Promoting British Values

The DFE have recently reinforced the need ‘’to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation of all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rules of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.’’

This includes the new Counter Terrorism and Security Act which makes ‘The Prevent Duty’ a statutory obligation, as part of all school’s ongoing safeguarding procedures.

All staff at Bushfield Infant School have received Prevent Training as part of this duty legislated in March of 2015.

The government clearly set out its definition of British values, which Bushfield Road Infant School reinforce through their school values and ethos. The values include:

Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard, which include school council meetings, a commitment to ‘Talk for Learning’ throughout all teaching & learning across the whole school including the Nursery, consistent use of ‘Talk Partners’, pupil questionnaires and a whole school approach to communication and interaction skills as defined by ‘The Communication and Interaction Charter Mark’ currently held by the school.

The importance of rules, laws and boundaries is consistently encouraged and reinforced and the school has a clear Behaviour Policy based on positive reinforcement and positive choices. Children are taught from nursery through Key stage 1 that they must accept personal responsibility for their own actions and must recognise and accept the consequences of their actions.

All pupils in school are actively and consistently encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.

Mutual respect is at the heart of the school’s values and ethos and children are taught to treat themselves and all members of the school and community with respect. They are also taught to expect others to treat them with respect and to hold themselves in high esteem.

The school places emphasis on promoting diversity and RE, PSHE and assemblies are planned to address the differences within individual people, cultures, faiths and religions.