Hertford Vale
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
As a church school we are concerned with the development of people’s mind, body and soul. We believe that spirituality should influence all areas of education and life, therefore we aim that all areas of the curriculum contribute to pupils’ spiritual development. Spiritual development relates to fundamental questions about the meaning and purpose of life which affect everyone, and is not dependent on a religious affiliation.
Spiritual development is not about becoming, more spiritual, it is about realising or becoming more and more aware of one’s natural, innate spirituality. This is sometimes a slow and gradual process, at other times there might be significant stages of realisation, which are part of the ongoing ‘developing’ process. People don’t reach a finished state of spiritual development, but participate in the ongoing process of spiritual realisation.
Spirituality
Spirituality is a very personal experience. It differs from person to person, and often spirituality changes within people during their lifetime. Spirituality is not the same as having a religion or faith; a person can be spiritual without having a particular faith.
At Hertford Vale we have reflected upon different definitions of spirituality:
“Spirituality is not something we can see; it is something we feel inside ourselves. It is about awe and wonder, asking questions, inspiration and being aware of something ‘bigger’ outside of ourselves.”
“Our inner self is where we can find resources within that come from a greater source i.e God. Our soul.”
As a primary school it is important that we use age appropriate language to define spirituality, so when talking to our children we will refer to:
· A sense of awe and wonder
· Care for nature and living things
· Wanting to love and to be loved by people
The four elements of Spirituality
Spirituality looks to explore our relationships and connections. These are relationships with:
· Ourselves
· Others
· The World
· Beyond
Awe and Wonder
Children are born inquisitive, and it is our duty to nurture this natural curiosity and guide them towards looking at the world and noticing, with awe and wonder, the natural and man-made delights all around us.
We want to encourage them to ask ‘big questions’ about life, religion, nature, science and any other area of fascination. Our children are working towards the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award, this is fundamental to our curriculum and the importance we place on caring for our world. We were also very proud to gain the North Yorkshire Silver Healthy School Award this year.
We teach our children to ask challenging questions and explore the importance of reflecting on the world around us. We take time to lie in the grass and explore the skies above. We listen to the waves at the beach and explore nature in the local countryside.
Caring for Nature and Living Things
We provide many opportunities for children to learn about nature and the role they play in protecting our world. As a Church School, this is especially important. Through science and themed work, children learn about the world and how they can care for living things. Our School has been awarded the Healthy Schools Award. We helping the children to understand the issues of social action, courageous advocacy, and have worked on themes about recycling and plastic usage.
Love
We are a very caring school and have love as one of our school values. Our vision is underpinned by love and the knowledge that we are all loved by God. Through our Christian Values, we teach children to care for friends, family and the community. Indeed, our curriculum enables learning about those we love and who love us. The Hertford Vale Curriculum is bespoke to the needs of our community, it provides rich and relevant learning.
How is Spirituality Nurtured?
At Hertford Vale we offer endless opportunities for all children and members of the school community to explore spirituality. As a Church of England school this often reflects our distinctively Christian character.
Children’s spiritual development is fostered through all aspects of our provision. It is about the relationships and the values that we consider to be important, as well as the development of knowledge, concepts, skills and attitudes. We give children opportunities to:
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Express personal beliefs and compare views with others, sharing feelings and opinions through discussions and stories.
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Begin to develop their own system of beliefs which may or may not include religious beliefs.
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Experience a love of learning through rewarding their enthusiasm and by encouraging exploratory play and learning.
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Reflect upon the world around them and show a sense of awe and wonder towards aspects of the natural world or human achievement.
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Reflect on the situations of others through role play, stories.
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Experience a range of stories, music, art, drama and dance
What is the Role of the School Community?
In school we give opportunities for reflection, in lessons and collective worship, children develop an understanding of looking back and reflecting on what they have experienced. This may take the form of looking back and taking from the past, from a Bible story, from a picture/icon/view/learning experience. The focus is to help us in our lives today and tomorrow.
All members of the school community have a responsibility for helping to nurture children’s spiritual development.
School staff can do this through:
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Establishing and maintaining a partnership between pupils, parents and staff; recognising and respecting the faith background of the children and their families;
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Taking part in, and supporting, collective acts of worship;
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Being good role models in their conduct towards other members of the community;
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Promoting an attitude of respect for other people and for others’ views;
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Nurturing consideration for and generosity towards others.
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Drawing on the experiences of pupils and their families during religious education lessons and beyond;
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Recognising and being constantly aware of the needs and backgrounds of each individual pupil;
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Being willing to develop their own knowledge and understanding of the Christian faith and the faiths of others;
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Having a positive attitude to the value of spiritual education.
Children can do this through:
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Taking an active part in acts of collective worship;
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Participating in activities which promote the skills allowing them to engage in examination of and reflection upon religious belief and practice;
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Conducting themselves towards others considerately, in line with the code of conduct;
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Respecting the views and beliefs of others.
Parents can help through:
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Adopting a positive attitude to the value of spiritual education;
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Supporting the school’s Christian ethos and acts of community worship such as assemblies and church services;
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Respecting the views and beliefs of others.
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At Hertford Vale we embrace the importance of the Arts and use this as a vehicle to enable deeper thinking. By being spiritual we are exploring beliefs and our experiences; we respect all faiths, feelings and values; we enjoy learning about ourselves, others and our world; we use our imagination and creativity; we reflect.
At Hertford Vale we have a holistic approach to education and aim to involve Body, Mind and Spirit. We regularly engage with the local church and church groups to enable our children to express their feelings in a range of different ways and contexts.
All children feel successful in this space because their uniqueness is celebrated.
We celebrate their work and the school is full of their creations. Our school is a colourful, stimulating and vibrant place in the community.
COURAGEOUS ADVOCACY
What is a Courageous Advocate?
A courageous advocate is someone who champions a cause which is special and meaningful to them.
At Hertford Vale Church of England Primary School we have a strong emphasis on encouraging our pupils to become courageous advocates, not just locally, but nationally and globally. At some point in life we will all face challenges and need support to help us overcome these barriers. We teach our children that it is important to help others when we can no matter who they are, where they come from or what challenges they may face. We teach this through Bible stories and learning about other courageous advocates from both the Bible and from history.
It is important for our children to appreciate their role as part of a community; to take responsibility, to be able to look after themselves & to foster an understanding of their importance, impact and influence in the world.
At Hertford Vale our vision and creative curriculum combine to inspire the whole community to have an awareness of local, national and international issues. We encourage our children to become courageous advocates for change in our world.
At Hertford Vale our vision and creative curriculum combine to inspire the whole community to have an awareness of local, national and international issues. We encourage our children to become courageous advocates for change in our world.
ECO Club
Our ECO club has been passionately proactive in joining with our wider community in the fight for reducing single use plastics and ensuring our beaches are litter free and safe places to play. They have linked with the Toilet Twinning charity and are working towards their first project.
Charitable Work
We support a range of charities throughout the school year. These are selected by the children and staff to ensure that there is an increased awareness of collective responsibility, compassion and service to others.
We regularly support the work of the Westway Open Arms Food Bank who provide a vital service to vulnerable families in our local area, including members of our school family. We are a collection point for donations of food throughout the year.
Morning Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for our school,
for each other
and for this new day.
Help us to learn well,
to respect each other,
and to live our school values.
In the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen
Lunch Time Prayer
For what we are about to receive,
May the Lord make us
truly thankful,
Amen
End of School Prayer
God our Father,
I come to say,
thank you for your love today
Thank you for my family
and all the friends you give to me.
Guard me in the dark of night
And in the morning send your light.
Amen
SIAMS Report (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools)
In June 2016 the children and staff at Hertford Vale C.E Primary School were delighted to be judged ‘Outstanding’ following a SIAMS inspection. A SIAMS inspection focuses on the effect that the Christian ethos of the church school has on the children and young people who attend it. It is recognised that church schools will employ a variety of strategies and styles, which reflect their particular local context or church tradition in order to be distinctive and effective.
The principal objective of SIAMS inspection is to evaluate the distinctiveness and effectiveness of the school as a church school.
Following the inspection, the lead inspector made the following comments :
‘Collective worship is joyous and intellectually challenging, leading to reflection and understanding. It makes a substantial contribution to children’s personal and spiritual development.’
‘Koinonia (Fellowship), Thankfulness, Compassion and Friendship are the Christian values that have sustained the excellence of provision at Hertford Vale and they inspire a vibrant, caring, happy and highly effective school community.’
‘Shared purpose, dedication to a school shaped by Christian values and a joy of working with children characterise the high quality of staff leadership and governors’ strength of commitment to excellence through distinctiveness as a church-school.’
If you would like to read the full report please follow the link below.
Hertford Vale SIAMS Report 2016
For more information about the inspection process you can visit The Church of England Website,