As part of our SMSC learning, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs is taught through our RE and PSHCE lessons. The children learn about other ways of life and celebrations from other religions and link it to their own lives and beliefs. We promote an appreciation of other cultures by celebrating different festivals through our RE lessons. The teaching of tolerance and mutual respect of others is vital due to the limited cultural diversity of our area. During assemblies we look at people all over the world from different cultures that have had an impact on our lives today.
Spiritual Moral Social and Cultural development (SMSC) includes the teaching of values and expectations, relationships and responses and the implicit teaching of morals and values that should be upheld. The development of SMSC has the potential to create a more positive learning environment as it can help children to be more secure about their own identities and have a greater understanding of their own beliefs and values. SMSC development is built upon reflection, on a personal, social and global scale. This is taught through RE and PSHCE lessons; assemblies focusing on important figures in history and learning about current events. Our school ethos and rules are visibly displayed in each classroom which shows the importance of moral development. Social development can be seen through our involvement with the community. As well as through our daily community walk and events where we have invited the community to take part, creating positive relationships. Cultural diversity is valued in our school and is celebrated by learning about other cultures and the importance of respecting others' beliefs. We promote an understanding and respect of the children's own culture and other cultures in their town and the rest of the country. This is important due to limited cultural diversity in our area. At Ewanrigg Junior School we support pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and, within this, the promotion of fundamental British values. It is important to nurture these to help children develop into understanding, empathetic individuals that show respect and tolerance to everyone.
We asked some children in Ewanrigg Junior School about what they learn in their RE lessons.
In RE we have learned about Hanukkah and Eid, we always make lots of fun things. It has told me lots of interesting stuff about Hanukkah and Eid and lots of fun things about RE. It is important to learn about RE because it gets your mind going, it gets everything switched on. RE is my best subject.
By Katie
We learn about other religions and people like Muslims and they celebrate Eid. I have learned that Muslims have a different God to us. I have enjoyed learning how different religions celebrate, we all enjoy RE.
By Evie
We learn about different religions and celebrations like Hanukkah, where they light a candle every day for 8 days. It has taught me about different religions and what they do like how people celebrate in their religions. I like the different religions and the fun work we get to do. It is important to learn this because we learn how to respect other people's religions.
By Cinar
We learn about different things such as other beliefs, religions such as Buddhism and many more. These subjects in RE are all around the world, we learn different things so we know what these religions are like. RE has taught me many religions and why these religions are important to other people with these beliefs. I've learned about Rosh Hashanah, they have honey with apple that symbolises a sweet year ahead and a piece of bread that symbolises the circle of life. It's important to learn about RE because if people come to us that have a different religion and we don't believe in their religion we might do something that they can't do. In RE I liked Rosh Hashanah because the teachers brought bread and apple and honey for us to try.
By Callum
RE is an interesting thing to learn. It's interesting because you see how people see the world and how they see others. The best thing about RE is it sticks with you because we make it fun. Joy is the key to learn because kids like us love fun and remember it which means we remember the facts and Gods. We learn about things like Eid, Rosh Hashanah and Christianity just to name some. Overall I like RE because it's fun.
By Joe
We learn about different religions, beliefs and festivals, we have learned about: Buddhism, Rosh Hashanah, Christmas, Eid, Diwali, Thanksgiving, Christianity and New Year. Eid is a Muslim celebration at the end of the fast (Ramadan) where they don't eat in the sunlight for a full month. Rosh Hashanah is a celebration of New Year the festival takes place in September. Jewish people believe that God is judging them at this time, the Challah bread symbolises the circle of life. Jewish people visit the synagogue. I like RE because we learn about different cultures. We need to know this for when we travel the world we will know others' beliefs. Travellers inspire me to listen when people talk about different countries because they love travelling and when I'm older I want to be a traveller and show people that anything is possible when you travel the world.
By Tilly
