British Values
Promoting British Values at Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy
In accordance with Dfe guidance (November 2014) and section 78 of the Education Act (2002) , our school promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
Actively promoting these values means that as a school we will always challenge opinions or behaviours that are contrary to these fundamental British values.
At Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy, the values of tolerance and respect filter through all areas of school life and are embedded within our PSHE curriculum. This creates a climate within which our pupils feel safe and secure and allows them to reach their full potential. Everyone is welcome here.
Democracy
Pupils have many opportunities to have their voices heard through our democratically elected representatives on the Pupil Parliament. The Parliament meet weekly in school and participate in a range of decision making activities with the help of the pupils in the classes they represent.
In addition, regular pupil voice activities and questionnaires give all pupils an opportunity to put forward their own views and help shape School Improvement.
As a school community, it is imperative that our children are able to articulate confidently their views and offer opinions, whilst listening and respecting the views of others. This is developed and embedded throughout the school by our Positive Behaviour approach, Oracy expectations, P4C and our PSHE curriculum.
The Rule of Law
The importance of Laws (rules), whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout the school day. Children are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when these laws are broken.
At the centre of all we do is the promotion of our positive behaviour policy, from FS onwards we work with the children to help them to establish class rules and routines and to work to resolve their own conflicts by demonstrating the confidence to articulate when they are unhappy. They are taught from an early age that behaviour is about choice and choices have consequences.
We have also established strong links with the local community councillors, police, fire and road safety team who visit school regularly.
Individual Liberty
At our school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. We educate and provide boundaries for pupils to make informed choices, through our positive behaviour management policy and the use of Pupil Parliament.
The children are taught to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and guided how to exercise these safely, for example through our strong anti – bullying culture, RSHE curriculum and by investment and ownership through Pupil Parliament.
Respect and Tolerance
Mutual respect is at the core of our school values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others through our restorative approach to behaviour management.
All members of our school community are expected to treat each other with respect. Prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour is not tolerated and always challenged at all levels.
Pupils acquire an understanding, and promotion, of the cultures of others by visits into school of a range of positive role models from different faiths, ethnicity and gender. Religious Education lessons and PSHE lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others.
We actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and celebration of the different cultures within school. We have well established links with our local church, St John's, and visit them as part of our curriculum.
British Values in the EYFS
