SMSC and British Values
SMSC stands for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. At Emsworth Primary School, our curriculum contributes to this development by providing valuable experiences to promote our pupils' development in SMSC. Our school vision and our values show the high regard we place on this development and our belief and passion in preparing our pupils for the next steps in their life and helping to shape their future. As well as the curriculum, our school assemblies, extra-curriculum activities, community links and the relationships we build within school all contribute to the pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
Promoting British Values at Emsworth Primary School
The DfE have reinforced the need "to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rules of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs". We promote these values through our spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) provision. This provision runs through our ethos and values as well as our relationships with each other and our curriculum.
At EPS these values are reinforced in the following ways:
Democracy
Each year the children in each class work collaboratively to decide a set of class expectations. They then work as a class to ensure those values and rules are adhered too and they analyse times when it becomes tricky through discussion and listening. They decide on a collaborative class reward which involves discussion and negotiation.
We have School Councils (Years 1-5) and Pupil Governors (Year 6) who are elected by their classmates and who meet regularly with staff and governors to express the views of the children. These views have been instrumental in several projects around the school, including the design of the outdoor classroom, names of the school houses and design of the school logo.
Children are consulted about the content of the curriculum and their views about trips and residential stays inform future bookings.
The Rule of Law
Pupils are taught from an early age about the rules of the school:
We always try our best
We show respect to everyone and everything
We care about each other
We listen to others
We keep our hands and feet to ourselves
The children, through a democratic process, shaped the school rules. The values behind the rules are discussed and run through the curriculum and they are our expectations of everyone in the school community. Visits from community groups such as the Police and Fire Service help to reinforce this message. Pupils in Year 5 have a unit titled, 'Crime and Punishment' which includes studying how the law has changed over time and why our society needs rules and laws.
Pupils understand the consequences of their behaviour as they are given the opportunity to discuss their actions with staff and their peers.
Individual Liberty
At EPS children are encouraged to make choices and take risks in a safe and supportive environment. Pupils are encouraged to persevere and be resilient with their attitude towards learning. We help children assess risk by involving them in decisions and through our PSHE teaching and e-safety content.
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those with Different Faiths and Beliefs
Emsworth Primary is an increasingly diverse school. We welcome and celebrate different faiths and cultures and therefore actively promote and highlight diversity. Through our PSHE curriculum, visitors to the school and use of whole school assemblies, we help to share information with all the children, including current news reports, and allow them to contribute their own thoughts and questions. We involve ourselves in community events which often benefit local people and sometimes aim to help charities on an international level.
School assemblies and displays around the school reinforce our commitment towards SMSC development. We learn about significant events in different cultures and religions as well as considering and learning about values such as tolerance, respect, diversity and community. Pupils have empathy for others and contribute towards key events in the school year e.g. Comic Relief, local foodbank, 'Love in a Box', Children in Need and the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.