Social-Moral-Spiritual-and-Cultural-Development-(SMSC) (ID 1031)

• Social Development
  Social Development

  Social development relates to the development of knowledge and understanding and the acquisition of skills in relating to others. This begins with family and friends and extends to the wider community beyond.

  Pupils are taught to respect each other and to appreciate each other’s similarities and differences. An awareness and understanding of, and respect for, the environments in which they live is also developed.

  How it is taught:

  There is a high level of staffing at mealtimes and on the playground to promote appropriate social interaction. Pupils play together in group games and imaginative play on their own and with adults.

  Circle times feature in all classes promoting turn taking and social interaction.

  The PSHE scheme of work contains units on Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World.

  Children learn to be effective communicators through the school’s Total Communication approach, including the use of symbols, photos, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), technology and Makaton.

  Educational visits within the community, including swimming and horse riding.

• Moral Development
  Moral Development

  Moral development relates particularly to developing knowledge and understanding of right and wrong. Pupils learn to make choices in their behaviour through developing knowledge of boundaries and understanding of consequences. They learn by example and by practising through role-play, story and group activities.

  How it is taught:

  There is an agreed reward system in place so that all children can earn prizes for good behaviour as well as academic achievement. The prizes are handed out at weekly special assemblies so that everyone shares in the success.

  Regular meetings are held to discuss difficult behaviour to ensure that all staff are supported and that ideas are shared.

  Behaviour plans are agreed and implemented with the help of the behaviour team.

  The PSHE scheme of work has units dealing with issues to do with rules, negotiating difficult situations, emotions, caring for one another, making and keeping friends, living in a community.

• Spiritual Development
  Spiritual Development

  Spiritual development is concerned with the exploration and development of feelings and emotions; personality, individuality and uniqueness; and knowledge and understanding of their own and different beliefs and cultures.

  How it is taught:

  The RE scheme of work contains units on celebrations, festivals and worship from Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism.

  Children are encouraged to take part in periods of reflection at different times throughout the school week.

  Through PSHE and circle time activities, children are helped to gain an understanding of their feelings and emotions and their likely impact on themselves and others.

  Mealtimes start with a collective prayer led by a member of staff.

  Pupils are encouraged to appreciate the awe and wonder of the world around them whenever appropriate occasions arise e.g. looking at beautiful objects in an assembly, looking for signs of Spring on a Geography trip, visiting a planetarium in Science work on the Earth and beyond.

• Cultural Development
  Cultural Development

  Cultural development is concerned with encountering the defining aspects of different cultures. Explorations of values, beliefs, customs, foods, artefacts and stories allow the pupils to make comparisons and develop knowledge of lifestyles and choices of others.

  How it is taught:

  There are regular celebrations of religious festivals over the year including harvest, Divali, Christmas, Easter, Eid, Chinese New Year.

  Geography and RE have units on other cultures and religions.

  English includes units on stories from other cultures.

  All pupils are accepted equally and play an active part in the school community regardless of their colour, religion or gender.