In order for children to recognise the importance of these attributes, our Always Badge (Positive Behaviour Management) system is a clear and positive pathway that underpins the Christian Values of our school.  At the beginning of the school year, each year group devises their class rules (which are age-appropriate and are a maximum of ten) and these are based on three core values – Safe, Ready and Respect.

The PSHE/SMSC/British Values curriculum is taught throughout school, during weekly or two-weekly topics each term as part of a broad and balanced curriculum. The Sticky Learning for these topics ensures the national curriculum aims and objectives are met. The Commando Joe programme of RESPECT (Resilience, excellence, self-awareness, passion, empathy, communication and teamwork) enables all Key Stage 2 children to work together to develop these essential life skills in a fun, motivational and modern weekly sessions.   We also have classes working on the Oldham Pledge (Reception, Y1, Y5 & Y6) which helps to build self-awareness and encourages our children to take an active part in our community through volunteering for example.  Every class has ‘Sticky Learning’ objectives that match the RSE/BV curriculum so that the teachers know what to teach in each topic, ensuring a broad coverage of the curriculum. This year we have also introduced the ‘Word Aware Programme’ which provides subject specific vocabulary for each topic. This is a focus on key vocabulary which helps to secure the children’s previous knowledge (Anchor Words), targets new vocabulary (Goldilocks Words) as well as more advanced words (Step-Up Words) to further challenge them in terms of improving vocabulary knowledge and usage.

The Christian Values are taught during half-termly collective worship/assembly themes on a rolling 3-yearly programme including: Peace, Love, Thankfulness, Perseverance, Humility etc.  The Y6 Peer Mentors are extremely valued and the ‘Worry Wellies’ and ‘Suggestion Socks’ in each class ensure children are listened to and problems are shared and dealt with. Classroom sessions will vary in form and content, but will all share the underlying principle of creating an open and honest class dialogue within a caring and respectful environment.

Learning will be constantly nurtured and reinforced by our high expectations. Our Wednesday Celebration Assembly is a regular opportunity to reward those who exhibit the good citizenship that St Thomas’ Leesfield seeks to encourage. Our other daily collective worship/assemblies are centred on the 18 Christian values which are taught half termly and support our PSHE/SMSMC/British Values vision.

Our school year features many opportunities to explore Personal, Social and Health Education as well as Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural themes. These include: work carried out in class for Internet Safety; Childline workshops; Residential visits for Year Six; half-termly assemblies run by the Groundbreakers team; regular School Council/Eco Committee and Ethos meetings; the nasal flu vaccinations for Reception Class up to Year Four; Girls and Boys Talk for Year Six; our various sporting teams and clubs (including a lunchtime nurture groups); the measurement of height and weight for pupils; and pupil eye tests. The charity work we undertake over the school year further explores what PSHE means for our Leesfield children. Our Reflection Areas also help to create a safe and calming area in which all children are welcomed should they feel the need to take time away from a busy classroom to collect their thoughts.

At St Thomas’ Leesfield PSHE/SMSC and British Values provide opportunities to develop cross-curricular links with many other aspects of learning, and encourages children to learn and think for themselves. The needs of all children are met by differentiating their work, to enable them to be included in all learning. The use of success criteria ensures that children understand exactly what it is they need to do to progress their own learning.  We providing a rich and vibrant curriculum that excites children and encourages them to be dedicated to their learning and our school. Our children learn to keep thinking and exploring which will continue to guide them through later life experiences.

In each class, two areas of the fundamental British Values are taught per year so there is a two year cycle throughout our school. For example, Year 3 are taught 'Democracy' and 'Individual Liberty' whilst Year 4 are taught' Mutual Respect, Tolerance & Diversity' plus 'Rule of Law'. Please see our Long Term Plan (LTP) attachment. We follow a planned scheme of work devised by the 'Schools Linking Project' www.schoolslinking.org.uk. Central to each plan is an age-appropriate book. For example, 'Individual Liberty' is based on the book, 'Only One You' by Linda Kranz.

The programme of study (Schools Linking Project) helps :

•  Foster understanding of Identity, Diversity, Community, Equality
•  Develop social skills
•  Support Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development of pupils including British values
•  Promotes achievement
•  Learning to live in a changing and complex global world

Other examples of British Values in action within our school are developed by:

Democracy - strong school council, our children know that their voice is valued and listened to by adults in school.

Individual liberty - pupil’s awareness of their choice and freedoms in school and in their own life now and in the future.

Rule of law - make links to importance of school rules and values and that the law applies to everyone

Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs (and those without faith) identify , continue and build on existing good practice in collective worship, assemblies, RE topics ,other links to curriculum topics, circle time, relationships and lunchtime clubs.

Long Term Plans - British Values

[pdf 122KB]

Rule of Law is about understanding rules.  It focuses on managing children’s feelings and behaviour - Linked to children’s PSHE.

To help children manage their feelings and behaviours teachers help children understand their own and others behaviours, children need to learn to distinguish right from wrong. We ensure our behaviour management policy is being followed and is consistent; we also use 'Always Rules' in every class to reinforce certain behaviour.

For young children it can be hard to teach them about rules, but by being consistent with regards to our behaviour management policy children will begin to learn right from wrong. We also teach the topic theme 'People Who Help Us' this includes teaching children about the police and usually the police visit our school.

A great way to help children fully understanding about rules is to let them be involved in the process of creating the rules eg. rules about tidying up etc.

This concentrates on treating others as you want to be treated; it focuses on people and communities, managing feelings and behaviour and making relationships.

We as teachers take responsibility to create an environment that is inclusive, it should respect and value views, faiths, cultures and races. 

Children should be encouraged to show respect for their own culture and of others, to help support this we learn about celebrations and traditions from different cultures, where appropriate we involve parents and grandparents. Joining in other cultural celebrations is a great way for children to learn and share other customs.