Vision & Values

Ethos

At Witton Gilbert Primary School, we are committed to providing a caring, inclusive and safe environment for all our children so they can learn and thrive. We are proud of the positive, purposeful atmosphere in school, which is often commented on by visitors in school. We are committed to high quality teaching and learning, as well as providing a wide range of rich opportunities to support children’s personal, social and academic development.

Our school culture is built on mutual respect and an understanding of the needs of others. Our focus on respectful relationships permeates all areas of school and can be seen in the interactions between children and adults. Adults in school will always take the time to listen to the ideas and opinions of children and there are many ways that children contribute to the life of the school; through for example, School Council, Eco Group or SNAG group.

We have a have a strong ‘play’ ethos during lunch and break times, as we recognise that the skills children learn through quality play are not just invaluable but also crucial to their whole development. Children collaborate, negotiate, solve problems and show resilience – all of which are transferable into a classroom situation and are important life skills. During play, children increase their social competence and emotional maturity. As such, we place high value on the opportunities children have to engage with play and the outdoors.

Values

Childhood and Play

We value childhood and the importance of play. The following definition of childhood from Unicef.org encompasses our beliefs about the importance of nurturing each child in a safe and secure environment. Childhood is the time for children to be in school and at play, to grow strong and confident with the love and encouragement of their family and an extended community of caring adults. It is a precious time in which children should live free from fear, safe from violence and protected from abuse and exploitation. As such, childhood means much more than just the space between birth and the attainment of adulthood. It refers to the state and condition of a child’s life, to the quality of those years.’ Our approach to play is embedded through OPAL and is well established, to ensure children have daily opportunities to engage with nature and quality play.

Respect for each other and our environment

Respectful relationships are promoted in all areas of school life and with all members of our school community. Good manners and polite, respectful behaviour is celebrated. We value kindness and friendship which is demonstrated by both children and adults. We seek to develop respect for our environment through our bespoke curriculum and planned activities. Children are encouraged to value and care for the world around them.

Equality and Diversity

At Witton Gilbert, we ensure that everyone is treated fairly and respectfully, whilst recognising that people have different needs; understanding that treating people equally does not always involve treating them the same. For example, we may make adjustments for individuals to ensure equal access to opportunities and experiences. We challenge prejudice and promote understanding in relation to people with disabilities and those of differing races, beliefs or religions, sexual orientation or gender. We seek to promote respect and tolerance for difference and value diversity.

Perseverance and Resilience

We adopt a ‘growth mindset’ approach to school life, supporting children to understand that it’s important to work hard, persevere and demonstrate resilience to overcome problems. This can be classroom based, where children may go into the ‘Learning Pit’ and develop strategies to solve the problem. It can also be seen during outdoor play, where children assess risk, trial ideas and work together to create play environments and games. Children need to understand the importance of failure and the ability to learn from this, which can help to develop their resilience in a wide range of situations. This in turn, encourages children to develop creativity and curiosity.

Collaboration and Co-operation

There are many opportunities throughout the school day to co-operate and collaborate, in both formal and informal situations. Talk partners and group work are regular features of lessons, with children sharing ideas, listening to the views of others and working together towards a common goal.
We emphasise the importance of team work in the classroom, on the sports field and in play.
Our community links help us to further collaborate and increase skills, knowledge and opportunities.

Our Aims

At Witton Gilbert Primary School, we aim to enable children to grow in confidence, curiosity and independence, with a positive mindset that enables them to try new things and reach for their goals.

We aim:

To provide the highest possible standard of education through a focus on developing basic skills and an inspiring broad and balanced curriculum appropriate to each individual.
To encourage an understanding of and a respect for the rights of others.
To develop an understanding of the world in which we live and respect for individuals, groups, cultures and nations.
To promote and encourage healthy lifestyles, both physically and mentally, enabling individuals to make informed choices.
To promote sustainability and demonstrate understanding and care for the environment.
To develop co-operation, independence and resilience in order to provide children with the skills they need to live and work together, solve problems and be successful.
To encourage pupils to become actively involved in their learning; taking initiatives, thinking creatively, solving problems and making decisions.
To develop strong partnerships between home and school
To provide quality opportunities for play so that children can learn