Spiritual Development:
Spiritual Development refers to the children’s beliefs, religious or otherwise, which inform their perspective on life and their interest in and respect for different people’s feelings and values.
At St Nicholas CEVC Primary School we promote opportunities for spiritual development through:
- giving children the opportunity to explore values and beliefs, including religious beliefs and the way in which they impact on people’s lives. This is done, for example, through acts of collective worship, PSHE R.E. lessons and wider curriculum.
- giving children the opportunity to understand human emotions and feelings, the way they impact on people and how an understanding of them can be helpful.
- developing a climate and ethos within which all children can grow and flourish, respect others and be respected e.g. School Council and celebrating achievement through our weekly Celebration Worship.
- exploring the spiritual lives of role models through the Little People, Big Dreams series of books.
- accommodating difference and respecting the integrity of individuals, for example using restorative justice, safe spaces in classrooms, discussions, an acceptance of disagreeing well etc.
We promote teaching styles that:
- value children's questions and give them space for their own thoughts, ideas and concerns.
- enable children to make connections between aspects of their learning.
- organise enrichment activities and meeting with visitors to promote aspirations.
Fundamentally, it includes offering children the opportunity to explore their own personal faith and to be aware of their own and others' faith journeys.
We encourage our children to make informed decisions about the world around them. To support children's understanding of religion, philosophy, ethics and morals, we promote the fundamental aspects of Religious Literacy through our RE lessons and PSHE discussions.