British Values

Ditton Infant School supports the Department for Education’s definition of British Values which comprises of 5 aspects:
• Democracy
• The Rule of law
• Individual Liberty
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Throughout Ditton Infant School children and visitors will encounter these values on a daily basis. Caring, sharing, learning and achieving within a happy and inclusive environment is our school mission statement and these values are also visual around the school. Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural learning is a thread that runs throughout our school curriculum and develops children’s self-knowledge and self-confidence. We teach, model and promote these values alongside our characteristics of effective learning to develop qualities such as collaboration, participation and perseverance. We recognise the multi-cultural and multi-faith nature of the United Kingdom and the crucial role our school plays in actively promoting fundamental British values.

Below are some examples of how we do this.

Democracy
The children are involved in the democratic process e.g. voting for School Council members who will ensure that they represent the views of their class and working towards shared class rewards. The children also shape the class rules at the beginning of the academic year. These experiences give the children an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process.

The Rule of Law
The importance of rules (in individual classes, whole school or nationally) is consistently reinforced day to day and through specific foci in school assemblies and circle time activities. We have a set of whole school Golden Rules and classes develop their own class rules which are on display. Pupils are taught the value of rules and laws, that they are each responsible for adhering to them and the consequences if they do not. Visits from the Community Warden and Police Officers in assemblies
and themed days also help to reinforce this message. We have a clearly structured Behaviour Policy which all stakeholders understand and follow. By learning about right and wrong children gain an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individuals and is essential for their wellbeing and safety.

Individual Liberty
Children have key roles and responsibilities within school such as Eco-Council, Play Leaders and School Council members and within class via a class monitor system. Throughout the school we provide clear boundaries and children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Child initiated learning opportunities are rich during Challenge Time. Children are taught to understand that they have the freedom to make choices e.g. the clubs they attend, how they challenge themselves in school and they are also taught how to make safe choices e.g. through online safety lessons, RSE&H curriculum and circle time opportunities. Throughout the school we provide clear boundaries where children are actively encouraged to make choices and question the world around them, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.

Mutual Respect
Respect is a core value within our Behaviour Policy and is embedded in our Golden Rules. Throughout their time in school children learn what this means and how this is shown. We use the Jigsaw scheme of work to deliver our RSE&H education and this teaches our pupils to respect the views, beliefs and opinions of others even if they do not accord with their own through units such as ‘Celebrating Difference’ and ‘Relationships’. We expect all members of the school community and visitors to our school to treat each other with respect.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Our RE curriculum (Kent Agreed Syllabus) provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths and cultures. We also explore how a celebration may be celebrated in different ways all over the world. At Ditton Infant School there is a strong focus on Christian values and we have members of the local church and Family Trust lead assemblies. We have had visitors of various faiths who share their beliefs, language and culture with our children and this enables them to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures. We also promote greetings in a variety of languages and teach children that it is important to understand and respect the beliefs and cultures of others through festival days.