The British values which are promoted through our whole school curriculum and ethos are;

• democracy
• the rule of law
• individual liberty
• mutual respect
• tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Below are examples of how we incorporate the children's developing understanding of these values into the daily life of the school

Democracy

Each year the children decide upon their class rules and the rights associated with these. All the children contribute to the drawing up of these expectations and sign to say they will agree to uphold them.

We have a School Council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised by the children. Two School Council members are elected from each year group from Year 2 upwards.

Children have an annual questionnaire with which they are able to put forward their views about the school.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced  through school assemblies and the application of our expectations for behaviour listed in our Behaviour Policy. Children are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Community Police Officer and Fire Service help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty

Within school, our children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we promote with the children that they should make their own choices and develop their independence in learning and in relationships.  Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHCE lessons. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge in a lesson, of how they record their learning or  participation in extra-curricular clubs and opportunities; pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community are expected  to treat each other with respect and we teach our children how to hold respectful discussions and the importance of listening to the views of others even when they do not match our own.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Littlebourne is situated in an area which is growing in its cultural diversity, and we promote this with the children. Assemblies are  planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE curriculum ensures children develop a knowledge of other world faiths alongside their study of Christianity.  Our children understand how important we all are within our school which is why koinonia is such an important school value for us.

The Prevent Strategy

Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.

From July 2015 all schools  have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism. 

This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from drugs or bullying.

Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.

Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.

These include:

• Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity

• Challenging prejudices and racist comments

• Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity

• Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as the British values described above.

We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access unsuitable material, and  by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.

We aim to give children the skills to protect themselves from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives