SMSC is embedded throughout the curriculum through themes and topics, specifically the world about me. Through the world about me the opportunity to learn about everyday events, activities and experiences extends to celebrations, cultures, traditions and beliefs where appropriate and accessible to pupils; supporting holistic understanding and offering opportunity to play an active part in society. The following areas of development are aspirational for our cohort, and have been rephrased to represent our cohort’s understanding of the world.

Pupils are helped to develop positive attitudes and beliefs, aiming to provide education which provides pupils will opportunities to explore and develop the following:

Spiritual development includes:

  • Feelings, experiences, emotion;
  • A sense of awe, wonder and mystery;
  • Insights into personal beliefs and events we look forward to;
  • Being able to say what we believe in;

Moral development includes:

  • Being able to share our attitudes, views and values without judgment;
  • Seeing other people’s point of view;
  • Developing an understanding of social conventions;
  • Recognising that our beliefs can change;

Social development includes:

  • Understanding of how different people we know relate to us;
  • Being able to make a personal contribution to the well-being of the group;
  • The ability to exercise responsibility and initiative;
  • Being able to participate cooperatively and productively in society;

Cultural development includes:

  • Understanding of beliefs, customs, values, knowledge and skills which form the basis for identity and cohesion in society;
  • Exposing pupils to artistic and musical experiences to maximize their cultural capital and find new talents and interests

The World About Me Calendar covers the following:

Seasons

  • The essence of this topic is to clearly demonstrate the passing of time and the repetition of time as well as exploring the connections for learners in terms of what time of the year might mean for them.

Weather

  • This topic is particularly useful for younger learners. As a standard start to every single session, we look on the BBC weather website for your area. What do the icons mean? Can anyone predict what the weather is like from the icons? We listen to and watch the local forecast.

History and the passing of time

  • Each birthday learners will be year older and will have changed since their last birthday (reflect on previous birthdays and seasonal implications). We plan a local monthly walk to support recognising changes.

People

  • Meet and greet people in an appropriate manner; create these opportunities regularly; find ways of helping others

Food

  • Throughout this topic as far as possible we use actual items, practical activities and visits should form the backbone of any work; in real time with real food

Life cycles of Plants and Animals

  • This topic seeks to explore the different stages from birth to death that plants and animals go through. It recognises that humans are animals, that all living things are born, grow, mature and eventually die

Water

  • Explore and use appropriate language linked to water and experience in a sensory and functional way; explore water based play regularly

Recycling

  • This Topic looks at investigating rubbish in school and at home, looking how to recycle and what can be recycled within a school and at home.

Festivals

  • To bring a spiritual element to the occasion so that each one has a personal focus for each individual learner (what does this event mean for me and what can I learn from it?) and to try and to move beyond the notion that festivals are just occasions for eating, drinking and receiving presents.

Religious Education

  • Teaching about: beliefs, sources of wisdom and authority; Practices and ways of life; Ways of expressing meaning; Identify, diversity and belonging; Meaning, purpose and truth; values and commitments

Digital Photography

  • How to use a camera properly and successfully, power of photographs and film, creating, modifying, storing and sharing images

We have an SMSC Calendar showing when and where we go on trips and the purpose of these trips.

Look at our SMSC gallery: