SMSC
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development (SMSC) is about everything we do at Buntingford First School, to help children build their own personal values, have positive relationships with others and become responsible young citizens in society. SMSC development supports children to be kind, thoughtful and caring and to be able to live and learn alongside people with different beliefs, cultures and lifestyles.
As a net-carbon zero school, sustainability is woven into our school curriculum as well as our school building. Education for Social Responsibility is a key area of learning for us. From climate change and fragile ecosystems to ethical trade, finite resources and living fulfilled lives, our ESR curriculum is designed to help children prepare for the future. We will teach about rights and responsibilities and the many challenges the world is facing, give them the inspiration and passion to live happy, healthier, kinder lives. The children will also form an eco-council and have the opportunity to take part in our annual sustainability conference.
| KS1 | LKS2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ethical Trading | Thanks for Everything | What is Fair Trade? |
| Fulfilled Lives | Being Kind to You and Me | What is Happiness? |
| Ecosystems | Why is nature special? | I Speak for the Trees |
| Climate Change | Our Changing World | Know Better, Do Better |
| Water Scarcity | What is Water? | Saving Water |
| Biodiversity | Linking Local Wildlife | What is Biodiversity? |
| Finite Planet | Where does this come from? | Reduce, Reuse, Recycle |
An important part of SMSC is to support children to engage with British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and respect for different faiths and beliefs.
Each month we will have a value that we promote across the school, these will be chosen by the school community in September 2023 as we believe it is important that the values are driven from the heart of the school. Our assemblies will also be planned and linked to the different SMSC areas.
Spiritual Development
We want children to be reflective about their own beliefs, but also show interest and respect for the beliefs and faiths of others. We encourage children to reflect, not just on their own behaviour and the choices they make, but also on the skills needed to remain calm and focused on their learning.
Spiritual development is also about supporting children to be creative, imaginative and reflect on their learning experiences.
Opportunities for Spiritual development include:
- Learning together to value the ideas and contributions of all children
- Providing a varied and exciting curriculum that inspires children and makes learning enjoyable.
- Coming together in assemblies and special events to share learning with each other and with parents and the community to reflect on our learning experiences.
Moral Development
Opportunities for Moral development include:
- Children working together to discuss and agree on what they need to do to create a safe, friendly and inclusive environment for learning.
- Opportunities in the curriculum for children to offer their own points of view and to be able to listen to and value those of others.
- In every classroom and throughout the school environment, children are encouraged to make positive behaviour choices and develop strategies to manage conflicts effectively.
Social Development
Opportunities for Social development include:
- Making a positive contribution to the community through fund raising, volunteering and engagement in community projects.
- Supporting children to develop the skills needed for living in a democracy through activities such as elections for School Council and the Eco Council.
Cultural Development
Our theme weeks and diverse curriculum allows the children the opportunity to learn all about different lifestyles, backgrounds and beliefs other children have.
Opportunities for Cultural development include:
- Providing opportunities in the curriculum for children to visit places of worship and share their beliefs with others.
- Enabling children to enjoy and appreciate a variety of artistic, musical and cultural experiences, including drama, music, singing, choir and sports.
- Assemblies that focus on different cultures throughout the year.
