Promoting Fundamental British Values in
Wheatley Nursery School
Department for Education (DfE) the statutory requirements for early years providers are clear.
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 our curriculum and school’s ethos.
Separately, the Counter Terrorism and Security Act also places a duty on early years providers “to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism” (the Prevent duty).
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance.
The following examples illustrate how Wheatley Nursery School follows the statutory guidance:
| Democracy:
making decisions together as part of the focus on self-confidence and self-awareness as cited in Personal, Social and Emotional Development:
WNS staff encourage children to see their role in the bigger picture, encouraging children to know their views count, value each other’s views and values and talk about their feelings, for example when they do or do not need help. children might share views on what the theme of their role play area could be with a show of hands. Staff 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: As part of the focus on managing feelings and behaviour:
WNS staff ensure that children understand their own and others’ behaviour and its consequences, and learn to distinguish right from wrong. Staff collaborate with children to create the rules and the codes of behaviour, for example, to agree the rules about tidying up and ensure that all children understand rules apply to everyone. |
| Individual liberty:
freedom for all As part of the focus on self-confidence & self-awareness and people & communities as cited in Personal Social and Emotional development and Understanding the World: Children should develop a positive sense of themselves. -WNS 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 an obstacle course, mixing colours, talking about their experiences and learning. -WNS staff 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 in a small group discuss what they feel about transferring into Reception Class. |
| Mutual respect and tolerance:
treat others as you want to be treated As part of the focus on people & communities, managing feelings & behaviour and making relationships as cited in Personal Social and Emotional development and Understanding the World: -Managers and leaders create an ethos of inclusivity and tolerance where views, faiths, cultures and races are valued and children are engaged with the wider community. Children acquire a tolerance and appreciation of 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 and share and discuss practices, celebrations and experiences. WNS staff encourage and explain the importance of tolerant behaviours such as sharing and respecting other’s opinions. Staff 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 and racial stereotyping. |
