Welcome to Dovecote Primary School and Nursery. Thank you for sending children to school, smartly dressed in their school uniform. Wishing everyone a great summer term. Please see July Newsletter for diary dates. The last day of term is Friday 26th July 2024.
British Values
Preparing Children for Life in Modern Britain
At Dovecote Primary and Nursery School, we take very seriously our responsibility to prepare children for life in modern Britain. We ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school. All curriculum areas provide a vehicle for furthering understanding of these concepts and every opportunity is taken to deepen and develop understanding. At the beginning of each half term every class focusses on social and emotional aspects of learning (Jigsaw) to introduce a theme which builds on previous learning and builds understanding and resilience. Children embrace these concepts with enthusiasm and demonstrate a good understanding of their application to their own lives. The school makes considerable efforts to ensure children have exposure to a wide experience beyond their own and their local community through both the taught curriculum, a range of visits and visitors and through opportunities to share their own experiences with others.
Promoting British Values
The DFE have reinforced the need ''to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.''
The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values have been reiterated in 2014.
Democracy
The children at Dovecote see democracy borne out in a whole variety of ways and see this as an essential part of working together. They understand that it is an important process in making decisions that are fair.
Children believe in freedom and equality between people.
The establishment of Reading Ambassadors each year, models the democratic process, with children recording their pledges for being a good ambassador for reading. Children understand and respect the majority decision. Children use voting to help with decision-making.
Children’s ability to work collaboratively in pairs and groups, taking into account the views of all parties.
The Rule of Law
The importance of Laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. Children are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when the laws are broken.
Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help to reinforce this message.
Visit to the Galleries of Justice and primary Parliament.
Individual Liberty
Within school, children are encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school, we educate and provide boundaries for young children to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example, through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it is through choice of learning challenge, or participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, children are given the freedom to make their choices.
Mutual Respect
Dovecote school ethos and behaviour policy promote RESPECT for others and their beliefs. Children understand what is expected of them and children of all ages talk confidently about RESPECT and kindness in school. Even the youngest pupils were able to explain what this means. Children understand that mutual respect means that everyone is unique and special. They know that others may have different views from their own but 'that's okay' and we value these.
Pupils are a part of discussions and themed assemblies, where they learn about what respect means and how it is shown. Displays around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom rules, as well as our behaviour policy. Children receive positive praise and encouragement when acts of kindness, respect and integrity are seen.
Tolerance (understanding) of others who have Different Faiths and Beliefs
Dovecote Primary is situated in an area that is not greatly culturally diverse, therefore we place a great emphasis on promoting diversity with children. Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issues either directly ot through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures.
Our Religious Education and PSHE curriculum coverage reinforces this. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and school. Children visit different places of worship that are important to different faiths.
At Dovecote Primary School we will actively challenge children, staff or parents, for expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values, including 'extremist' views.