We visit a Wolverhampton school which embraces play and technology

From AI to new computer technology, there are plenty of aids to help children in lessons, as well as learn how to be active and play, and schools have had to find ways to be leaders in those areas.

One school which has taken those steps in Lanesfield Primary School in Wolverhampton, with the school having a philosophy of putting its children first in everything it does and using technology to help with that.

The school is a one-to-one iPad school, meaning all pupils at Key Stage one and two have an iPad assigned to them, allowing them to use voice notes and other apps, as well as remote learning to allow children to catch up on any lessons they may have missed.

It also has been cited as a leader for play after being awarded the Platinum OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) Award, the highest level of accreditation for a school, which recognises schools that provide outstanding play opportunities and environments for children.

Headteacher Zoe Rollinson said the school had worked hard to become a one-to-one school and spoke about the core values of Lanesfield Primary.

She said: “I think our school is special because our mission is to really put our children first in everything that we do, such as working really hard to be a one-to-one school, which we’ve done over time and not had to narrow our curriculum.

“There’s also the OPAL award, which comes from really trying to develop and give opportunities for our children in all aspects of school life, because playtime is a lot of ours in school and if you talk to the children, it’s their favourite time.

“It’s all about recognising that we come from a really diverse area and also one of the city’s highest for deprivation and when I came here, I just wanted our children to be the best and I think our children deserve the best.”

Ms Rollinson said the school was a community hub and a place where people could receive support if they wanted it and said there were several values, including building resilience, being creative, being curious and having integrity and happiness.

Lanesfield is a school with an age range of between three and 11, with a maintained nursery as well, and has been part of the community for 60 years, having replaced a school called Wood Street School.

Playtimes were previously challenging, with limited activities, restricted spaces and children separated by age, but more recently the school has transformed its approach to play, creating a vibrant, creative and collaborative environment for pupils of all ages.

Now, children can choose from a wide range of activities including ball games, sand and water play, den building, scooters, role play, construction, creative arts and small‑world play.

Regular play assemblies also help reinforce positive play messages and ensure that play is valued as an essential part of school life.

Ms Rollinson said: "This award reflects everything we believe in at Lanesfield.

“Our children play with creativity, explore with curiosity, persevere with resilience, act with integrity, and approach every day with aspiration and happiness.

“We are so proud of the environment we have built together.”

On what makes Lanesfield Primary School so special to her, having been at the school since 2011 and headteacher since 2014, she said it was the unique and welcoming atmosphere that people felt on arrival.

She said: “I think we’ve got a unique atmosphere and people, not just the children, and I’ve had a recent member of staff join us and he said that he comes in and he can really feel the love around him.

“That’s how I would describe our vision, which is to be a school with a unique atmosphere and endless opportunities where every child is known as an individual and instilled with the belief that anything is possible and then succeeds beyond their expectation.

“We want them to be the best they possibly can be, whatever their background, and we promise to ensure our children come first, so everything we do, all the decisions we make, are aimed to consider how this will affect our children and what we can gain for them.”