Spirituality at Eye CE Primary School Show What Is Spirituality? It is very difficult to put into words what ‘spirituality’ actually is because it is a very personal experience. It differs from person to person, and often spirituality changes within people during their lifetime. Spirituality is not the same as having a religion or faith; a person can be spiritual without having a particular faith. Some definitions include: “Ones inner being. Our inner self where we can find resources within that come from a greater source I.E. God. Our soul.” “It is first of all the certainty to turn one’s life into a more beautiful, harmonious and happy one.” “Spirituality may refer to almost any kind of activity through which a person seeks meaning, especially a "search for the sacred." It may also refer to personal growth, blissful experience, or an encounter with one's own ‘inner dimension’." As a school, we have defined spirituality as: “Spirituality is not something we can see; it is something we feel inside ourselves. It is about awe and wonder, asking questions, inspiration and being aware of something ‘bigger’ outside of ourselves.” The language we use to define spirituality is not child-friendly, so when talking to children about it we will refer to:
How is Spirituality Nurtured? Children’s spiritual development is fostered through all aspects of our provision. It is about the relationships and the values that we consider to be important, as well as the development of knowledge, concepts, skills and attitudes. We give children opportunities to:
Teaching Opportunities and Strategies Liz Mills from The Stapleford Centre, a Christian charity fostering Christian engagement in education, has identified 3 ways that schools can provide opportunities for spiritual development: WINDOWS: giving children opportunities to become aware of the world in new ways; to wonder about life's 'Wow!s' (things that are amazing) and 'Oh!s' (things that bring us up short). In this children are learning about life in all its fullness. MIRRORS: giving children opportunities to reflect on their experiences; to meditate on life's big questions and to consider some possible answers. In this they are learning from life by exploring their own insights and perspectives and those of others. DOORS: giving children opportunities to respond to all of this; to do something creative as a means of expressing, applying and further developing their thoughts and convictions. In this they are learning to live by putting into action what they are coming to believe and value We provide WINDOWS throughout our curriculum. We will be having specific lessons with an awe and wonder focus with a variety of stimuli, including photos, videos, music current events and real-life stories. As a school we place high value on thinking skills. We use De Bono’s Thinking Hats, Tony Ryan’s Thinkers Keys and Philosophy 4 Children. These offer a variety of MIRRORS for the children to reflect on the world in different, deeper ways. It allows them to ask and discuss bigger questions and consider their own ideas and beliefs. Through high-quality RE lessons, children are consistently challenged to reflect on their learning about religion to help them learn from religion, regardless of whether they have a specific faith. Children at our school often identify DOORS for themselves. They may hear of a local issue or an international event and request to take action, through fund raising and raising awareness. We also work with the local community through litter picking, making posters for display in the village, local fundraising and other activities. We also take part in Comic Relief, Children in Need, and Operation: Christmas Child, as well as identifying other charities to support during the year. We will be having a focus on spirituality within our lessons to further enhance the spiritual development of our children. We also use this format of Windows, Mirrors and Doors within our Collective Worship. What is the Role of the School Community? All members of the school community have a responsibility for helping to nurture children’s spiritual development. School staff can do this through:
What is your spiritual development?Spiritual Development Core Definition
Spiritual development, in essence, is to believe in something beyond the material universe and to develop an awareness of realities beyond the confines of time and space.
What is spiritual development in physical education?SPIRITUAL – Pupils develop their knowledge and understanding of the body's performance when exercising; this leaves pupils amazed at the body's ability. This is also linked to the Christian value 'Endurance', as pupils have to show endurance when exploring the body's capabilities.
What is spiritual ks1?It is about awe and wonder, asking questions, inspiration and being aware of something 'bigger' outside of ourselves.” The language we use to define spirituality is not child-friendly, so when talking to children about it we will refer to: A sense of awe and wonder. Care for nature and living things.
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