SMSC

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development at Padnell Infant School

At Padnell Infants our pupils Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development is promoted throughout our broad, balanced and enriched curriculum which fulfills the children’s emotional, physical and spiritual needs and plays a significant part in their ability to learn, achieve and thrive. We 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 the cultures. Development in SMSC takes place across all curriculum areas to ensure that pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain.

Below is a summary of what Spiritual. Moral, Social and Moral development means for our children.

Spiritual Development

  • Children participate in Religious Education where they explore their own religious and spiritual identities, as well as those of their peers. We invite in our local vicar to lead an Assembly once every half term.
  • Children participate in visits to places of worship every year including at special festival times such as Easter and Christmas.
  • We celebrate significant experiences such as birthdays and ensure that children have the opportunity to feel special and valued.
  • We create opportunities where children can develop awareness of the world and its capacity to inspire awe and wonder. We encourage children to use imagination and creativity in their learning.
  • We plan times for children to take part in opportunities to be quiet and reflective. We give them space for their own thoughts, ideas and concerns. We encourage them to use our Sensory Garden as a place for reflection.
  • We plan PSHE and Philosophy for Children lessons to promote respect and understanding of different feelings and values.

Moral Development

  • We encourage children to respond appropriately to the needs and feelings of others and to show consideration and kindness to others.
  • We create opportunities for children to learn from people who are excellent models of positive behaviour.
  • We teach children to communicate in ways that will enable them to form positive relationships and enjoy participating in school and community life.
  • We give children opportunities across the curriculum to explore and develop moral codes, values and choices - for example, personal rights and responsibilities, truth, justice, equality of opportunity, right and wrong.
  • We want them to recognise the difference between right and wrong, and respect the civil and criminal law of England.
  • We provide opportunities for children to engage in moral and ethical dilemmas so they can develop an understanding, tolerance and appreciation of different viewpoints.

Social Development

  • We provide a range of activities which develop children’s social skills and understanding, like how to care for people, living things, property and the environment.
  • We teach children to work cooperatively as a member of a group or team, taking turns and sharing within a range of social contexts.
  • We create opportunities for children to develop positive relationships with peers and adults, including those who have different needs.
  • We teach children to help and support others and to experience being helped by others.
  • We teach a range of social skills in different contexts, including working and socialising with pupils from different religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, and with a range of needs and abilities.
  • Through our RE and PSHE curriculum we teach an awareness and understanding of personal identities, relationships, diversity and healthy living.
  • We provide opportunities for children to develop an understanding, tolerance and appreciation of how society and different communities and families live.

Cultural Development

  • We celebrate each other’s cultural identities and teach children to value their own cultural heritage and develop a positive, personal identity, and to show respect for other people’s values and beliefs.
  • We want our children to demonstrate an understanding of the range of different cultures within the school “and further afield” as preparation for life in modern Britain.
  • We encourage children to participate in, and respond positively to a range of artistic, musical, sporting, mathematical, technological, scientific and cultural opportunities.
  • We provide opportunities for children to experience and respond positively to the languages, food, music, artefacts and cultural practices of different and diverse communities present and past.
  • We encourage children to show an interest in exploring cultural diversity and show positive responses towards different religions, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities.

Many of these learning opportunities are celebrated on our website under the section ‘About the School’ entitled ‘How we’ve Grown’