Promoting Fundamental British Values

In accordance with The Department for Education we aim to actively promote British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.

The Key Values are:

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

Democracy

At Barnett Wood Infant School we value and respect the rights of the individual.  Each year the children decide upon their class rules and the rights associated with these.  All children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard.  We are establishing a School Council, which will meet regularly to discuss issues raised.  It will have its own budget and is able to genuinely effect change within the school.  School Council members for each year group are voted in by their class.  We have an open door policy and listen to parent’s voice; in addition we have a pro-active Friends committee.  Our Governing Body represent the wider community.

Our pupils are learning to:

• Understand and respect the democratic process.
• Understand how they can influence decision making through a democratic process.
• Argue and defend a point of view.
• Make choices and decisions.
• Choose their own materials and resources.
• Discuss solutions for challenges.
• Talk about topical issues in smaller and larger groups.
• Contribute to the life of the class and school.
• Listen to and respect the different opinions of others.
• Offer simple ideas and opinions about real school issues.
• Be confident to try new activities, initiate ideas and speak to a familiar group.
• Understand the importance of team work.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.  Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.  During their time at school children have the opportunity to interact with the local police through their visits in school.

Our pupils are learning to:

• Recognise the differences between right and wrong and apply this to their own lives.
• Recognise and understand their feelings and behaviours.
• Name and accept responsibility for their behaviour.
• Understand the consequences of their behaviour and actions.
• Resolve conflicts effectively.
• Understand that living under the rule of law protects them and is essential for their well-being and safety.
• Recognise the difference between right and wrong and demonstrate this in their play and learning.
• Understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality and society more widely.

Individual Liberty

Within our school children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.  As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young children to make choices safely, through our provision of a safe environment and empowering teaching.  Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely.  Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, child led research topics, or participation in extra-curricular opportunities pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Our pupils are learning to:

• Know about different groups they belong to and the important people and roles within them.
• Develop a sense of responsibility and set personal targets.
• Offer simple ideas or opinions about real issues.
• Begin to understand the rights and responsibilities of children.
• Have a developing awareness of their own needs, views and feelings and be sensitive to the needs, views and feelings of others.
• Understand their rights and responsibilities.
• Achieve things for themselves as opposed to for adult praise.
• Recognise and share their success.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs and of no faith

Respect is one of the core values of our school. The pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone, adults and children, and that their behaviour has an impact on their own rights and those of others.

Each person is respected and valued equally without regard to ability, gender, faith, heritage or race.  Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others.  All members of the school community treat each other with respect.  Barnett Wood Infant School is situated in an area which is not culturally diverse; therefore we place great emphasis on promoting diversity with the children.  Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures.  Our RE and PSHE teaching reinforces this.  Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school; this includes parents coming in to talk as well as pupils.

Our pupils are learning to:

• Make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment to enable them to do this.
• Respect each other for the choices they make.
• Develop as independent thinkers through asking and answering questions.
• Disagree and still be friends.
• Share and take turns.
• Draw upon experiences from home and outside of school.
• Explore resources that celebrate diversity.
• Respect and celebrate similarities and difference.
• Develop their understanding of different culture, religions and traditions.
• Have a positive self-image and show that they are comfortable with themselves.
• See themselves as part of a much wider world, which includes blended families, disabilities, other religions and cultures.