Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development at Sir Alexander Fleming Nursery and Primary School
At Sir Alexander Fleming Nursery and Primary School, we work to develop not only children’s academic knowledge, but every child as a whole. It is within our ethos to develop our pupil’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural being. Click the link below to see how we plan Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural experiences throughout our curriculum.
Spiritual Development
We teach children about themselves, others and the world around them in order to inspire and develop a sense of awe and wonder. We explore values and beliefs in which to inform their perspective on life and respect for other people. Creativity is at the heart of our curriculum and we encourage a willingness to reflect on their own experiences. Use of a range of social skills in different contexts, including working and socialising with pupils from different religions, ethic and socio-economic backgrounds
The Spiritual Development of pupils is shown by their:
- Ability to be reflective about their own beliefs, religious or otherwise, that inform their perspective on life and their interest in and respect for different people’s faiths, feelings and values
- Sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them
- Use of imagination and creativity in their learning
- Willingness to reflect on their experiences
Whole School Activities
- School Values: Respect, Safe, Pride, Success, Brave
- School Council – Opportunities to express our points of view safely
- Pupil voice / Pupil Committees – School council, RE Panel, Reading Ambassadors, Mathematics Ambassadors, Science Technicians, Digital Leaders
- Playground Buddies
- Sports Leaders
- School dog – Honey
- Outdoor Learning for ALL year groups to support mental and physical health
- Allotments
- Singing assemblies
- Charitable Activities – whole school and through Enrichment activities (Red Nose Day, Children In Need, Remembrance Day)
- Fund Raising for School – Pumpkin Patch, Christmas Concerts, Cookie Sale, Summer Fayre
- School Magazine
- Pupil questionnaires
- Buddy Reading – cross-year collaboration
- Trips, visits and experiences, including residentials to Pioneer Centre, Arthog, France
- Home visits for all children who join our Nursery or Reception classes
- MFL – Learning about other cultures, language and beliefs
- Inclusion team – Nurture Rooms, Pastoral and Inclusion support
- House System – House Captains and Vice Captains
- Head Boy/Head Girl – promoting leadership opportunities
- Celebrations – assemblies, Mother’s day, Father’s day
- Parent Workshops – SATS, phonics, lunchtime meals
- After-school clubs
Moral Development
We provide opportunities for children to investigate moral and ethical issues in order to develop their ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong, with a readiness to apply this understanding in their own lives. We develop their understanding of consequences of their actions.
The Moral Development of pupils is shown by their:
- Ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong, readily apply this understanding to their own lives and, in so doing, respect the civil and criminal law of The United Kingdom.
- Understanding of the consequences of their behaviour and actions.
- Interest in investigating and offering reasoned views about moral and ethical issues and being able to understand and appreciate the viewpoints of others on these issues.
Whole School Activities
- RE Curriculum – children learn about making the right decisions
- Learning empathy – taught through Jigsaw, Values Assemblies, British Values, RE, Assemblies.
- Developing positive relationships – taught through Jigsaw, Values Assemblies, British Values, RE, Assemblies, Positive Behaviour Policy
- Positive Behaviour Policy – rules and expectations, children having a voice and understanding the purpose of the policy.
- Behaviour curriculum
- Playground Buddies – during lunchtime and playtime supporting pupils to remember the expectations of high standards of behaviour on site.
- Head Boy/ Head Girl – opportunities for leadership
- Celebrating personal success and team success – Certificates of Achievement, Attendance Awards, Sporting Awards and endeavours
- PCSOs delivery of workshops throughout the school – STAR, Crucial Crew, enrichment in Nursery
- Charitable events – including Harvest Festival Collection, Red Nose Day, Children in Need, Poppy Appeal, Christmas Jumper Day – supporting charities as part of our moral responsibility to society.
- School Council- Opportunities to express our points of view safely
- Internet Safety Day – encouraged and taught throughout the year but this day also provides a specific focus and includes our parents and families.
- Topic Work – exploring our values and attitudes to life and learning about others through a variety of subjects / mediums including History, Geography, Art, Music, Dance
- School Trips, visits and experiences, including residentials to Pioneer, Arthog and France
- Field work walks around the local community – identifying needs that we can support with
- Business Links – Virgin 500, Outdoor learning (see extensive list on outdoor learning page)
- Supporting Mental Health – Young Minds, Children’s mental health week, Bronze award for mental health in school.
Social Development
We develop social skills through working and socialising with and alongside others from a variety of different backgrounds. We learn to cooperate well with others and resolve conflicts effectively. We teach children about the way their own community as well as wider society and other communities function.
The social development of pupils is shown by their:
- Use of a range of social skills in different contexts, including working and socialising with pupils from different religions, ethic and socio-economic backgrounds
- Willingness to participate in a variety of communication and social settings, including volunteering, cooperating well with others and being able to resolve conflicts effectively
- Acceptance and engagement with the fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, the pupils develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in modern Britain
Whole School Activities
- Positive Behaviour Policy – rules and expectations, children having an input and understanding what is fair
- Behaviour Curriculum – outlines a behaviour focus for each week
- Pupil voice – School Council, Digital Leaders, Playground Buddies, Sports Leaders and many more…
- British Values – Celebrating Diversity, Focus Week
- Use of self and peer assessment
- Assemblies – focusing and developing values and principles, Celebrations
- Festivals – Eid, Diwali, Easter, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Graduation, Prom
- Links with the Community – diversity celebrations including local faith leaders
- School website – links to helpful agencies, CEOP, Childline, Eradicate Hate, Prevent Strategy and Raising awareness about FGM
- Online Safety talks, assemblies, focus of every computing lesson
- PSED – making and maintaining relationships, group activities, turn taking and sharing
- Workshops with external agencies – PODs, BEAM, Health Visitors
- Parent and Child Workshops through Family Learning
- Inclusion team – Nurture Rooms, Pastoral and Inclusion support
- House System – House Captains and Vice Captains
- Head Boy/Head Girl – promoting leadership opportunities
- Celebrations – assemblies, Mother’s day, Father’s day
- Parent Workshops – SATS, phonics, lunchtime meals
- After-school clubs
Cultural Development
We explore and develop an understanding and respect for cultural diversity. We celebrate diversity within our school and share knowledge and experience within the community. We provide opportunities to explore a variety of art, music, sport, science and festivals. We also develop an appreciation of cultural influences that have shaped the children’s own heritage.
The Cultural Development of pupils is shown by their:
- Understanding and appreciation of the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage and that of others
- Understanding and appreciation of the range of different cultures within school and further afield as an essential element of their preparation for life in Modern Britain
- Knowledge of Britain’s democratic parliamentary system and its cultural role in shaping our history and values and continuing to develop Britain.
- Willingness to participate in and respond positively to artistic, sporting and cultural opportunities
- Interest in exploring, improving understanding of and showing respect for different faiths and cultural diversity, and the extent to which they understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity, as shown by their tolerance and attitudes towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities.
Whole School Activities
- RE lessons allow children to learn about different religions, cultures and beliefs
- Topic lessons allow children to explore learning about different cultures and beliefs through different medium / Subjects including Music, Art, History, Geography and Computing.
- The Design and Technology programme gives the pupils the opportunity to participate in cookery activities looking at nutrition and health.
- Themed International School Dinners
- Developing positive relationships through Values Assemblies, Jigsaw lessons focusing on different beliefs and cultural expectations
- Variety of assemblies celebrating cultural differences: Eid, Diwali, Easter, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Father’s and Mother’s Day Celebrations, Black History Month, LGBT History Month, Remembrance Day, European Languages Day
- Music Calendar to encourage listening to different genres
- World Sporting Events: Euros, World Cup (men and women), Olympics, Commonwealth Games
- Celebrations – Christmas, Easter bonnet parade, Eid, Diwali
- Nativity Production by Early Years, KS1 and KS2
- Music activities – Lessons and elective choices available too. Musical assemblies. Variety of instruments available for all year groups to utilise. Children sing a range of songs linking into particular issues and values