British Values
Our School is a community where everyone is valued, respected and feels safe so as they can grow and achieve. We are committed to supporting and nurturing our children and their families.
Our school reflects British values in all that we do; they can be seen as our curriculum intent. We take our responsibility to promote community cohesion, generate a respect for difference and individual rights seriously.
We nurture our children on their journey through life so they grow into caring, responsible and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to society and to the wider world. We encourage them to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and others in our school, our local community and beyond. We aspire for our children to become national and global citizens of the future.
The Department for Education state that there is a need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to 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.” The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and these values were reiterated by the Prime Minister in 2014. At Eastwood Primary School and Nursery, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways.
For our discrete teaching of British Values, we follow the Jigsaw programme. This is which is a series of progressive, age-appropriate, meaningful lessons to enable children to understand the themes of democracy, individual liberty, rule of law and mutual respect.
Democracy |
All classes agree on their own class rules which are adapted throughout the year. Classes are encouraged to form opinions and their ideas are put forward to the Senior Leadership Team for example the meals they would like for lunch. All children are listened to and feel their ideas are respected by all adults in the school.
Rule of Law |
The involvement of our children in the creation of class rules helps them to understand the reasons behind the rules and the consequences if they are broken. These rules are regularly reviewed with the children and the pyramid in which they are displayed is adjusted according to the classes’ decision. Throughout lessons we allow opportunity to debate and discuss the reasons for laws so that children can recognise the importance of these for their own protection. Throughout the year we welcome visits from members of the wider community. We believe that clear explanations and the language of nurture emphasises the importance of the rule of law for our children.
The clear positive behaviour policy allows the children to understand that there is a consequence for negative behaviour choices and rewards for the positives.
Individual Liberty |
As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young children to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. In lessons, children are encouraged to ask questions and challenge their learning.
We offer a range of clubs which children have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests.
Through our E-Safety and PSHE sessions, we educate children on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely.
At Eastwood Primary we believe that valuing choice and freedom in daily school life will foster a value for individual liberty as the children embark upon their adult lives. We are committed to ensuring that all of our children develop their skills of independence, collaboration, co-operation and problem solving to enable a true love of learning.
Mutual Respect |
Mutual respect is at the core of our Nurture.Grow.Achieve ethos. We are a very caring school and believe everyone has the right to be nurtured.
Everyone at Eastwood is expected to treat everyone with respect. When someone says 'good morning' to you, we expect a polite response back. This is evident when walking around the school and in the classrooms. Our school has a strong family atmosphere, sense of community and offers a variety of development opportunities for all our children, parents and staff.
Ofsted cited that - "Pupils around the school are friendly, caring and welcoming. If another pupil drops a hat or scarf, someone will automatically pick it up and give it to them. Pupils ask visiting adults how they are and if they are enjoying their visit".
Tolerance of those with different faiths/ beliefs |
Through our curriculum and the routines of our daily school life, we demonstrate tolerance and help children to become knowledgeable and understanding citizens. Our children know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone and to everything, whatever differences we may have.
Children learn that their behaviour choices have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community are expected to treat each other with respect.