LISKEARD Infants School is centred right in the heart of the town in West Street, and is for children aged from 4 years up to 7 years.

Visitors are welcomed to the site by the bright red sign featuring ABC and 123 sitting on building bricks, a logo which is also on the school's uniform, and very apt considering this is where the pupils' first years of education begins.

The school has a warm and friendly atmosphere and throughout the year the corridors, main hall and classrooms, are decorated with colourful artworks all made by the children. The present theme is winter and there are beautiful paintings and collages of sparkling snow and other aspects of the season on display.

The Cornish head teacher is Pamela Shaw, who joined the school in 1992. She was born in Saltash, and as the daughter of a policeman moved all over the county when she was growing up. It was while living at Seaton that she became interested in teaching. She had broken her arm and while recovering used to help a Liskeard teacher, Jean Coath, to make apparatus for teaching very young children. 'My uncle was also a primary school teacher, so both of them inspired me' she said.

The Infant School presently has eight classrooms and 214 pupils on roll. At aged seven most transfer to Liskeard Junior School in Old Road, and Pamela says there are strong links with head teacher Martin Clark and staff, with the two schools working closely together. The infants are regularly invited to events at the Junior School so they are familiar with the surroundings when they move.

The school's senior management team comprises Rose Carter, the longest serving teacher who also acts as deputy head, and Rachel Stroud, with Naomi Best, Milica Djuradjevic, Sara Wood, Irene Peters, Theresa Irwin-Bowen and Vanessa Holt completing the teaching staff. Learning support is Denise Barlow, who has the same role at the Junior School, considered an important link, while teaching assistants, who Pamela describes as multi talented, are Sue Cooper and Sue Lapthorne, who both qualified in their roles through the Open University course, and Corinne Holroyd, Kate Hooper, Jane Truscott, Kath Shannon, Elna Horsnell, Amanda Brown, Julie Goodwright and Alison Greatorex.

Pamela says she has always been fortunate in having very supportive governors who have all helped to shape and develop the school. The present chairman is University of Plymouth lecturer, Dan Charman, whose young daughter has just joined the reception class with his son having moved on to the Junior School.

The school also has a very active PTA, currently chaired by Tina Samford, which has raised thousands of pounds over the years. Their latest donation of £3,000 is towards the formulation of some covered play areas for the school's younger children. The work is set to begin during this half term along with some major building work.

The school is to have an extra classroom built which will mean a three form intake this September. 'Unfortunately we have had to disappoint some parents because the school is full, but that will now change' says Pamela. The head is also to get a new office and there will be an extra staff room. The re-vamping of the school library is also in the pipeline.

The covered play area will compliment the rest of the playground facilities which already has an agility