Sale primary school scoops national award

A primary school in Sale has won a national award that recognises its Early Years team.

Left to right actor James Nesbitt, Clare Larkin, head of school at Lime Tree, Danielle Lloyd, lead assistant headteacher and SENCo at Lime Tree and Jon Severs, editor of TES Magazine © TES

Sale’s Lime Tree Primary Academy has won the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Setting of Year prize at the national TES Schools Awards 2023.

As well as the award for EYFS, the school was also shortlisted for three other awards, Pupil Mental Health Initiative of the Year, School of the Year for Staff Wellbeing, and Primary School of the Year.

Clare Larkin, head of school at Lime Tree, said: “We were thrilled to have again been recognised by TES for these coveted awards. Being shortlisted for four awards this year was an achievement in itself.

“We are delighted to have won the Early Years Foundation Stage award highlighting the hard work and dedication of the whole Lime Tree community and especially the Early Years team.

“I know I speak on behalf of all pupils when I say a huge thank you to staff, parents, carers, and our school community.

“We are hugely grateful to our local community and partner organisations who contribute so much to our school.

“We see each and every day how the commitment of our whole team helps to support our children with whatever it takes to help them thrive through careful nurturing using creativity, innovation, and academic challenge.”

Judge Eunice Lumsden, Professor of Child Advocacy and the Head of Childhood Youth and Families at the University of Northampton, said: “This school stood out due to the very strong interdisciplinary approaches taken and the fantastic partnerships with families and communications across the school.”

Lime Tree is part of Bright Futures Educational Trust. Its chief executive, John Stephens, added: “It is so wonderful to see this very special school and the lead setting for our Early Years Hub win such a well-deserved national award.

“We have a brilliant staff team, children, parents/carers, governors, and school community at Lime Tree. This is reflected in the many plaudits the school receives. Their commitment to living our Trust vision ‘the best for everyone, the best from everyone’ is exemplary.”