Lime Academy Forest Approach

Overview

Leaders have created a “nurturing environment” where pupils achieve well through an “ambitious bespoke” curriculum tailored to individual needs. The school fosters positive behaviour and strong community links, with staff working collaboratively to support pupils’ physical, academic, and social development.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “designed to be aspirational” with careful planning that breaks learning into manageable steps, particularly for pupils with complex needs.
• Behaviour is “consistently calm and positive” due to a well-implemented new policy and high staff consistency.
• Leaders prioritise reading, ensuring pupils are read to daily and receive effective phonics instruction based on regular assessments.
• Pupils are given many opportunities for responsibility and enrichment, including real-life experiences like shopping and using public transport.
• Staff well-being is “consistently considered,” and leaders provide thorough professional development tailored to individual needs.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, teachers’ subject knowledge is “not deep enough,” preventing pupils from developing a “deep understanding of the subject content.” Leaders must continue supporting staff to ensure secure knowledge across all subjects.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with leaders maintaining a strong policy and staff trained to be vigilant for changes in pupil behaviour or context.