A four-node plate finite element for the analysis of laminated composites which is developed using strain gradient notation is presented. The element is based on a first-order shear deformation theory and on the equivalent lamina assumption. Strains and stresses can be calculated at different points through the thickness of the plate. They are averaged values due to the equivalent lamina assumption. A shear correction factor is used as the transverse shear strain is taken to be constant over the plate thickness while its actual variation is parabolic. Strain gradient notation, which is physically interpretable, allows for the detailed a-priori analysis of the finite element model. The polynomial expansions are inspected and spurious terms responsible for modeling errors are identified in the shear strains polynomial expansions. The element is corrected by simply removing the spurious terms from the shear strains expansions. The element is implemented into a FORTRAN finite element code in two versions; namely, with and without spurious terms. Results are compared to show the effects of the spurious terms on the solutions. It is also shown that a refined mesh composed of corrected elements provides solutions which approximate very well the analytical solutions, validating the procedure.