British Values Policy
The fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs are implicitly embedded into the practice of Heavitree Community Preschool. As part of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act Heavitree Community Preschool also has due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism (the Prevent duty)
We actively promote inclusion, equality of opportunity, valuing diversity and British values.
Social and emotional development is shaped by early experiences and relationships and incorporates equality and British values. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) supports children’s earliest skills so that they can become social citizens in an age-appropriate way; so that they are able to listen and attend to instructions; know the difference between right and wrong; recognise similarities and differences between themselves and others; make and maintain friendships; develop empathy and consideration of other people; take turns in play and conversation; assess risk and take notice of rules and boundaries; learn not to hurt or upset other people with words and actions; understand the consequences of hurtful behaviour.
The fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs are already implicitly embedded in the EYFS and are further clarified below, based on the Fundamental British Values in the Early Years:
We actively promote inclusion, equality of opportunity, valuing diversity and British values.
Social and emotional development is shaped by early experiences and relationships and incorporates equality and British values. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) supports children’s earliest skills so that they can become social citizens in an age-appropriate way; so that they are able to listen and attend to instructions; know the difference between right and wrong; recognise similarities and differences between themselves and others; make and maintain friendships; develop empathy and consideration of other people; take turns in play and conversation; assess risk and take notice of rules and boundaries; learn not to hurt or upset other people with words and actions; understand the consequences of hurtful behaviour.
The fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs are already implicitly embedded in the EYFS and are further clarified below, based on the Fundamental British Values in the Early Years:
- Democracy, or making decisions together (through the prime area of Personal, Social and Emotional Development)
- As part of the focus on self-confidence and self-awareness, staff at Heavitree Community Preschool encourage children to see their role in the bigger picture, encouraging them to know that their views count, to value each other’s views and values, and talk about their feelings, for example, recognising when they do or do not need help.
- Staff support the decisions that children make and provide activities that involve turn-taking, sharing and collaboration. Children are given opportunities to develop enquiring minds in an atmosphere where questions are valued.
- Rule of law, or understanding that rules matter (through the prime area of Personal, Social and Emotional Development)
- staff ensure that children understand their own and others’ behaviour and its consequence.
- staff collaborate with children to create rules and the codes of behaviour, for example, the rules about tidying as we go and walking inside. We ensure that the children understand rules apply to everyone.
- Individual liberty, or freedom for all (through the prime areas of Personal, Social and Emotional Development, and Understanding the World)
- Children should develop a positive sense of themselves. Staff provide opportunities for children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and increase their confidence in their own abilities, for example through allowing children to take risks on the climbing frame, mixing colours, talking about their experiences and learning.
- Heavitree Community Preschool encourage a range of experiences that allow children to explore the language of feelings and responsibility, reflect on their differences and understand we are free to have different opinions, for example discussing how we are feeling today at carpet time and throughout the day.
- Mutual respect and tolerance, or treating others as you want to be treated (through the prime areas of Personal, Social and Emotional Development, and Understanding the World)
- Staff create an ethos of inclusivity and tolerance where views, faiths, cultures and races are valued, and children are engaged with the wider community.
- Children should have tolerance, appreciation and respect for their own and other cultures; know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, faiths, communities, cultures and traditions.
- staff encourage and explain the importance of tolerant behaviours, such as sharing and respecting other’s opinions.
- Heavitree Community Preschool promote diverse attitudes and challenge stereotypes, for example, sharing stories that reflect and value the diversity of children’s experiences and providing resources and activities that challenge gender, cultural or racial stereotyping.
- In our setting it is not acceptable to:
- actively promote intolerance of other faiths, cultures and races
- fail to challenge gender stereotypes and routinely segregate girls and boys
- isolate children from their wider community
- fail to challenge behaviours that are not in line with the fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs
