Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development (SMSC).

At Yew Tree Primary we recognise that the personal development of children spiritually, morally, socially and culturally plays a significant part in their ability to learn and achieve.  Activities are planned that require pupils to reflect and empathize with others as well as giving them the confidence to provide their opinions and develop their own view points.  Our curriculum provides a wide range of artistic, sporting and cultural activities that encourage pupils to work together and use imagination in their learning.  We offer regular curriculum enrichment days, parent workshops and trips to museums, galleries and theatres. We have visitors to school from different faiths, occupations and community groups to enhance our curriculum and further the SMSC development of pupils. 

British Values

As a school we value and celebrate the heritages of everyone at Yew Tree. Alongside this, we value and celebrate being part of Britain. We celebrate traditions such as Harvest festival and we value and celebrate national events. 

As a school these values are reinforced in the following ways:

Democracy

Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our Junior Leadership Team and eco council. Staff regularly interview pupils as part of our ongoing monitoring procedures when the pupil voice is sought on issues such as behaviour in school or the marking of work. Children throughout school agree their class rules with their teacher at the start of every school year. Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their voices heard. We encourage children to take ownership of their own learning as part of the learning challenge curriculum.

The rule of law

The importance of rules and laws are referred to and reinforced often throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour issues. At Yew Tree we follow our "5Rs" which are a set of five principles that underpin all we do. At the start of every school year pupils discuss and set their own class rules that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe environment.  Pupils are taught the value and reason behind laws and rules, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. We have visits from authority figures such as the police and fire service. Pupils are taught, during Religious Education, rules for particular faiths and rules are reinforced during other school subjects such as sports lessons.

Individual liberty

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 children to make choices safely through provision of a safe environment. Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through PSHE lessons. Children are encouraged to make choices about their learning as part of the learning challenge curriculum, choices about how they record their learning and choices around the participation in extra-curricular activities.

Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

This is achieved through enhancing pupils’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice based bullying have been carried out and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Members of different faiths visit school and share their knowledge with the children. Pupils also have the opportunity to visit different places of worship as part of the enhanced curriculum. Pupils at Yew Tree learn that they should treat each other with respect and we have our "5Rs" displayed throughout school.