Elmwood Infant School

What Ofsted found

Short inspection, July 2024.

• Outcome: Elmwood Infant School continues to be a good school.
• Safeguarding: The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

• Inspectors found that pupils feel safe at the school because of warm and nurturing relationships between staff and pupils.
• Inspectors found that behaviour expectations are clear and understood by all and that pupils are polite and respectful.

Our summary of Ofsted's report. Read the full reports on Ofsted's website. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

The school

• The school is a Gold Rights Respecting School, with children's rights shaping its ethos and daily practice.
• The school describes itself as a friendly and inclusive community where every child is valued and supported to thrive.
• Reception intake is 120 pupils per year.

Source: Elmwood Infant School website; Elmwood Infant School website. Checked 12 November 2026.

How it teaches

• Phonics is taught through the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme.
• The curriculum is rooted in the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and the National Curriculum for Key Stage 1.
• Children take home reading books matched to the sounds they have been taught in school.

Source: Elmwood Infant School website; Elmwood Infant School website. Checked 12 November 2026.

Music, sport and trips

• Instrumental lessons in piano and guitar are offered as 1:1 and paired lessons during the school day by peripatetic teachers from Link Learning.

Source: Elmwood Infant School website. Checked 12 November 2026.

Admissions

• Elmwood Infant School is a Community School and admissions are administered by the London Borough of Croydon.
• Elmwood Infant School admits 120 pupils into Reception each year.
• Reception applications for September 2027 are open to children born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023.
• Reception applications must be made through the London Borough of Croydon School Admissions Service using the eAdmissions system.
• Nursery applications for September 2027 are open to children born between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024.

Source: Elmwood Infant School website. Checked 12 November 2026.

Nursery

• Children can join the Nursery the term after they turn three.

Source: Elmwood Infant School website. Checked 12 November 2026.

Grammar schools within 15 miles

• Wilson's SchoolBoys, Wallington, 2 miles. Sutton Selective Eligibility Test
• Wallington County Grammar SchoolBoys, Wallington, 2 miles. Sutton Selective Eligibility Test
• Wallington High School for GirlsGirls, Wallington, 3 miles. Sutton Selective Eligibility Test
• Sutton Grammar SchoolBoys, Sutton, 4 miles. Sutton Selective Eligibility Test
• Nonsuch High School for GirlsGirls, Sutton, 6 miles. Sutton Selective Eligibility Test
• Newstead Wood SchoolGirls, Orpington, 8 miles. Newstead Wood Selection Test
• Tiffin SchoolBoys, Kingston upon Thames, 8 miles
• The Tiffin Girls' SchoolGirls, Kingston upon Thames, 9 miles
• St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar SchoolBoys, Orpington, 9 miles. St Olave's Selective Entrance Test
• Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar SchoolSidcup, 10 miles. Bexley Selection Test
• Bexley Grammar SchoolWelling, 10 miles. Bexley Selection Test
• Townley Grammar SchoolGirls, Bexleyheath, 11 miles. Bexley Selection Test