SMSC

What is SMSC?
 
SMSC stands for Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural development.

 

Our Aims:

At Ellwood Primary School our aim is to be regarded as an integral part of the wider community. We encourage independence and a life-long love of learning in an environment where each individual is valued for who they are and the unique contribution that they bring.

We seek to enable, encourage and equip each child to develop their full potential: academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. We aim to provide a learning environment that is safe and conducive to learning through mutual respect and high expectations for all.

We strive to provide high quality teaching that takes into account the individual needs of every child. Through our commitment to the recruitment of high quality staff, on-going professional development, rigorous monitoring and willingness to embrace new ideas, we aim to ensure that all pupils receive an education that meets their very individual needs and that they enjoy coming to school. 

We believe that the curriculum is a powerful tool that promotes a love of learning and a willingness to explore. We believe that every child is entitled to a broad, balanced education that is right for them and aim to provide a full and rich variety of experiences for the pupils.

The curriculum includes not only the formal requirements of the National Curriculum but also the range of extra-curricular activities that we organise, in order to enrich the experience of the children and to promote their learning and personal growth and development. It also includes the ‘hidden curriculum’, or what the children learn from the way they are treated and expected to behave. We aim to teach children how to grow into positive, responsible people, who can work and co-operate with others while developing knowledge and skills, so that they achieve their true potential.

 
Promoting SMSC and British Values
At Ellwood Community Primary School the teaching of SMSC and 'British Values' is embedded in our curriculum.
 
On Tuesday 23rd November, children from Sycamore and Willow went to visit Majid E Noor Mosque and Gloucester Cathedral. 
 
We enjoyed a talk from Imam Hassan then we learnt how Muslims wash before praying, what clothes they wear and how Muslims pray. Imam Hassan spoke about the Five Pillars of Islam and tested us on what we knew. 
 
After our visit to the Mosque, we visited the Cathedral. We had a tour of the Cathedral and learnt about its history through time. Then we got involved in craft activities which were set up to help us remember key points in the Cathedral's history.
Spiritual development at Ellwood is achieved by:
  • Giving pupils the opportunity to explore values and beliefs, including religious beliefs and the way in which they impact on people’s lives. This is done, for example, through Assemblies, PSHE planning, R.E and History.
  • Giving pupils the opportunity to understand human emotions and feelings, the way they impact on people and how an understanding of them can be helpful for example through English and Drama, RE, music and dance.
  • Developing a climate or ethos within which all pupils can grow and flourish, respect others and be respected e.g. House captains, School Council and Celebration Assemblies.
  • Accommodating difference and respecting the integrity of individual’s e.g. weekly value assemblies and the school council.
 
 
Moral development at Ellwood is achieved by:
  • Providing a clear moral code for behaviour which is promoted consistently through all aspects of the school e.g. Behaviour Policy; our class Rules; School Council Assemblies, School Values
  • Promoting racial, religious and other forms of equality (Racial, Inclusion, Equal Opportunities, SEN policies)
  • Giving pupils opportunities to explore and develop moral concepts and values throughout the curriculum e.g. truth, justice, equality of opportunity, right and wrong (PSHE; RE; History; English; Assembly; Drama; School Council; Community Police officer visits)
  • Developing an open and safe learning environment in which pupils can express their views and practise moral decision making (School Council; Drama; Safeguarding policy & practice)
  • Rewarding expressions of moral insights and good behaviour (Celebration Assembly; behaviour charts; house points; Roles of responsibility e.g. roles in class, buddies, playground monitors )
  • Modelling through the quality of relationships and interactions the principles we wish to promote e.g. fairness, integrity, respect for persons, pupil welfare, respect for minority interests, resolution of conflict keeping promises and contracts. (Whole school events; Celebration Assemblies; Assembly themes)
  • Recognising and respecting different cultural groups represented in the school and the wider community. (Celebration of religious festivals in RE and assemblies)
  • Encouraging children to take responsibility for their actions e.g. respect for property, care of the environment and code of behaviour (Behaviour Policy; school values, Class Rules, Assembly themes)
  • Providing models of moral standards through the curriculum (English; History; RE; PSHE; Assembly; Drama)
 
 
Promoting British Values
 
All schools have a responsibility to promote the 'Fundamental British Values' of:
  • Democracy
  • Rule of Law
  • Individual Liberty
  • Mutual Respect
  • Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith.
Social development is achieved at Ellwood by:
 
  • Fostering a sense of community with common, inclusive values (Assembly; Home-School Agreement; links with Rev Michelle),
  • Promoting racial, religious and other forms of equality (Racial &Equal opportunities policies )
  • Encouraging children to work co-operatively (PSHE,  Buddies, House points system, mixed sports teams)
  • Encouraging children to recognise and respect social differences and similarities e.g. where they live, different kinds of family models, age issues (RE; English, History, Geography and PSHE)
  • Promoting British Values
  • Providing positive  experiences e.g. special curriculum events, productions, school council, school sporting events, class Assemblies
  • Helping pupils develop personal qualities which are valued in society, e.g. thoughtfulness, honesty, respect for differences, moral principles, independence, self-respect. R.E, P.H.S.E.
  • Helping children relieve tensions between their own aspirations and those of the wider group (ELSA, parent support worker) counselling and work with external agencies
  • Providing opportunities to participate in the democratic process and participate in making community decisions (School Council; votes in class on a variety of issues)
  • Providing children with opportunities to exercise leadership and responsibility (School Council, Class monitors, Playground monitors)
Cultural development is achieved at Ellwood by:
 
  • Providing children with opportunities to explore their own cultural assumptions and values
  • Celebrating the attitudes, values and traditions of diverse cultures(Geography; RE; History; Literacy; Library; Assembly; Art; Dance; Music; celebrating festivals.
  • Recognising and nurturing particular gifts and talents 
  • Developing partnerships with outside agencies and individuals to extend pupil’s cultural awareness 
  • Reinforcing the school’s cultural values through displays and photographs
Year 3 Kindness Tree
 
As part of anti bullying week the children in year 3 created a kindness tree, every child wrote something that was special about five different children in the class. We then created a kindness flower for each child to add to our class tree.
As an 'act of kindness' in their PSHE lessons, Sycamore went out around the school locality and litter picked. They collected lots of litter and are very proud of how they they helped the community, the school and the environment around them. Great work, Sycamore!
Visit to Coalway Methodist Chapel
 
Chestnut and Beech had a lovely time visiting Rev Michelle at Coalway Methodist Chapel. It was great to be able to look at the features of the building. We learnt about the key characters in the nativity. We were very lucky as Rev Michelle also gave each child a nativity Christmas tree decoration. Thank you Rev Michelle.