British Values

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 rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

At Damson Wood Nursery and Infant School, our children learn about the fundamental nature of British Values. We demonstrate these values regularly in the following ways:

Democracy:

Democracy is an essential part of our school. Members of the school community have the opportunity to have their voices heard at all levels.

This includes:

• School Council

• Class Council

• Class and assembly/circle time discussions

• Pupil and parent/carer questionnaires

• Choosing rewards

• Parent Volunteers

• Anti-Bullying Ambassadors and Play Buddies

The Rule of Law:

All of the children at Damson Wood Nursery and Infant School are clear about the code of conduct expected of them both within school and in activities at home and in the wider community. We reinforce this through:

• Our whole school communication of „The Damson Wood Way‟ – a set of clear and positive pathways to making our school a calm place to

be.

• Our Behaviour Policy

• Our class rules that are designed in negotiation with the children.

• Anti- bullying Policy

• Code of Conduct for all members of the school community

• Opportunities to reflect on learning and behaviour, during assemblies and circle time

• Parent/carer questionnaires relating to behaviour and safety

• E-safety teaching and learning through our computing curriculum

• Opportunities to reflect on our monthly Values Education

Individual Liberty:

Children are taught to respect the liberty of others and to value their own liberty. They are taught that having the liberty to make choices is both a right and responsibility. This is reinforced in the following ways:

• Children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment

• Choice of activities and ways of working and recording in lessons

• Open discussions in all areas of the curriculum

• Choice of extra-curricular clubs and opportunities

• Promotion through PSHE lessons and E- safety lessons

• Promotion through our Values Education – taking values such as “friendship” and “equality” each month and focusing our thoughts, actions and learning around them.

Mutual Respect:

At Damson Wood Nursery and Infant School, we believe that respect for others is an essential component of moral development. As a result,

respect is our core value for education. We are an inclusive school where everyone is valued and has strengths and a contribution to make to

our school. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. We reinforce this through:

• School wide expectations of behaviour and conduct towards each other where we use restorative justice approaches

• PSHE curriculum; using the Jigsaw scheme, which is broad and balanced with a whole school approach

• Positive relationships encouraged and modelled by our whole school community

• Teaching and learning through the RE curriculum

• Anti-Bullying week during November every year

• E-safety regularly through computing lessons and discussions and activities during E-Safety Week in February every year

• Buddy system for new children and specific inductions for children new to the UK

• Anti-Bullying Ambassadors

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

Our children have a range of curricular opportunities to reflect on a variety of beliefs, cultures and values. They explore aspects of the wider world and an appreciation of cultural diversity. Our RE curriculum is designed to help children understand, respect and celebrate the diverse nature of people’s beliefs. This is reinforced through:

• Our RE curriculum, links to celebration assemblies and our school Values education

• PSHE curriculum delivered through the Jigsaw scheme

• Equalities Policy

• Accessibility Plan

• Celebration of diversity, faith, belief and cultures through our “One World” week

• Class topic celebrations from different cultures such as Diwali, Chinese New Year

• Assemblies/circle time

• Regular audit of classroom resources to ensure stereotypes are challenged and our multicultural society is reflected in our school.