Swaledale Alliance System Leaders

Mr Joe Larder

Specialisms	PE Forest School Behaviour Management

I have gained extensive experience in teaching having taught across all age groups within a primary setting. I have been a member of the school’s senior leadership team and have successfully led a range of school improvement priorities.  

With over 10 years of experience at Richmond Methodist Primary and a degree in Sports Coaching, I have gained an in-depth understanding of curriculum development and pupil participation in sports and Physical Education. I have a great passion for sports and the outdoors. I have confidence in the holistic potential  and impact of high-quality Physical Education and outdoor provision as vehicle for whole-school improvement. Physical activity and outdoor learning have a host of benefits for students, including improved academic performance, enhanced physical and mental wellbeing, and increased confidence and self-esteem.

Throughout my tenure at RMS, I have had the opportunity to analyse the existing curriculum, develop new methodologies, engage in current research practices and provide valuable insights to the school's leadership team and governors. In addition, I have attended countless CPD opportunities to enhance my skills and knowledge in Physical Education and my most recent training has been to support the implementation of the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) approach at my school. The success of this has led to the school being award the highest level of accreditation, the OPAL ‘Platinum Award’.

As a Level 2 Pivotal Behaviour Coach, I have successfully developed a behaviour blueprint at RMS, which has been effective in managing student behaviour. With this skill I have also developed a relational behaviour management culture, which was recognised during the school’s most recent OFSTED and SIAMS inspections.

Recently, my efforts made to continually review and improve the school’s behaviour approach has been recognised by Paul Dix’s ‘When the Adults Change’ team and the school has been awarded a ‘Partner School’ status who means that I will work with the ‘When The adults Change’ team to support other school with developing their relation behaviour model.

I am a trained Forest School and Outdoor Learning leader. I have developed a forest school programme over a number of years and I am experience in adapting to the needs of the learners. This approach has had significant impact on the attainment and wellbeing of a range of pupils. Forest School and outdoor learning  was commented on in the school’s most recent OFSTED report, which has rated these areas of expertise highly.

With my extensive experience, knowledge and expertise, I am confident that I can contribute to the development of curriculum, provision and policy at other schools within the subject areas of physical education, behaviour management and Forest Schools.

I look forward to working and collaborating with schools to develop their practice.