Longfields Primary School And Nursery

The Department for Education have recently highlighted the need to promote the "fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs."

At Longfields Primary these values run hand in hand and in many cases replicate the values that run through our own school systems and create our school ethos.

Children work in Learning Partners and groups on a daily basis and are actively encouraged to hear and respect the views of others. Democratic approaches to decision making are encouraged where agreement cannot be reached. The use of different approaches and strategies to promote learning is actively encouraged and works alongside our focus on pupils adopting a 'Growth Mind-set' and open minded approach to their learning. Pupils within school also have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council and Pupil questionnaires. Children elected to be on the School Council represent the views of their classmates on various issues.

Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws. They understand that they are there to protect us and govern our behaviour. They are aware that this involves consequences when laws are broken. Our older children take part in an annual Junior Citizen programme and this is further added to by visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service. Our school behaviour policy outlines the expected behaviour of all those in school and this is consistently reinforced throughout the school day, as well as through school assemblies. Our school values system reinforces the benefits of upholding laws that have been put in place.

Within school, pupils 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 our children to make choices safely. We actively encourage pupils to adopt a Growth Mind-set and 'own' their learning, thus empowering them throughout their Primary education. Pupils are encouraged to know and understand their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely. The use of PSHE sessions and our e-Safety schedule is an example of this in action.

Pupils have the opportunity for choice in a number of ways including choice of school lunch; how they record their work; participation in extra-curricular clubs and opportunities and the daily opportunity to challenge themselves.

Our school ethos, behaviour policy and daily emphasis on 'Values' centres around 'Mutual Respect' as the key component in creating an effective learning environment.

Pupils are actively involved in discussions on what these values might look like and are actively encouraged to 'be caught' in the act of displaying mutual respect along with our other key values. The school actively promotes respect for others and this is tangible in our classroom environments. Pupils are encouraged to own their own behaviour and take responsibility for their actions.

Pupils are taught to understand their place in a multi-cultural and diverse society and given opportunities to experience such diversity. School resources are purchased with diversity in mind with assemblies, PSHE and RE class sessions outlining prejudice and prejudice-based bullying and how these should be dealt with.

At Longfields we celebrate our differences and members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.