Educating for Dignity and Respect
Our vision shows that we all matter and that light shines on us and through us. Jesus calls us to be like a candle held in God’s hands bringing light to the world. Every human being is precious and we consciously teach children to value one another.
| How do you make sure each person knows their worth? |
Many small things make up showing children and all members of our community that they matter. Welcoming, listening, smiling, keeping them safe, disagreeing in a respectful way, forgiving, sharing, giving time, laughing and playing are all parts of a jigsaw puzzle that make up not only what we do but how we do it.
| How do you teach children to be respectful towards one another? |
We have a clear system of behaviour based on the work of Paul Dix. It centres on adults modelling what ‘good’ behaviour looks like alongside simple rules for children to follow. Positivity notes are shared daily, weekly certificates link to our values and silver wrist bands celebrate the good choices that children make. Where reminders are needed they are given quietly and ways forward agreed. Where sanctions are needed children themselves often know this and choose to have some time out. This deliberate approach works because everyone believes in it and it meets the needs of our children.
The protected characteristics and equality are a thread running through our work with Rights Respecting Schools, with how we include children and how we challenge prejudicial behaviour and language. Together with our work in PSHE and RSE, through JIGSAW, children learn what prejudice is, that it is unacceptable and that if it does happen it will be challenged to ensure that it is not repeated.
| How do you keep children in safe? |
Keeping children safe through policies, what we teach and how we respond to needs is a strength of our school. Training is robust and our approach reviewed by the DHMAT’s safeguarding lead. We have strong relationships with parents, talk issues through and challenge decisions made by agencies where we feel they may not be the right ones for a child.
In practical ways we keep children safe through intensive swimming lessons, a clear programme of RSE, Bikeability, through involving our community support officers, regular e-safety learning and through developing children as leaders. Courageous advocacy, what we mean by that and what children want to achieve forms one of our weekly worship sessions. Enabling children to develop their self worth through speaking out about things that matter to them is an important way in which we also keep children safe. Children know that we want to hear from them, we want to share and we have confidence in them leading the way.
