SMSC is the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development of the children in our school. The SMSC curriculum can be described as the “hidden curriculum”. It is all the things that we do at Croxteth Primary to build up children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding, thoughts and experiences. It is not taught as a discrete lesson, rather it may be part of RE, PE, PSHE/RSE and part of the ethos of the school which children experience daily. It is woven into our behaviour expectations and our attitudes in school.

We want to create confident, responsible, and well-rounded adults who have an aspiration for self-improvement and can compete equally with their peers in a world beyond school life. We recognise that all pupils need to develop spiritually, morally, socially and culturally. This development allows them to make sense of their world.

Our highly engaging curriculum helps students develop an informed and balanced view on world events, beliefs and values of others. We endeavor to prepare our students for their future when becoming respectful individuals, life-long learners and active citizens in a modern British society. SMSC is now highlighted by the government as a key means of promoting basic British Values and creating well rounded individuals who can contribute towards a modern Britain.

Ofsted Definitions of SMSC Spiritual development is shown by their:

● beliefs, religious or otherwise, which inform their perspective on life and their interest in and respect for different people’s feelings and values

● sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them, including the intangible

● use of imagination and creativity in their learning

● willingness to reflect on their experiences

Moral development is shown by their:

● ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong and their readiness to apply this understanding in their own lives

● understanding of the consequences of their actions

● interest in investigating, and offering reasoned views about, moral and ethical issues.

 

Social development is shown by their:

● use of a range of social skills in different contexts, including working and socialising with pupils from different religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds

● willingness to participate in a variety of social settings, cooperating well with others and being able to resolve conflicts effectively

● interest in, and understanding of, the way communities and societies function at a variety of levels.

 

Cultural development is shown by their:

● understanding and appreciation of the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage

● willingness to participate in, and respond to, for example, artistic, musical, sporting, mathematical, technological, scientific and cultural opportunities

● interest in exploring, understanding of, and respect for cultural diversity and the extent to which they understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity, as shown by their attitudes towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities.

At Croxteth Primary School we recognise that the personal development of children, spiritually, morally, socially and culturally, plays a significant part in their ability to learn and achieve. We want to give each child the opportunity to explore social and moral issue; develop a sense of social and moral responsibility and promote the British Values. We therefore aim to provide an education that provides children with opportunities to explore and develop.

Please find below an overview of how we develop SMSC at our school:

Spiritual

Spiritual development of pupils is shown by their ability to be reflective about their own beliefs, religious or otherwise, that inform their perspective on life and their interest in and respect for different people’s faiths, feelings and values. They demonstrate a sense of enjoyment and fascination when learning about themselves, others and the world around them. Spiritual development allows children to have a sense of imagination and creativity in their learning and supports them in their willingness to reflect on their own experiences.

Spiritual development is embedded throughout our curriculum, providing children the opportunities to explore the world and others around them in addition to imparting a love of learning. Our school vision of ‘each and every child’ demonstrates the importance of understanding the individuality and importance of every child and this is reflected in the children’s attitudes towards themselves and others around them.

We further embed spiritual development through:

● PSHCEe lessons – PSCHEe Wider Curriculum Overview

● Celebration Assemblies including Mindset Hero and Values awards

● Positive behaviour approach (including phone calls home, visits to Leadership Team, postcards etc.) –https://twitter.com/CroxtethC

● School Rules – Values

● School Values – Values Vision British Values

● British Values Assemblies and discussions – Assembly

● Picture News Assemblies – Picture News ● Lunch Clubs such as Yoga/Mindfulness

● Zones of Regulation to identify feelings – ZOR

● Specific interventions to support empathy and understanding

● Restorative conversations

● RE planning – RE

● Visits to places of worship for a variety of faiths

● Celebrations of different cultures/faiths in school (i.e EID) https://twitter.com/CroxtethC

 

Moral

Moral development of pupils is shown by their ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong and to readily apply this understanding in their own lives, recognising legal boundaries and in doing so, respect the civil and criminal law of England. Children understand the consequences of their behaviour and actions and show an interest in investigating and offering reasoned views about moral and ethical issues, demonstrating an ability to understand and appreciate the viewpoints of others on these issues.

We support our children in this journey in a variety of different ways:

● Our school rules – Behaviour

● British Values Assemblies and discussions throughout teaching – Assembly

● Behaviour Blueprint – Behaviour

● Picture News Assemblies and Discussions – Picture News

● PSCHEe Curriculum – PSCHEe Wider Curriculum Overview

● Classroom Expectations- Behaviour

● Zones of Regulation – ZOR

● Recognition Board – Behaviour https://twitter.com/CroxtethC

● Weekly/Daily Rewards – Behaviour https://twitter.com/CroxtethC

● Eco-Council

● Class Charity and Citizenship – Class Charities

Social

Social development of pupils is shown by their range of social skills and their ability to adapt these when working and socialising with other pupils. They show a willingness to participate in a variety of communities and social settings, including volunteering, cooperating well with others and being able to resolve conflicts effectively. Social development provides children with an acceptance and engagement with the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs; they develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that allow them to fully participate and contribute positively to life in modern Britain.

We support our children in their social development through:

● Zones of Regulation helping children to regulate in conflicting circumstances – ZOR

● Rainbow Flag Award

● After-School Club – Croxteth

● Breakfast Club Croxteth

● Lunch-time clubs Croxteth

● Reading curriculum – Reading

● Forest School – Croxteth

● Trips (Residential) – Croxteth

● Anti-Bullying posters and ambassadors –

● Interventions (Lego Therapy, Evolve)

● Trust Values – Values

Cultural

Cultural development of pupils is shown by their understanding and appreciation of the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage and those of others. Children understand and appreciate the range of different cultures within school and further afield as an essential element of their preparation for life in modern Britain. Children have a good understanding of Britain’s democratic parliamentary system and its central role in shaping our history and values, and in continuing to develop Britain. Children demonstrate a willingness to participate in and respond positively to artistic, musical, sporting and cultural opportunities. They have an interest in exploring, improving understanding of and showing respect for different faiths and cultural diversity, showing tolerance, positive attitudes and a celebration towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities.

This is developed in several ways throughout school life:

Cultural development of pupils is shown by their understanding and appreciation of the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage and those of others. Children understand and appreciate the range of different cultures within school and further afield as an essential element of their preparation for life in modern Britain. Children have a good understanding of Britain’s democratic parliamentary system and its central role in shaping our history and values, and in continuing to develop Britain. Children demonstrate a willingness to participate in and respond positively to artistic, musical, sporting and cultural opportunities. They have an interest in exploring, improving understanding of and showing respect for different faiths and cultural diversity, showing tolerance, positive attitudes and a celebration towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities.

This is developed in several ways throughout school life:

● School trips and visitors – Croxteth

● Rainbow Flag Award and teaching diversity

● Democracy throughout school (School Council, Whole School/Class Votes)

● Wider links with community Class Charities

● Celebrations of school community’s backgrounds

● Clubs and enrichment – Croxteth