Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery
Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery is an academy converter in Chigwell for pupils aged 3 to 7. It has 182 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery is Good, from an inspection in November 2017 of its predecessor, Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery.
Ofsted inspection: November 2022.
| Type | Primary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 3-7 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Limes Avenue Chigwell Essex IG7 5LP |
| Reference Number | 145991 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 182 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 47.8%
Girls: 52.2% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 23.3% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 55.5% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 24.6 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 25.3 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | 25 | 48 |
| 2 | 20 | 31 | 51 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, Other | 30.8% |
| White, British | 23.6% |
| African | 9.9% |
| Pakistani | 4.9% |
| Indian | 4.4% |
| Asian, Other | 4.4% |
| Mixed, Other | 3.8% |
| Caribbean | 3.3% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 2.7% |
| White & Asian | 1.1% |
| White & Black (African) | 1.1% |
| Chinese | 0.5% |
This school has not been graded since it changed URN, usually on converting to an academy. The rating shown is from its predecessor, Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery, inspected in November 2017.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | 18 Oct 2022 – no overall grade published for this inspection |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 18 Oct 2022 | School inspection |
| 04 Jul 2018 | Academy conversion letter |
| 28 Nov 2017 | Short inspection |
| Previously as Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery | |
| 08 May 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 10 Jun 2010 | Full inspection: |
| 01 Mar 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 07 Oct 2002 | Full inspection |
Reception admissions, 2026 entry
Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Second Preference | 5 | 0 |
| Third Preference | 9 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 30 | 11 |
Previous years
Sample
UnlockPlaces and pupil numbers
In 2024–25 Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery had 128 pupils for 166 places. 38 places (22.9%) were unfilled.
Pupils and places
Reception intake in the “Epping Forest Primary F: Southeast (Chigwell)” planning area
Essex counted 125 Reception pupils in this area in 2024–25 and forecasts 132 in 2029–30, up 6%.
| 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Places | 166 | 166 | 166 | 166 | 166 | 166 |
| Pupils | 141 | 132 | 135 | 140 | 145 | 128 |
| Unfilled | 15.1% | 20.5% | 18.7% | 15.7% | 12.7% | 22.9% |
Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.
In 2024–25 pupils at Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery attended 94.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 17.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 4.4% | 3.6% | 5.6% | 6.1% | 6.0% | 4.9% |
| Unauthorised absence | 0.6% | 0.2% | 1.1% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Severely absent pupils | 2.8% | 3.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 1.1% |
Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.
In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.
In 2025–26 Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery had 23.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 7.7 | 8.9 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 7.4 | 8.4 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 14.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 20.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 15.8% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 84.6% | – | 100.0% | 88.9% | 77.8% | 88.9% | 44.4% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 12.3 | – | 5.3 | 15.4 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 7.7 | – |
Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.
In 2025–26, 19.8% of pupils at Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).
Pupils by main type of need
| SEN support | EHC plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Speech, language and communication needs | 18 | 6 |
| Specific learning difficulty | 7 | 0 |
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 2 | 4 |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 4 | 1 |
| No specialist assessment of need | 3 | 0 |
| Down's syndrome | 1 | 0 |
| Physical disability | 1 | 0 |
Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.
In 2024–25 Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery received £8,628 and spent £8,916 for each of its 153 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £156,000 (£1,026 per pupil).
Across all 16 schools of Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust, income was £7,618 and spending £7,577 per pupil.
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £127,000 | £165,000 | £179,000 | £156,000 | £153,000 | £150,000 | £156,000 |
| per pupil | £774 | £1,005 | £1,100 | £982 | £943 | £851 | £1,026 |
| In-year balance | -£83,000 | -£46,000 | £12,000 | -£26,000 | -£19,000 | -£13,000 | -£44,000 |
| per pupil | -£506 | -£282 | £74 | -£164 | -£115 | -£71 | -£289 |
Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.
| Name | Distance |
|
Limes Farm Junior School
Limes Avenue, Chigwell, Essex, IG7 5LP |
0 miles |
|
Manford Primary School
Manford Way, Chigwell, Essex, IG7 4BX |
0.59 miles |
|
Early Years Assessment Service and Centre Co Manford Primary School
Manford Way, Chigwell, IG7 4BX |
0.59 miles |
|
Fairlop Primary School
Colvin Gardens, Hainault, Ilford, Essex, IG6 2LH |
0.65 miles |
|
Wells Park School
School Lane, Lambourne Road, Chigwell, Essex, IG7 6NN |
0.78 miles |
|
John Bramston Primary School
Newcastle Avenue, New North Road, Hainault, Essex, IG6 3EE |
0.9 miles |
|
Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School
Forest Road, Ilford, Essex, IG6 3HB |
0.99 miles |
|
Clore Tikva School
115 Fullwell Avenue, Barkingside, Clore Tikva School, Ilford, Essex, IG6 2JN |
1.01 miles |
|
Gilbert Colvin Primary School
Strafford Avenue, Ilford, Essex, IG5 0TL |
1.15 miles |
|
Coppice Primary School
Coppice Primary School, Manford Way, Chigwell, Essex, IG7 4AL |
1.16 miles |
|
Mossford Green Primary School
Fairlop Road, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex, IG6 2EW |
1.2 miles |
|
Chigwell Primary Academy
Mandir Lane, Chigwell, Essex, IG7 6ED |
1.21 miles |
|
Roding Primary School
Roding Lane North, Woodford Bridge, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 8NP |
1.4 miles |
|
Avanti Court Primary School
Carlton Drive, Barkingside, Essex, IG6 1LZ |
1.4 miles |
|
Glade Primary School
Atherton Road, Clayhall, Ilford, Essex, IG5 0PF |
1.56 miles |
|
Fullwood Primary School
21-24 Burford Close, Off Hatley Avenue, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex, IG6 1ER |
1.64 miles |
|
Parkhill Infants' School
Lord Avenue, Clayhall, Ilford, Essex, IG5 0DB |
1.69 miles |
|
Parkhill Junior School
Lord Avenue, Clayhall, Ig13se, Ilford, Essex, IG5 0DB |
1.69 miles |
|
Chigwell Row Infant School
Lambourne Road, Chigwell, Essex, IG7 6EZ |
1.79 miles |
|
Ray Lodge Primary School
Snakes Lane East, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 7JQ |
1.86 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
New Rush Hall School
Fencepiece Road, Hainault, Ilford, Essex, IG6 2LB |
0.54 miles |
|
St John's RC School (Essex)
Turpins Lane, Woodford Bridge, Essex, IG8 8AX |
0.97 miles |
|
King Solomon High School
Forest Road, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex, IG6 3HB |
1.01 miles |
|
West Hatch High School
High Road, Chigwell, Essex, IG7 5BT |
1.07 miles |
|
Forest Academy
Harbourer Road, Hainault, Ilford, Essex, IG6 3TN |
1.2 miles |
|
Chigwell School
High Road, Chigwell, IG7 6QF |
1.21 miles |
|
Ilford County High School
Fremantle Road, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex, IG6 2JB |
1.21 miles |
|
Luxborough Court School
Luxborough Lane, Chigwell, Essex, Essex, IG7 5AA |
1.41 miles |
|
Caterham High School
Caterham Avenue, Clayhall, Ilford, Essex, IG5 0QW |
1.49 miles |
|
Oaks Park High School
45-65 Oaks Lane, Newbury Park, Ilford, Essex, IG2 7PQ |
2.07 miles |
|
Little Heath School
Hainault Road, Little Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 5RX |
2.15 miles |
|
Beal High School
Woodford Bridge Road, Ilford, Essex, IG4 5LP |
2.16 miles |
|
Stradbroke
133 Stradbroke Grove, Ilford, IG5 0DL |
2.2 miles |
|
Atam Academy
Little Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 4XX |
2.3 miles |
|
Woodbridge High School
St Barnabas Road, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 7DQ |
2.36 miles |
|
Valentines High School
Cranbrook Road, Ilford, Essex, IG2 6HX |
2.5 miles |
|
Newbridge School
161 Gresham Drive, Romford, Essex, RM6 4TR |
2.64 miles |
|
Bancroft's School
611-627 High Road, Woodford Green, IG8 0RF |
2.71 miles |
|
Seven Kings School
Ley Street, Ilford, Essex, IG2 7BT |
2.75 miles |
|
Roding Valley High School
Alderton Hill, Loughton, Essex, IG10 3JA |
2.77 miles |
All schools in Chigwell · Essex local authority: places and applications
Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery is part of Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust, which runs 16 schools. The nearest others:
- Chigwell Row Infant School Chigwell
- Buckhurst Hill Community Primary School Buckhurst Hill
- White Bridge Primary School Loughton
- The Alderton Infant School and Nursery Loughton
- The Alderton Junior School Loughton
- St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Buckhurst Hill Buckhurst Hill
- Oak View School Loughton
- Lambourne Primary School Romford
- Staples Road Primary School Loughton
- Hereward Primary School Loughton
What is Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery is Good, from an inspection in November 2017 of its predecessor, Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery.
When was Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery last inspected by Ofsted?
Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery was last inspected in November 2022.
How many pupils does Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery have?
Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery has 182 pupils on roll.
What age range does Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery cover?
Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery for pupils aged 3 to 7.
Where is Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery?
Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery is at Limes Avenue, Chigwell, Essex, IG7 5LP.