SMSC Policy

(Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development)

The definition of SMSC:

 

SMSC has been part of education since the 1944 education act and was around in earlier forms before that. We as a setting have the ability to prepare all children and young people to live full active lives as part of their community and into adulthood.

Aspirations are to be safe, and most importantly a happy setting where children and young people can fulfil their potential ad appreciate other's.

Our Aims and Objectives for promoting Spiritual Development:

 

To ensure that all children have the ability to be reflective about their own beliefs, religions or otherwise, that inform their perspective on life and their interest in and having respect for different people's faiths, feelings and values.

To allow children to have a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them.

For children to be able to use their imagination and creativity in their own learning.

To support each child in being able to have willingness and reflect on their own experiences.

 

We achieve this by:

Providing resources such as books, posters, displays, and costumes which reflect on a wide range f communities and cultures. (UTW, PSED)

We explore the local environment daily to encourage children to make sense of their world and community. (UTW, CLD)

We introduce a variety of foods from all cultures at meal times and throughout the day. (PD, CLL)

We introduce creative and expressive experiences such as dance, movement, music and roleplay.(EAD, CLL,PSED)

We celebrate festivals from a wide range of cultures and communities (UTW, CLL, PSED)

 

Our Aims and Objectives for promoting Moral Development:

To ensure the children understand the consequences for their behaviour and actions.

For the children to be able to recognise the difference between right, wrong, and why, in doing so respecting the civil and criminal law of England.

For children to be able to become interested in offering reasons regarding moral and ethical issues and understanding and appreciating the views of others.

We achieve this by:

Being good role models within our setting and providing the children with structure, opportunities to take safe risks and set boundaries where they can learn and discover the right way of doing things in our setting. (PSED, UTW, CLL)

We regularly invite members of our community such the police, fire service, and ambulance crew to come and educate the children about their roles and occupations. (UTW, PSED, CLL)

We carry out a range of activities and experiences at circle time to enforce the importance of taking turns, being fair and using our good manners. (CLL, UTW, PSED)

We use the Thrive approach to be able to key into how children are feeling and understand the reasons behind their emotions and behaviour. (EAD, PSED, CLL)

We encourage children to talk about their own experiences during group sessions, and encourage them to actively listen to one another. (CLL, PSED)

 

Our Aims and Objectives for promoting Social Development:

For all of the children in our setting to use a range of social skills in different contexts, with children from all different religious, ethnic, and social economic backgrounds.

For children to show willingness in participating in a variety of communities and social settings.

To encourage the children to engage and be involved with the fundamental british values (see Fundamental British Values Policy) of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and a mutual respect and tolerance of those with different beliefs. We aim to allow all children to participate fully in and contribute positively to a life in modern Britain.

We achieve this by:

Encouraging all of our children to engage and interact with one another on a regular basis, for example: at meal times. (CLL, PSED, LD, UTW)

Encouraging all of our children to share their experiences with their peers, for example: At circle time, role play etc.. (CLL, UTW)

We give children the opportunity to solve problems between themselves without interaction of early years practitioners. (CLL, PSED, MD, LD)

We keep all of our policies and procedures up to date and they remain available for our families to see at all times in the entrance. (UTW)

 

Our Aims and Objectives for promoting Cultural Development:

For children to understand and appreciate the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage and that of others.

For children to understand and appreciate the range of cultures within our setting and further afield as an essential element of their preparation for modern life in Britain.

For children to gain knowledge of Britain's democratic parliamentary system and its central role in shaping our history and values, and in continuing to develop Britain.

To show a willingness to participate in and respond positively to artistic, sporting and cultural opportunities.

For children to show an interest in exploring, improving and showing respect for different faiths and cultural diversity, and the extent to which they understand, accept, respect, and celebrate diversity as shown by their tolerance and attitudes towards different  religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local national and global communities.

We achieve this by:

Inviting our families in to our setting to share knowledge, experiences, and faiths with all of the children. (UTW, PSED, CLL)

We use sporting events such as the world cup, Wimbledon, and the Olympics to influence activities. (PD, UTW)

We include 'All about me' and 'meeting my needs' forms in the registration process of our setting; these can be discussed with our families and updated regularly. Looked after children will have a personal development/education plan in place to be implemented alongside. (CLL, UTW