Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Education

Court Lane Junior School SMSC Education Rationale and Guidelines

At Court Lane Junior School we recognise that the personal development of children, spiritually, morally, socially and culturally, plays a significant part in their ability to learn and achieve. We therefore aim to provide an education that provides children with opportunities to explore and develop their own values and beliefs, spiritual awareness, high standards of personal behaviour, a positive, respectful and caring attitude towards other people, an understanding of their social and cultural traditions and an appreciation of the diversity and richness of other cultures.

All curriculum areas have a contribution to make to a child’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and opportunities for this will be planned in each area of the curriculum.

All adults will model and promote expected behaviour, treating all people as unique and valuable individuals and showing respect for children and their families.

The school community will be a place where pupils can find acceptance for themselves as unique individuals and where forgiveness and the opportunity to start again are fundamental to the ethos of the school.

Children should learn to differentiate between right and wrong in as far as their actions affect other people. They will be encouraged to value themselves and others.

Children should understand the need for rules and the need to abide by rules for the good of everyone. School and classroom rules should reflect, reiterate, promote and reward acceptable behaviour and provide opportunities to celebrate pupils’ work and achievements.

All curriculum areas should seek to use illustrations and examples drawn from as wide a range of cultural contexts as possible. This will be reflected in teachers' planning and use of resources.

General Aims

To ensure that everyone connected with the school is aware of our values and principles.
To ensure a consistent approach to the delivery of SMSC education through the curriculum and the general life of the school.
To ensure that a child’s education is set within a context that is meaningful and appropriate to their age, aptitude and background.
To ensure that children know what is expected of them and why.
To give each child a range of opportunities to reflect upon and discuss their beliefs, feelings and responses to personal experience.
To enable children to develop an understanding of their individual and group identity.
To enable children to begin to develop an understanding of their social and cultural environment, and an appreciation of the many cultures that now enrich our society.
To enable children to understand the importance of respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.
To give each child the opportunity to explore social and moral issues, and develop a sense of social and moral responsibility.
To actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

Spiritual Development

As a school, we aim to provide learning opportunities that will enable children to:

Sustain their self-esteem in their learning experience.
Develop their capacity for critical and independent thought.
Foster their emotional life and express their feelings
Experience moments of stillness and reflection.
Discuss their beliefs, feelings, values and responses to personal experiences.
Form and maintain worthwhile and satisfying relationships
Reflect on, consider and celebrate the wonders and mysteries of life.
Use of imagination and creativity in their learning

Moral Development

As a school, we aim to provide learning opportunities that will enable children to:
Recognise the unique value of each individual.
Listen and respond appropriately to the views of others.
Gain the confidence to cope with setbacks and learn from mistakes.
Take initiative and act responsibly with consideration of others.
Distinguish between right and wrong.
Show respect for the environment.
Make informed and independent judgements.

Social Development

As a school, we aim to promote opportunities that will enable children to:
Develop an understanding of their individual and group identity.
Learn about service in the school and wider community.
Allow them to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in modern Britain. Make choices, understand their part in decision-making
Be proud of their success

Cultural Development

As a school, we aim to promote opportunities that will enable children to:
Recognise the value and richness of cultural diversity in Britain, and how these influence individuals and society.
Develop an understanding of their social and cultural environment.
Develop an understanding of Britain’s local, national, European, Commonwealth and global dimensions.
Gain knowledge of Britain's democratic parliamentary system
Participate in a range of artistic, musical and sporting opportunities

Teaching and Organisation

Development in SMSC education will take place across all curriculum areas, within activities that encourage pupils to recognise the spiritual dimension of their learning, reflect on the significance of what they are learning, and to recognise any challenges that there may be to their own attitude and lifestyle.

All curriculum areas should seek illustrations and examples drawn from as wide a range of cultural contexts as possible.

Class discussions and circle time will give children opportunities to:

Talk about personal experiences and feelings.
Express and clarify their own ideas and beliefs.
Speak about difficult events, eg bullying, death etc.
Share thoughts and feelings with other people.
Explore relationships with friends/family/others.
Consider others' needs and behaviour.
Show empathy.
Develop self-esteem and respect for others.
Develop a sense of belonging.
Develop the skills and attitudes that enable children to develop socially, morally, spiritually and culturally – e.g. empathy, respect, open-mindedness, sensitivity, critical awareness.

Many curriculum areas provide opportunities to:

Listen and talk to each other.
Learn an awareness of treating all as equals, and accepting people who are physically or mentally different.
Agree and disagree.
Take turns and share equipment.
Work co-operatively and collaboratively.

Links with the wider community

Visitors are welcomed into the school.
The development of a strong home-school link is regarded as very important, enabling parents and staff to work in an effective partnership to support the pupil.
Children will be taught to appreciate their local environment and to develop a sense of responsibility to it.
Celebration of events beyond the school day that children have been involved in.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Provision for SMSC education will be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis. This will be achieved by:

Monitoring of lesson plans and teaching and learning, by the leadership team
Regular discussion at staff and governors’ meetings
Audit of policies and units of work.
Sharing of classroom work and practice.
Audit of Collective Worship policy and practice.
Regular inclusion in the School Improvement Plan.

Review

The development of SMSC and understanding of fundamental British values will be incorporated into any review of Court Lane Junior School's curriculum provision.