Skip to content

Working & Learning Together
to Achieve our Best

  • Watermark logo decoration

    SMSC Statement

    Introduction

    SMSC is a broad concept, representing the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education of pupils across all aspects of school life.  It is the over-arching umbrella that encompasses personal development across the whole curriculum.

    At Mapledown, SMSC is at the heart of school life, embedded through the curriculum, extra-curricular learning, assemblies and our interactions with each other during the school day.  SMSC plays a significant part in pupils’ happiness, learning and achievement.  At Mapledown, we pride ourselves in providing a school environment that celebrates our entire community and recognises our differences in a positive way.

    Spiritual Development

    SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT AT MAPLEDOWN SCHOOL
    • giving pupils the opportunity to explore values and beliefs, including religious beliefs, and how they impact on peoples’ lives;

    • giving pupils the opportunity to understand human feelings and emotions, how they impact on people and how an understanding of them can be helpful;

    • developing an ethos within which everyone can grow and flourish, respect others and be respected;

    • accommodating difference and respecting the integrity of individuals;

    • encouraging a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them;

    • use of imagination and creativity in their learning.

    Moral Development

    MORAL DEVELOPMENT AT MAPLEDOWN SCHOOL
    • enabling pupils to recognise the difference between right and wrong, using this as a basis for positive behaviour which is promoted consistently through all aspects of the school;

    • helping pupils to understand the consequences of their behaviour and actions;

    • developing an open and safe learning environment in which children can express their views and practise moral decision-making;

    • promoting positive behaviour, values and expectations;

    • modelling, through the quality of relationships and interactions, fairness, integrity, respect for others and resolution of conflict.

    Social Development

    SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AT MAPLEDOWN SCHOOL
    • engaging with the 'British values' of democracy, the rule of law, liberty, respect and tolerance

    • using of a range of social skills in different contexts, for example co-operating, working and socialising with other pupils

    • fostering a sense of community, with common, inclusive values;

    • providing positive collective experiences – for example, through assemblies, team activities, school trips, whole school events and competitions;

    • helping pupils to develop personal qualities which are valued in society, for example, thoughtfulness, honesty, respect for difference, moral principles, independence, inter-dependence and self-respect;

    • providing opportunities for engaging in the democratic process and participating in community life e.g. school council;

    • helping others through volunteering and raising money for charity;

    • providing positive and effective links with the world of work and the wider community.

    cultural Development

    CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AT MAPLEDOWN SCHOOL
    • appreciating and exploring the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped our own heritage and that of others

    • valuing the things we share in common across cultural, religious, ethnic communities;

    • promoting racial, religious and other forms of equality;

    • recognising and celebrating the different cultures represented in the school and wider community;

    • willingness to participate in and respond positively to artistic, musical, sporting and cultural opportunities.

    Examples of SMSC at Mapledown School

    Spiritual Social
    • Our wider community:

    • Singing carols at our local Tesco’s

    • Taking part in events with our local mainstream schools, including performing (Copthall and Whitefield secondary schools)

    • Visit to local community facilities

    • Collective assemblies and curriculum topics (Remembrance, Harvest, etc)

    • Daily acts of collective worship in class

    • Appreciation of our natural world

    • Making bird feeders and watching birds

    • Gardening projects throughout the school

    • Appreciation of the changing seasons

    • Learning about key environmental issues (pollution, global warming)

    • Caring for the individual

    • Treating everyone with respect

    • Facilitating choices and independence

    • Celebration of birthday within class and during assemblies

    • School trips

    • Gallery and museum visits

    • Trips to Woburn safari park, Aldenham country park, and Paradise Wildlife

    • Extra curricular activities

    • Discos

    • Lunchtime clubs

    • Engaging with the community

    • Weekly visits to leisure centres and swimming pools

    • Using community facilities (shops and cafes)

    • Links with Related Argent community (facilities and events)

    • Working together

    • Learning to work in groups across zones and beyond

    • Playing and having fun

    • School council

    • Developing independence

    • Parents within the school

    Moral Cultural
    • Fundraising

    • FOM (Friends of Mapledown) subsidise enterprise events led by pupils for the summer fair

    • Fundraising for charity

    • Respecting each other

    • Morning greetings and circle time

    • Celebrating multi modal communication/AAC strategies used across the school

    • Class rules

    • Individualised positive behaviour plans

    • Co-operative play/recreational lea

    • Personalised strategies

    • Helping in class

    • Visits from local professionals

    • PSHE and RE curriculum lessons

    • Celebrating national and international events

    • World cups

    • Olympics

    • Celebrations such as Christmas, Chinese new year, etc.

    • School cultural events

    • World book day/week

    • Sports day

    • School displays

    • Visiting musician and theatre groups

    • School and classes cultural celebrations

    • Literacy - multi cultural stories and books

    • Humanities curriculum

    • Celebrations of all similarities and differences

    • Study of different cultures within our school and within the UK