British Values

"Oh, the places we'll go..."

Together, we create a safe and fun place to learn, explore and grow..

At Rivacre Valley Primary School, we aim for our children to become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of background and leave our school prepared for life in modern Britain. We promote the basic British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs.

We focus on the key values throughout the year and also make clear and direct links to the RSE Policy document. 

Democracy

Democracy is very important in our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard regularly and important days such as UK Parliament Week in November are recognised.

In Early Years (EYFS) children begin to learn everyone is treated equally and has equal rights. Linked with children's personal, social and emotional development (PSED), children have opportunities to develop their self-confidence and self-awareness, to make choices and decisions about what they want to explore and how they're going to use the resources staff have made accessible to them.

At Key Stage 1 and 2, pupils have opportunities to learn about democracy at the time of Elections as well as through History lessons learning about Ancient Greece in UKS2. 

The Rule of Law

Children are taught from the beginning the ‘values’ of our school. Pupils are taught the importance of and reasons behind our school ‘values’, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when the ‘values’ are not kept. 

In Early Years (EYFS), through personal, social and emotional development (PSED), children begin to learn to manage their own feelings and behaviour: learning right from wrong, behaving within agreed and clearly defined boundaries and dealing with the consequences.

From Key Stage 1 and through Key Stage 2, children learn about the laws that govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and that there are consequences when laws are broken. This is first developed through an understanding of class and school rules.

We then further develop this understanding through visits from police and others in the community who help us.  Younger pupils learn about safety and how to behave with the help of visits from the emergency services, such as the Fire and Ambulance services.

Individual Liberty

Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Making choices is key part the way we want children to learn and of the school vision, which children learn about through assemblies and PHSE work. Through our work, we discuss different choices that the children can make and encourage them to make the right choices. We look at Online safety as a key part of the Computing curriculum and the importance making safe choices when online.

In Early Years (EYFS), this value is embedded within personal, social and emotional development (PSED) and Understanding the World. For individual liberty we focus on children's self-confidence and self-awareness and people and communities. We help children to develop a positive sense of themselves.   Through the daily opportunities we provide, we are helping our children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and increase their confidence in their own abilities. When we share a favourite book with a child, we are giving children the time and space to explore the language of feelings and responsibility; reflect on their differences and understand that we are all free to have different opinions.

From Key Stage 1 and through Key Stage 2 children are encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our  whole school RHE and PSHE discussions. 

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is at the heart of our values at Rivacre Valley. We are an inclusive school where everyone is valued and has a contribution to make. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. We are a 'no outsiders' school where everyone is welcome.

In EYFS, children learn to treat others as they want to be treated, how to be part of a community, manage their feelings and behaviour and form relationships with others. 

From Key Stage 1 and through Key Stage 2, pupils are treated with respect and learn to treat each other and staff with respect. This is reinforced through our Behaviour Policy.

Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

All different faiths and beliefs are explored and celebrated through assemblies, RE sessions and the beliefs of the children in our school community. The children are taught that people have different faiths and beliefs and that these should be accepted. Children in our school with different faiths are encouraged to share their practices and special celebrations. Our school also has a link with St. Thomas' Church in Ellesmere Port.

Tolerance and respect for others is achieved through class-based lessons, through pupils’ knowledge and understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and the opportunity for pupils to experience such diversity. In Year 6, our children visit our capital city and explore our culture.   We celebrate and commemorate British Events such as Remembrance Day and other events of national significance.  

Throughout the year, assemblies are held focusing on many aspects of tolerance, respect, different cultures and other aspects of British Values.   

Key Life Skills

We promote and explore key life skills that the children need to develop throughout their years at Rivacre Valley Primary School and beyond. These will be explored and valued through our 'Rivacre dinosaurs'. These have been created by the children within the shcool. (See photos below of our dinosaurs)

• Explorosaur - 'I explore everything around me and I'm curious to find out new things'
• Askapartor - 'I ask questions and find things out'
• Tryatops - 'I am resilient. I try my best and never give up
• Stickosaurus - 'I stick at task, persevere and am proud'
• Solvesaurus Rex - 'I work hard to solve problems'
• Thinkodocus - 'I think carefully about what I learn'
• Shareonyx - 'I share my ideas and resources'
• Humourdocus - 'I can laugh at myself'
• Orgasaur - 'I am responsible for organisisng myself, my equipment and my time
• Confidactyl - 'I am confident in my own abilities'