British Values & SMSC

The Rule of Law

Pupils learn about democracy through our own Eco, Digital, Sports and School Councils. Each class has a representative who attends regular meeting with a member of the Senior Leadership Team/ staff. They are responsible for passing on information from the meetings to their class and for bringing up any issues on behalf of their class at the meetings. The children have to volunteer for these roles and present why they wish to take on the role. The class then cast their vote and the pupil with the highest number of votes becomes the Class Representative for that year.

Individual Liberty

It is important that all children at Meadows feel safe and able to make decisions in a supportive environment. Pupils throughout the school are given the freedom to make choices from the moment they join in Reception. It is important that children are supported and understand that making a wrong decision is part of a learning process.

Mutual Respect

Pupils are expected to show respect to all people at all times. It is an integral part of our school ethos and is demonstrated through our teaching of the children and the way in which we model these expectations to the children. Our Zone Board behaviour system is used when mutual respect is not shown, and the children are helped to reflect on the need for mutual respect.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Pupils are taught about the faith and beliefs of others through our RE curriculum. The importance of tolerance towards others is promoted at all times and particularly taught through the RE, PSHE curriculum and assemblies. Children and their families from various faith backgrounds are also encouraged to share their depth of knowledge at school.

Democracy

Pupils learn about democracy through our own Eco, Digital, Sports and School Councils. Each class has a representative who attends regular meeting with a member of the Senior Leadership Team/ staff. They are responsible for passing on information from the meetings to their class and for bringing up any issues on behalf of their class at the meetings. The children have to volunteer for these roles and present why they wish to take on the role. The class then cast their vote and the pupil with the highest number of votes becomes the Class Representative for that year.

Spiritual

Church groups visit school: Open the book assemblies. Gospel Hall assemblies

Services held in local church (eg. Christmas carol service)

Music assemblies: eg Music For You, singing assemblies

Visits- (local to school) - Asda park (Year 1), Avoncroft Museum to see local historical buildings, Bromsgrove library for historical local research,

Visits -(away from school)- Hanbury Hall, Severn Valley Railway (WW11 evacuation), Gardening club/allotments

Developing creativity in their learning-eg:Malvern Garden show: designing and creating a garden for a large show, communicating with the public at the event. We won the Best Garden Design 2013/ garden won ‘Highly Commended.’2014 & 2015. Development of Creative homework.

Developing a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about  the world around them:Empty Classroom day, Forest School, Outdoor learning, links with schools in Sandwell, France and Sierra Leone.

Moral

Raising money for charities: MacMillan coffee morning, Operation Christmas Child, RNLI, Red Nose Day, Children in Need, Sports Relief, Book weeks,

Raising pupils awareness of caring for others: Friendship weeks, assemblies, Buddy system. Year 4 mentors in Reception.

Looking after the environment (knowing how our actions can support the environment): Community energy events, energy homework projects, Switch it off week, Eco projects, making bird feeders, litter picking, composting,

Looking after ourselves: Beach safety (RNLI), Healthy topics/ Healthy Schools week.

Topics about our world: Earth balloon visit, Rainforest study,

Links with Waterloo School in Sierra Leone

Pupil voice in developing whole school and class ethos; eg. Class rules, school motto.

Ambassador Status and Eco Green Flag - mentor school for developing sustainability within the county.

Social

Links with pupils from different schools: Cape Hill Primary from Sandwell (school councils and Forest School sessions), Inkberrow First (school councils- Learning to Learn),

Children are involved in running events: MacMillan coffee morning, Christmas Enterprise project, Community energy events.

Malvern Garden show: designing and creating a garden for a large show, communicating with the public at the event. We won the best garden design 2013/ garden won ‘Highly Commended' 2014 & 2015.

Family learning: Opportunities to share learning with parents.

Family events: Grandparents tea parties, class assemblies, topics based around the family (eg. Nursery celebrate family celebrations),

Wow days: Ballroom dancing for fairy tale topic (Reception), WW11, Romans day,

Parents visiting to share their occupations/ hobbies: spring lambs brought into school, Estate Agents (during Year 1 houses topic), Ambulance paramedic, Dentist,

Year groups working together: buddy reading, friendship weeks, sharing our work afternoons,

Democracy: visits to District Council offices, inviting local MP to school

Cultural

Celebrating diversity: with links with pupils from different schools: Cape Hill Primary from Sandwell (school councils and Forest School sessions), writing and sending resources to Waterloo School in Sierra Leone, links with Chadsgrove Specialist Sports College.

Attending events for sports: gymnastics festival with Parkside leaders, dance festival, hockey, football, bellboating, tennis

Attending events for the arts: Aberfan Male voice choir, Voices and visions, Artrix music festival.

Visitors/ trips that develop the pupils’ understanding of their world: Samuel Pepys visit, Bishops Wood Environmental Centre,

Theme weeks/topics: Keeping Healthy, sports weeks, Around the world –whole school topic, Chinese New Year, Diwali,

European Languages Days: cultural days- food tasting, dance, language, dressing up,

Leading productions for parents: eg. Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Hoodwinked, Aladdin Trouble, Pirates Versus Mermaids.

More able, gifted and talented events

We, at Meadows First School,  like to work with the wider community.

We often have different people into school to talk to and work with the children, including Jon the Potter, Idris the Chef, the Animal Man and representatives from Waitrose who talk about healthy eating.

We also go outside the school to take part in sporting events and bellboating.

At Christmas, we hold a service in All Saints Church and our choir go out to sing to the residents at Brook Court Retirement Home.

Our assemblies are of a broadly Christian nature.  They introduce children to a variety of themes which encompass spirituality, worship and celebration together with moral values.

There are three whole school assemblies each week, one of which is a celebration of children’s achievements.  On the other two days assemblies are held in Key Stages or Year Groups.

'Open The Book' hold an assembly every week where groups of volunteers act out Bible stories with the children.

Each year group leads a special whole school assembly every year, to which parents are invited.  Parents have the statutory right to withdraw their children from assemblies and those wishing to do so should speak to the Head Teacher.