Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC)
At Cuddington, SMSC is the foundation of all our activities. We understand that the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of our children is crucial for their learning and growth into well-rounded individuals. We offer an education that allows children to explore and develop:
- Their own values and beliefs
- Spiritual awareness
- High standards of personal behaviour
- A positive and caring attitude towards others
- An understanding and respect for their own and others’ social and cultural traditions
- An appreciation for the diversity and richness of cultures and the world around them.
Spiritual Development
The children’s beliefs, religious or otherwise, which inform their perspective on life and their interest in and respect for other people’s beliefs and values.
- Our Religious Education programme which includes visits to places of worship.
- Assemblies which celebrate beliefs and cultures from around the world and SMSC.
- A PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) programme that allows pupils to reflect on their own feelings and develop an understanding of the feelings of others, including readiness for 21st century Britain dangers and threats.
Children will also demonstrate their Spiritual development by their:
- Engagement in opportunities to enjoy the world around them and to celebrate the achievements and creativity of others and themselves.
- Ability to express their own beliefs (religious or otherwise) and perspective on life.
- Knowledge of, and respect for, different people’s faiths, feelings and values.
- Curiosity, sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them.
- Use of imagination and creativity in their learning.
- Willingness to reflect on their experiences.
Moral Development
A pupil’s understanding, attitude and behaviour to what is right and what is wrong.
This is developed at Cuddington through:
- Providing a clear moral code for behaviour which is promoted through all aspects of the school – assemblies and through our behaviour system.
- Focus British Values, E-safety lessons, PSHE curriculum, and Attendance Rewards
- Promoting equality in relation to religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or gender
- Giving pupils opportunities to explore and develop moral concepts and values through the curriculum – PSHE, Fair Trade topics, R.E., History, Geography, and Literacy
- Encouraging children to take responsibility for their actions, through PSHE and the Behaviour Policy
- Adults modelling fairness, integrity and respect for all pupils
- Recognising and respecting different cultures represented by pupils and staff in the school – cultural displays around the school, texts used to support the curriculum
Social Development
A pupil’s progressive acquisition of the competencies and qualities needed to play a full part in society.
- Encouraging children to work co-operatively in the classroom and playground
- Fostering a sense of community with common, inclusive values through assemblies,
- Encouraging children to recognise and respect social differences and similarities
- Providing children with opportunities to exercise leadership through a range of whole-school class responsibilities
- Through our PSHE curriculum, tailored to meet our pupils' needs - helping them develop qualities which are valued by society, such as: thoughtfulness, honesty, respect for others, moral principles, independence, co-operation, self respect.
- Through our citizenship programme and work with senior citizens
Cultural Development
A child’s understanding of the beliefs, values and customs in their own and others social, ethnic and national groups.
- Celebrating the attitudes, values and traditions of diverse cultures
- Participating in whole school and borough events such as cultural celebrations, School Council, Team Captains and sports matches and competitions, through the curriculum, assemblies, school social events and visitors to the school
- Recognising and nurturing particular gifts and talents through after school clubs, Enterprise projects, our knowledge curriculum
- Recognising and celebration of national events