SMSC
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.
- 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.
- 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)
- Democracy
- Rule of Law
- Individual Liberty
- Mutual Respect
- Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith.
- 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)
- 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