SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural)

Introduction

I have come in order that they might have life - life in all its fullness. John 10:10

We recognise that the personal development of pupils, 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 pupils with opportunities to explore and develop their own values and beliefs, spiritual awareness, high standards of personal behaviour, a positive caring attitude towards other people, an understanding of their social and cultural traditions and an appreciation of the diversity and richness of other cultures.

This is a whole school issue.

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

The integrity and spirituality of pupils from all faith backgrounds will be respected and explored. The diversity of spiritual traditions will be recognised, and pupils will be given access to a range of alternative views.

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

The school community will be a place where pupils can find acceptance for themselves as unique individuals.

Pupils 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.

Pupils 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 in line with the school’s behaviour policy.

Our 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 issues through the curriculum and the general life of the school.

To ensure that a pupil's education is set within a context that is meaningful and appropriate to their age, aptitude and background.

To ensure that pupils know what is expected of them and why.

To give each pupil a range of opportunities to reflect upon and discuss their beliefs, feelings and responses to personal experience.

To enable pupils to develop an understanding of their individual and group identity.

To enable pupils 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 give each pupil the opportunity to explore social and moral issues, and develop a sense of social and moral responsibility.

Spiritual Development

God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God and God lives in him. 1 John 4:16

As a school we aim to provide learning opportunities that will enable pupils 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.

As part of our Christian distinctiveness we have a commitment to nurturing childhood spirituality and well-being. It is at the heart of all we do. Children at Claypole Church of England Primary School learn that they are unique and special from the moment they come into the

Foundation Stage - they are encouraged to love and care about each other and the world. Opportunities to live, learn and grow in faith are afforded our children through the arts, language, outdoor learning and experiences or visits. We enable children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.

Moral development

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another in love.

Honour one another above yourselves. Romans 12:9-10

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

As a school we aim to provide learning opportunities that will enable pupils 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 for others.

Distinguish between right and wrong.  

Show respect for the environment.

Take action for justice.

Make informed and independent judgments.

Our children have a clearly defined sense of right and wrong underpinned by Christian values and the teachings of Jesus. In addition, they are guided toward consideration of wider moral issues through their study themes and classroom discussion and debate. We enable children to distinguish right from wrong. We also encourage children to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely.

Social Development

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body.

So it is with the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12

As a school we aim to promote opportunities that will enable pupils to:

Develop an understanding of their individual and group identity.

Learn about service in the school and wider community.

Develop an ‘I can do’ philosophy.

Develop their out of school hours learning.

Behaviour and the quality of all relationships within our school has been judged as 'outstanding'. Our children genuinely care about and consider the feelings of others. They take their social responsibilities seriously both locally, nationally and internationally through charitable support and sponsorship. We help our children to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England, through worship assemblies, history, geography and PSHE lessons.

Cultural Development

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every

nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne. Revelation 7: 9a

As a school we aim to promote opportunities that will enable pupils 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.

Learn an additional language (to raise pupil aspirations and promote internationalism)

As a school we will also promote opportunities which encourage the involvement of parents and carers in pupils’ cultural development.

Children at Claypole Church of England Primary School are encouraged to explore beliefs and experiences; respect faiths, feelings and values; enjoy learning about oneself, others and the surrounding world; using imagination and creativity to reflect. We encourage further

tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation for and respect for their own and other cultures through learning across the curriculum. We work hard to ensure children show respect for other people, and encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in Great Britain.

Teaching and Organisation of SMSC

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

Class discussions and Collective Worship provide pupils 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 a respect for others.

Develop a sense of belonging, both within the school and within the wider community.

Develop the skills and attitudes that enable pupils to develop socially, morally, spiritually and culturally — eg empathy, respect, open mindedness, sensitivity, critical awareness

Many of our curriculum areas provide opportunities to:

Listen and talk to each other.

Learn an awareness of treating all as equals.

Agree and disagree.

Take turns and share equipment.

Work cooperatively and collaboratively.

Practical activities that develop SMSC in our school are:

Working together in different groupings and situations.

Encouraging the children to behave appropriately at meal times.

Taking responsibility e.g. prefects, class monitors, door monitors, register monitors, cloakroom monitors, delivering messages and looking after younger children.

Encouraging teamwork in PE, games and out of school hours learning.

Showing appreciation of the performances of other children regardless of ability.

Hearing music from different composers, cultures and genres e.g. Composer of the month.

Meeting people from different cultures and countries.

Participation in a variety of different educational visits.

Links with the local community made through the encouragement of parental involvement in school life (international carnival).

Participation in live performances.

Use of Collective Worship themes to explore important aspects of our heritage and other cultures e.g. festival days, the patron saints and national celebrations.

Studying literature and art from different cultures supported by visits from writers and artists and participating in workshops.

Opportunities for the children to hear and see live performances by professional actors, dancers and musicians.

Opportunities to make and evaluate food from other countries.

Opportunities in music to learn songs from different cultures and play a range of instruments.

Studying the contributions to society that certain famous people have made.

Our links with the wider community

Visitors are welcomed into school. Links with local places of worship are fostered through children visiting and visitors coming into school.

The development of a strong home-school link is  very important, enabling our parents and teachers to work in an effective partnership to support the children (regular newsletters, school website, daily reading with parents and teachers, Parent Workshops...).  Will also teach children to appreciate their local environment and to develop a sense of responsibility to it.  We want children to be thrilled by the world; sse it's beauty and feel it's power.

Being valued

Everyone being valued as a member of a large and caring family group is central to our school’s ethos. This family identity is represented symbolically by our ‘school bowl’. The bowl is filled with water on which float three candles. The water reminds us that we are surrounded by God’s Holy Spirit. The three candles represent the Holy Trinity, and also remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World. The pebbles in the bowl are of different colours, shapes and sizes, just as the children and adults of our school family are.  Our bowl is displayed in the front entrance.