SMSC and British Values

SMSC at Stafford Leys Primary School

At Stafford Leys Primary School, Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural (SMSC) development supports our school ethos and is embedded in everything that we do.

Please find our SMSC policy below.

SMSC Policy 2020

Please look at the document below to find out more about SMSC provision at Stafford Leys.

SMSC Provision at Stafford Leys

Our Assembly themes

We cover a range of SMSC and British Values themes throughout our assemblies.

Click on the link to view this year’s SMSC and British Values Assembly themes

Assembly Themes

Check out Miss Roberts’ video on Black History Month

https://www.loom.com/share/4cf0c2753d8348bf89fd506c28d71214

British Values at Stafford Leys

The DFE have recently reinforced the 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.

At Stafford Leys we are committed to serving our community and surrounding areas through promoting British Values. These values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Democracy is a core value within our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council and pupil questionnaires. The elections of School Council representatives are based on pupil votes. All the pupils are involved in drawing up our whole school, e-safety and class rules. Children have the opportunity to be House Captains and represent their school house group. Our school behaviour and values policies involve rewards and sanctions; this is shared through all aspects of school life and also shared with parents, carers and children from Reception to Year 6.

The Rule of Law

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the PCSO and police, the Fire Service and paramedics reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty

Our school ethos of ‘inspiring confidence, compassion, character and fun’ recognises that children are individuals. At Stafford Leys Primary School pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety lessons, PSHE sessions and circle time. Stafford Leys pupils are given the freedom to make choices in a variety of ways. For example, they have choice of challenge in lessons, of participation in our range of extra-curricular clubs, choice of activities at Golden Time, phase rewards, fundraising initiatives and what charity we are going to support as a school.

Mutual Respect

Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around the value of compassion. Children learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others. Our lessons and extra-curricular activities actively promote an attitude of equality and fairness by valuing each child’s contribution. Our Friendship Committee work hard at lunchtimes to show other children how to listen to each other’s opinions and views. Mutual respect is modelled by the staff’s own conduct and is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy.

Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith

This is achieved through enhancing pupils’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. We learn about different faiths and beliefs in our RE lessons and members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within the school e.g. visits to school by religious leaders.