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Promoting British Values

Westholme Infants and Junior School is committed to serving its community.  It recognises the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom.  It also understands the vital role it has in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.

Westholme Infants and Juniors follows equal opportunities guidance which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. We are dedicated to preparing pupils for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum and ensuring that it promotes and reinforces British values to all its pupils.

The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in all UK schools.  The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy.

The five British Values are:

  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty
  • Mutual respect
  • Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

As a school we use strategies within our curriculum, through assemblies and beyond to secure such outcomes for pupils.  The examples that follow show some of the many ways Westholme Infants and Junior School seeks to embed British values.

Democracy

The principle of democracy is consistently reinforced at Westholme Infants and Junior School, with democracy processes being used for important decisions within the school community, for instance, elections being held for Prefects positions, Form and Sport Captains and School Council members. The principle of democracy is also explored in the History and Religious Studies curriculum as well as in PHSE, form time and assemblies. Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a school council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised in class meetings and children can express their views through the ‘Worry and Wishes’ boxes found in classrooms.

In our EYFS we want the children to feel valued & respected. We actively seek out children’s voices and listen to their views and ideas. Staff act as good role models for the children and actively listen to one another. We have golden rules in place which the children helped to formulate and these are displayed and the children are expected to follow these. We promote choice and the children are able to make choices about what activities they do, what time they have snack & what they eat. This is promoted visually to allow all children to participate. Children are expected to respect & listen to each other’s views.  We work with the children on different emotions and how we can successfully manage our emotions & express our feelings. – sharing, turn taking and collaboration. Promote enquiring minds where all questions are valued.

The rule of law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at Westholme Infants and Junior School.  Pupils are taught the rules and expectations of the school and the value and the reasons behind laws that govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.  Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service reinforce this message.

In the EYFS our staff have high expectations of children. We have rules at the setting and the children take part in the formulation of these rules and are supported to follow them. We have a comprehensive Behaviour Management policy, we use positive strategies to handle any conflict and praise & acknowledge desirable behaviour. We do a lot of work with the children around right & wrong and understanding our own & others behaviour, its consequences and helping children to distinguish right from wrong.. We promote all golden rules in a visual way and support the children. For instance for tidy up time we reinforce this with an auditory clue (tambourine) & visual clue (sand timer), all the children then sing a tidy up song. We discuss the rules outside our setting and support this with visits from local police, ambulance, fire brigade & road safety.

Individual liberty

At Westholme Infants and Junior School, pupils are actively encouraged to make independent choices, with the knowledge that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. Staff educate and provide boundaries for pupils to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education.

Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised on how to exercise these safely, for example through e-safety and Form Time work.

Westholme Infants and Junior has a robust anti-bullying culture and has in place a comprehensive Behaviour Policies.

In the EYFS we support the children to make their own choices in a safe & supportive environment. We encourage the children to take managed risks and explore new activities & experiences to improve self-confidence & self-esteem and increase their confidence in their own abilities. We welcome all children to the setting & encourage them to have a positive self-image. We display positive non-stereotypical pictures around the nursery and Pre School and discuss & celebrate our similarities & differences. We offer a range of experiences that allow children to explore the language of feelings and responsibility, reflect on their differences and understand everyone is free to have a different opinion. We teach empathy for all with activities such as persona dolls, story time & group discussion.

Mutual Respect

Respect is a strong part of Westholme Infants and Junior School and is part of its Mission Statement & Values.  Pupils learn that their behaviours has an effect on their own rights and those of others.  All members of the school community treat each other with respect and this is reiterated through its teaching and learning environments as well as through specific themed weeks such as Respect Week and Anti-Bullying Week.

Mutual respect is embraced throughout the curriculum by providing the opportunity for pupils to express their views in a safe environment.

EYFS Mutual respect & tolerance of those of different faiths & beliefs

We celebrate our diverse, rich cultural & religious society and promote mutual respect. We display positive images and use these as a way to start discussions with children. Adults sensitively challenge any discriminatory remarks. We have a comprehensive ‘Valuing diversity & Promoting Equality’ policy. We celebrate our similarities & differences relevant festivals and holy days. The children have a chance to try a diverse range of foods and listen to different types of music at the setting. We provide resources that challenge gender, culture, and racial stereotyping.. We share stories that reflect and value the diversity of children’s experiences and arrange visits to and visitors from the wider community. We encourage our families to participate in the setting by involving them in Stay and Play sessions. We value all children and differentiate our activities to ensure an equality of opportunity.  We ensure that all our posters, displays and other notices reflect the diversity of the setting.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

This is achieved though equipping pupils with the ability to understand their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving the opportunities to experience such diversity within the school community.  Pupils benefit from a number of international visitors, including pupils from other continents and cultures.  Additionally, pupils are actively encouraged to share their faith and beliefs within the school and celebrate festivities throughout the calendar year.  The Religious Studies curriculum, which is compulsory for all pupils, provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures.   Our curriculum also provides planned opportunities for members of different faiths or religions to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.

Through our SMSC education we help pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence; distinguish right from wrong and to respect English law; encourage pupils to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and contribute positively to society; enable pupils to acquire a broad general knowledge of, and respect for, English public institutions and services and to appreciate and respect their own and other cultures. Through SMSC links we also teach children that they are part of a global community and that they are global citizens.

Westholme Infants and Junior School strives endlessly to ensure that its pupils leave with the strongest foundation of values upon which to build a successful life and a successful contribution to our Society.