Askern Moss Road Infant Academy is a school which seeks to develop confident, independent, caring and enquiring individuals who are prepared for the future. We believe in fostering life long learning through providing an environment that values mutual trust and respect, honesty and equality and seeks to develop everyone’s potential. We provide excellent learning opportunities for all and celebrate the successes of individuals and the whole community.

The promotion of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural education is considered to be ‘a whole school issue’. Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development is promoted not only through all the subjects of the curriculum but also through the ethos of the school and through the development of positive attitudes and values.

It is not taught as a lesson, rather subject leaders identify opportunities for SMSC across the curriculum; for example, it may be part of Religious Education, Physical Education, Personal, Social and Health Education. In addition, SMSC is a key part of the ethos of the school which children experience on a daily basis.

SMSC is now highlighted by government as a key means of promoting basic British values and counteracting the development of religious extremism in some school settings.

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

Pupils’ spiritual development is shown by their:

• beliefs, religious or otherwise, which inform their perspective on life & their interest in & respect for different people’s feelings & values
• sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them, including the intangible
• use of imagination and creativity in their learning
• willingness to reflect on their experiences

MORAL DEVELOPMENT

Pupils’ moral development is shown by their:

• ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong and their readiness to apply this understanding in their own lives
• understanding of the consequences of their actions
• interest in investigating and offering reasoned views about moral and ethical issues

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Pupils’ social development is shown by their:

• use of a range of social skills in different contexts, including working and socialising with pupils from different religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds
• willingness to participate in a variety of social settings, cooperating well with others and being able to resolve conflicts effectively
• interest in, and understanding of, the way communities and societies function at a variety of levels

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Pupils’ cultural development is shown by their:

• understanding and appreciation of the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage
• willingness to participate in, and respond to, for example, artistic, musical, sporting, mathematical, technological, scientific and cultural opportunities
• interest in exploring, understanding of, and respect for cultural diversity and the extent to which they understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity, as shown by their attitudes towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities

What are British values?

The document “Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools” says “Schools should promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs”.

We pride ourselves on helping all pupils to develop the necessary skill, attitudes and knowledge needed for living in Modern Britain. We ensure that the fundamental British Values of: Mutual respect for and the tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs or for those without faith, Individual Liberty,Democracy and Rule of Law are introduced, discussed, taught and lived through our evolving learning community.                                                                                   

The teaching of the fundamental British values is central to all areas of the curriculum. In particular, our PSHCE and RE lessons provide pupils with excellent opportunities to deepen and develop their understanding. At Littlemoor, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy:

Democracy underpins a lot of the work we undertake with our pupils. Pupil voice is a crucial part of our ethos and belief that all pupils’ voices should be heard. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard though our school council, pupil voting tubes, learning walks and pupil questionnaires. Elections for school council representatives are undertaken in each class. Pupils are always able to voice their opinions and we foster an environment where they are safe to disagree with each other.

The Rule of Law:

The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, is reinforced through our curriculum as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. The school’s behaviour and pastoral ethos has at its core the principle of making the correct choices in life and adhering to key beliefs of being friendly, kind, committed, proud and fair. Our pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty:

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for pupils to make choices safely. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-safety lessons. Whether it is through choice of challenge, of how they record work, of participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect:

Respect is consistently and frequently discussed with the children through circle time, assemblies, school councils and sporting events. Our behaviour and pastoral ethos is based on ensuring all children respect one another and can value everyone as individuals.

Tolerance of those of different Faiths and Beliefs:

This is achieved through enhancing pupils’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying are followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE, in an age-appropriate way.