced through a partnership with a local school where staff share ideas and resources.

Parents and staff speak very highly of the renewed sense of community with pupils' best interests at the very heart of it.

The schools' curriculum places an emphasis on pupils learning important literacy and mathematical skills and knowledge. In these subjects, pupils learn a well-ordered sequence of important knowledge and skills.

Children in Reception make a strong start, quickly learning to read and use numbers confidently to count and solve problems. Across the school, most pupils read and write with precision and fluency and are well prepared for their next stages of learning.

Staff regularly check how well pupils understand what they are learning.

However, teaching is not always designed to address gaps in pupils' knowledge and skills, such as errors in spelling. This means some pupils do not learn as well as they could. In addition, the curriculum in some subjects does not emphasise the most important skills and knowledge.

This means teachers do not always help pupils apply what they have already learned to new topics and links between ideas are not explored in sufficient depth. This impacts on how well some pupils remember and are able to use their prior learning.

Staff work with parents of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to ensure that pupils receive support to learn well.

Inclusive practice is evident in the respectful way in which pupils with SEND are fully included in school life. Staff use Makaton and symbols to help pupils communicate their needs and fully participate in learning. Pupils with SEND play happily with their friends, supported by adults when needed.

Consequently, pupils are engaged, calm and settled. Staff understand how to shape learning to enable pupils to work towards outcomes in pupils' education, health and care plans. Pupils with SEND achieve well.

Expectations of pupil behaviour and attendance to school are high. Most pupils understand the clear and consistent routines of the school day. A small number of pupils need additional help to manage their emotions.

Plans set out the thoughtful support in place. Most pupils attend school well because they do not want to miss out on learning. The school works creatively with families to encourage good attendance to school.

This is largely successful for families receiving additional support.

The school values of 'peace, joy and love' are evident in the way the school promotes pupils' personal development. Pupils are unanimous in their views that everyone is 'equal but different' in this school.

Difference is seen as a 'superpower' and pupils are proud to use their own unique 'superpowers' to help each other to learn. Pupils learn about keeping safe online and taking care when out in the community. During 'immersive arts week', pupils' spiritual development is interwoven with art.

Beautiful displays adorn the corridors, displaying pupils' moving pieces of writing that talk about the importance of caring for the environment. Pupils enjoy looking after their community by litter picking in the local national park.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some foundation subjects, the most important skills and knowledge have not yet been clearly identified. This means that teaching does not always emphasise these key points and then help pupils to link them to prior learning. The school should ensure that all staff are clear on what pupils need to learn and remember across every subject in the curriculum.

• Teachers do not always identify and address gaps in pupils' understanding. This means some pupils do not learn as well as they should. The school should ensure that all staff have the skills and training they need to help pupils address misconceptions and improve their work.