Laira Green Primary School

Our Intent – What We Want for Our Children

At Laira Green Primary School, we are proud to be part of a lively, multicultural inner-city community. Our children are growing up in a fast-changing world, and it's our job to help them build the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed- both now and in the future.

Our mission is simple and clear:
To create an inspired community of learners who are equipped with the skills, experience and confidence they need for a happy and successful future.

We are a fully inclusive school where every child is valued. Through our curriculum and wide range of extra-curricular activities, we encourage children to embrace differences and treat everyone with respect. We aim for all pupils- including those with special educational needs to become independent, articulate and confident young people who are ready for the next stage of their lives.

When we design our curriculum, we think carefully about three key elements:

1. What children need to learn – Subject leaders plan this thoroughly, using the Early Years Framework, the National Curriculum, and their own expert knowledge.

2. How we teach it – Teachers use high-quality resources and carefully chosen activities to deliver engaging lessons.

3. How children experience it – Skilled teachers bring learning to life in exciting and meaningful ways, making sure it’s relevant and memorable for the children.

We also enrich our curriculum with school-funded trips and experiences that help children build their understanding of the wider world, boost their confidence and expand their cultural knowledge.

Our Implementation – How We Make Learning Happen

Our curriculum is broad, ambitious and exciting. It follows the Early Years and National Curriculum frameworks, but goes far beyond them- offering hands-on experiences, high-quality teaching and many opportunities to learn outside the classroom.

• High expectations for every child – We believe every child can succeed and we plan carefully to meet each child’s needs, whatever their starting point.

• Carefully planned learning – Lessons are well-structured, inclusive and adapted so that all children can access the curriculum and feel challenged.

• Building on what children already know – We revisit key learning regularly and help children make links between new ideas and what they already understand.

• Connecting learning across subjects – While we teach subjects separately, we also make meaningful links between them, helping children see the bigger picture.

• Local links – Wherever possible, we link learning to our local area, making the most of Plymouth’s rich history, culture and natural surroundings- including the sea, Dartmoor and our city’s port.

Language, Reading and Communication at the Core

• Language matters – From the very start, we focus on oracy (speaking and listening) and vocabulary. We want all our children to feel confident expressing their ideas and explaining their thinking.

• Reading is central – We promote reading for both learning and pleasure. Our beautiful, well-stocked library is a central part of school life, offering a wide range of high-quality books for every interest and level. Each class also has their own class library which reflects the children's interests.

• Vocabulary and display – We build vocabulary throughout lessons and celebrate learning in classroom displays and shared spaces.

Supporting the Whole Child

At Laira Green Primary, we believe in supporting every part of a child’s development- not just their academic progress.

• We teach personal, social and emotional development through dedicated lessons, assemblies, special visitors and day-to-day interactions.

• We promote a healthy, active lifestyle for both pupils and their families.

• Staff work closely with families and outside agencies to make sure every child feels safe, supported and cared for.

• We model positive behaviour and strong relationships across the school.

• We invest in our staff, giving them access to high-quality training and the latest educational research to ensure teaching is always the best it can be.

Our Impact – What This Means for Our Children

Our curriculum helps children to:

• Make excellent progress by learning what we set out for them to learn.

• Talk confidently about what they know, how they’ve learned it and what they’ve enjoyed.

• Read fluently and with enthusiasm, developing a true love of reading.

• Discover interests and passions through our extra-curricular activities and enrichment opportunities.

• Become confident, curious and responsible citizens, ready for the next stage in their education and beyond.

At Laira Green Primary, we aim to give every child the tools they need for a happy, successful life. We are proud of the well-rounded, enthusiastic learners we help to grow, and we look forward to seeing them thrive in the future.