Personal Development
Curriculum
At Cottam, personal development is built upon the foundations of our school values of courage, compassion, challenge, curiosity, respect and ambition which are woven through our school culture and every child’s daily school life.
We ensure that, over their time at Cottam, children receive a Personal Development programme that gives them the knowledge that they need to make decisions, to be resilient and to develop their character and personality. Our bespoke personal development curriculum, which extends beyond the national curriculum, offers unique learning experiences providing our children with enriched cultural capital through a varied and diverse set of experiences that prepare children for life in modern day Britain.
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development (SMSC)
We recognise that the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils is of fundamental importance in the ‘whole child’ education we strive to achieve. It supports all areas of learning and is key to a child’s motivation to learn. We recognise that such development is most successful when the values and attitudes promoted by all the staff provide a model of behaviour for our pupils.
These values are outlined below:
Spiritual
Explore beliefs and experiences; respect values; discover oneself and the surrounding world; use imagination and creativity; reflect.
Moral
Recognise right and wrong; understand consequences; investigate moral and ethical issues; offer reasoned views.
Social
Use social skills in different contexts; work well with others; resolve conflicts; understand how communities work.
Cultural
Appreciate cultural influences; participate in culture opportunities; understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity.
We aim to provide an education that gives pupils opportunities to explore and develop their own values, beliefs and spiritual awareness. Pupils should demonstrate a positive caring attitude towards other people, an understanding of their social and cultural traditions and an appreciation of the diversity and richness of other cultures whilst encompassing the British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with other faiths and beliefs.
The integrity and spirituality of pupils from other faith backgrounds will be respected and explored. The diversity of traditions will be recognised, and pupils will be given access to alternative views.
The school community will be a place where pupils can find acceptance for themselves as unique individuals, and where resilience and the opportunity to start again is fundamental to the ethos of the school.
Pupils should learn to differentiate between right and wrong in as far as their actions affect other people. They will be encouraged to value themselves and others.
Pupils should understand the need for rules and the need to abide by rules for the good of everyone. School and classroom rules reflect, reiterate, promote and reward acceptable behaviour and provide opportunities to celebrate pupils' work and achievements.
Protected Characteristics
We recognise that it is important that all children gain an understanding of the world they are growing up in, and learn how to live alongside, and show respect for a diverse range of people. All schools should demonstrate that no form of discrimination is tolerated and that pupils show respect for those who share the protected characteristics. The Equality Act became law in 2010. It covers everyone in Britain and protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Under the Equality Act, there are nine Protected Characteristics.
1. Age
2. Disability
3. Gender Reassignment
4. Race
5. Religion or belief
6. Marriage or civil partnership
7. Sex
8. Sexual Orientation
9. Pregnancy and Maternity
Under the Equality Act, you are protected from discrimination:
When you are in the workplace
When you use public services like healthcare (for example, visiting your doctor or local hospital) or education (for example your school or college)
When you use businesses and other organisations that provide services and goods (like shops, restaurants and cinemas)
When you use transport
When you join a club or association (for example your local football or rugby club)
When you have contact with public bodies like your local council or government departments
How SCARF supports teaching and learning about Protected Characteristics.
Teaching and Learning about the protected characteristics is fully integrated into our SCARF curriculum, which is delivered in PSHE lessons each week. The lessons are age-appropriate and delivered in a spiral curriculum. This important learning about equality is threaded through the vast majority of SCARF lessons, but some protected characteristics benefit from in-depth coverage that will give children time to explore knowledge and attitudes that will help to develop an appreciation of them.
The table below maps where the SCARF curriculum provides this greater depth. The protected characteristic is listed in bold, followed by the lesson, or lessons, in which it is explored.
Alongside our PSHE lessons, the 9 Protected Characteristics are also actively promoted in school through:
Our school core values
Our school behaviour policy
Conscious role modelling by all adults in the school community
Active engagement and communication with parents and carers
Assemblies
Discussion within curriculum subjects
RE lessons
Sporting, Art and Cultural events
Pupil voice
Educational visits/visitors
Real life learning outside the classroom
Extra-curricular activities, after school clubs, charity work and work within the local community.
British Values
Promoting Fundamental British Values at Cottam Primary School
In accordance with The Department for Education, we aim to actively promote British values in our school 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 British Values are:
democracy
rule of law
individual liberty
mutual respect
tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
What are British Values?
Overview of British Values
Forest School
What is Forest School?
An FSA five minute introduction to 'What is Forest School?' A short but comprehensive look into the six principles what they do and why we need them.
What is Forest School?
AN FSA five minute introduction to 'What is Forest School?' A short but comprehensive look into the six principles what they do and why we need them.
What is Forest School and how does it enhance our curriculum?
Forest School is an inspirational process that offers all learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment. It is a specialised learning approach that sits within and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland education.
At Cottam, we teach Forest School lessons so that all the children have a chance to develop a wide range of skills that they wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to do so inside the classroom. It also supports our children's self-esteem and confidence and allows them the chance to achieve things they thought they might not have been able to previously.
We believe that outdoor learning is something all children should have regular access to in order to better develop their understanding of the world around them, apply learning from a variety of different subjects and sustain a healthy lifestyle.
Food for Life
Food for life is about changing food for good.
Good food should be a right not a privilege. It boosts the health of us as individuals but also the health of our society, the diversity of plants and animals we depend upon and the soil that makes this all possible. Good food means climate and nature recovery.
With an overarching goal to make good food accessible for all, we work directly with caterers, schools, and communities to implement sustainable and lasting change within the broken food system.
We do this through the standards we set, by enabling valuable connections and sharing best practice across the sectors we work within.
As part of the Soil Association, we use our experience to support governments and local authorities to work across the supply chain with farmers and businesses developing practical solutions. We collaborate with the public to create and amplify a powerful voice, challenging the status quo for better food for all.