Infant and Junior School SMSC Policy

This policy applies to all children in the Infant and Junior School, including the EYFS and takes into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all our children.

Rationale

At Sheffield Girls' Infant and Junior School we aim to develop children's personal qualities in a spiritual, moral, social and cultural sense through all aspects of school life.

We place particular emphasis on helping our children:

• Develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem, self-confidence and emotional maturity
• Have the self-confidence and resilience to undertake difficult tasks
• Develop an appreciation of religious, philosophical and non-materialistic aspects of life in a way that promotes harmony and tolerance
• Develop a sense of right and wrong and a respect for good conduct, moral and ethical values
• To accept responsibility for their behaviour
• To act responsibly and be positive role models for younger pupils
• To contribute to society through helping in the community or fundraising
• Understand and respect their own and other faiths and cultures
• Develop a political and economic awareness.

SPIRITUAL

Spiritual development is the development of the non-material element of a human being. It is about the development of a sense of identity, self-worth, personal insight, meaning and purpose. It is about the development of a child's personality.

The school aims to:

• Provide an environment where children can grow and flourish, respect others and be respected.
• Help children develop into self-assured, confident, happy, positive young people.

Children should then:

• Have respect for themselves and for others
• Have an awareness of their own and others’ beliefs, feelings, and values;
• Develop a set of values, principles and beliefs, which may or may not be religious, which inform their perspective on life and their patterns of behaviour
• Be able to articulate their feelings and justify them through discussion, debate, and presentations to others
• Be able to discuss topics such as discrimination, injustice and bullying
• Acquire the skills to be self-reliant and work both independently and in a team
• Be willing to take on responsibility for their own actions
• Develop an increasing ability to reflect, and to learn from this.

MORAL

Moral development enables children to build a framework of moral values, which regulates their personal behaviour. It is also about the development of children's understanding of society’s shared and agreed values. It is about understanding that there are issues where there is disagreement and it is also about understanding that society’s values change. Moral development is about gaining an understanding of the range of views and the reasons for the range. It is also about developing and opinion about the different views.

The school aims to:

• Enable children to distinguish right from wrong
• Help children develop an understanding of British Values, society’s agreed values and the law of the land.

Children should then:

• Have the ability to distinguish right from wrong
• Be able to think through the consequences of their own and others’ actions
• Be able to understand the impact that their own actions can have on others
• Have respect for others
• Have a willingness and the confidence to express their views on ethical issues and personal values
• Ensure that there are no opportunities for political indoctrination in the curriculum and extra-curricular provision
• Play a part in developing the school’s code of behaviour

SOCIAL

Social development is about young people working effectively with each other and participating successfully in the community as a whole. It is about the development of the skills and personal qualities necessary for living and working together in harmony and making a positive contribution to the school community and wider society. It is also about functioning effectively in a multi-racial, multi-cultural society and developing into a tolerant and helpful human being. It also involves the development of the inter-personal skills necessary for successful relationships.

The school aims to:

• Help children understand how to be responsible for their own behaviour
• Help children show initiative
• Encourage children to respect the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance
• Create a strong school community where all children are valued and can make an important contribution
• Make links with the wider community
• Ensure that Pupil Voice is valued and that opportunities are given for all children to contribute

Children should then:

• Show respect for people, living things, property and the environment
• Work effectively and respectfully with other pupils
• Share their own views and opinions with others in a positive way
• Willingly and happily participate in activities
• Be aware of the strengths of the democratic process and respect and take an active part in those democratic opportunities available to them
• Behave in an appropriate and sensitive way
• Develop the ability to work and live alongside those from different cultures and beliefs and be able to identify and combat discrimination
• Reflect on their own contribution to society
• Have an understanding of British Values and political and ethical issues
• Be aware that rules and laws exist to protect individuals

CULTURAL

Cultural development involves helping children to develop an understanding of their own culture and other cultures both in their own community and more widely throughout the world. It is about understanding and feeling comfortable in a variety of cultures and being able to operate in the emerging world culture of shared experiences provided by television, art, theatre, travel and the internet. Children should value cultural diversity and prevent racism.

The school aims to:

• Help pupils interact with children from other cultures in a positive way
• Provide opportunities for visits to and visitors from a range of places of worship and local organisations, ensuring that the content of their contributions is agreed beforehand and that girls are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views.

Children should then:

• Be able to appreciate cultural diversity
• Understand and respect other people’s values and beliefs
• Be tolerant of people with different cultural, religious, and non-religious beliefs and be able to interact with them.

SMSC opportunities and celebrations occur throughout the Infant and Junior School Fursion Curriculum, in assemblies, displays, during Enrichment Days and through our articulation of our RRSA commitment.