What is spirituality?
We recognise that it can be difficult to put into words what 'spirituality' actually is and this because it is a personal experience which often means different things to different people. When we talk about spirituality in this school, it is not about having a religion or faith; we recognise that someone can be spiritual without this. To us, the word 'spirituality' describes the awareness of the outside world and the feeling we experiencing knowing there is 'something bigger' than ourselves out there.
How do we develop spirituality at Grampound with Creed?
At Grampound with Creed, we strive to develop the spirituality of every pupils through the use of ‘Windows, Mirrors and Doors’ within our RE teaching and Collective Worships.
Windows: giving children opportunities to become aware of the world in new ways; to wonder about life’s ‘WOWs’ (things that are amazing) and ‘OWs’ (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.
As we talk to the children about spirituality, our aim is for them to describe it as "WOW" which stands for,
- Wonder and awe
- Care for nature and living things
- Wanting to love and to be loved by people
Wonder and Awe
We recognise that every pupil is born inquisitive and our principal aim is to ensure this is continually fostered. We therefore ensure that we provide pupils with opportunities to develop their natural curiosity for the world around them to support them in recognising the natural and man-made delights around them with awe and wonder. As a result of this, our aim is to encourage children to ask ‘big questions’ about life, religion, nature, science and any other area of fascination.
Caring for Nature and Living Things
We provide many opportunities for children to learn about nature and the role they play in protecting our world and God's creation. We offer clubs such as Cuddle and Care and Wild Tribe and have school pets which support pupils' understanding of how to care for living creatures. We also make regular use of the outdoor space and involve children in plans to respect and appreciate the wonders of outdoors. Our curriculum offer of science and topic ensures that all pupils from reception onwards learn about the world and how they can care for living things in both the local community and wider world.
Wanting to love and be loved
Our Christian distinctive ethos and our vision and values ensure that every member of our school community has a deep-rooted understanding of how to show love and compassion to others and how to appreciate love shown towards them with gratitude and thankfulness. By prioritising every pupil's spiritual development and the development of positive relationships through the whole school Trauma Informed Schools approach, pupils develop the confidence to express their personal beliefs and compare views with others, sharing feelings and opinions through discussions and stories. Every pupil also gains the confidence to develop their own system of beliefs which may or may not include religious beliefs. As our curriculum offers a breadth of opportunities to experience a range of stories, art, music and drama, they become reflective and enthusiastic of the opinions, feelings and beliefs of others.