Personal Development - The WD Way
William Davis School has an agreed School Vision; it is our goal for all children to achieve this by the time they leave Year 6.
Our Vision:
We want our children:
Personal Development:
In order to realise our School Vision we have planned Personal Development learning opportunities which children will revisit during their education. These opportunities will be integral to our Curriculum offer.
Our Vision:
We want our children:
- to be strong and effective communicators
- to be active participators
- to be critical thinkers
- to be able to participate in sustained shared thinking
- to enjoy challenge and to challenge each other
- to be physically healthy and to have healthy habits
- to know how to keep themselves safe
- to be respectful and responsible
Personal Development:
In order to realise our School Vision we have planned Personal Development learning opportunities which children will revisit during their education. These opportunities will be integral to our Curriculum offer.
Achieving our Vision Through Teaching WD Values
We explicitly teach the WD Values in an age appropriate manner from EYFS to Yr 6.
We believe that our WD Values lay the foundation of our social and learning skills. They support children to work towards our school Vision.
We explicitly teach the WD Values in an age appropriate manner from EYFS to Yr 6.
We believe that our WD Values lay the foundation of our social and learning skills. They support children to work towards our school Vision.
Whole School Approaches
Restorative Approach
We teach children to use restorative approaches as a first response to resolving problems with other children.
The restorative approach focuses on healing relationships by:
Behaviour Charter and Relationships Charter
To teach children to be respectful and responsible classes agree a Behaviour and Relationships Charter at the start of every school year.
Zones of Regulation
In order to support children to self regulate their emotions, we teach children across the school to use the Zones of Regulation. The Zones of Regulation organises our feelings, states of alertness, and energy levels into four coloured Zones – Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red. The simple language and visual structure of The Zones of Regulation helps make the skill of regulation more concrete for all learners.
Class Time / Circle time
All classes participate in weekly Class Time. The theme is often based on the weekly assembly and linked Big Questions; children are expected to use critical and sustained shared thinking skills. Alternatively Circle Time could be used to explore restorative approaches if class relationships have broken down.
Character Weeks
Each half term children take part in a character week, with a focus on one aspect of personal development; relationships, mental and physical wellbeing, online safety, inclusion and diversity and keeping safe.
We teach children to use restorative approaches as a first response to resolving problems with other children.
The restorative approach focuses on healing relationships by:
- reflecting on what has happened
- repairing harm caused by an incident
- reconnecting relationships
Behaviour Charter and Relationships Charter
To teach children to be respectful and responsible classes agree a Behaviour and Relationships Charter at the start of every school year.
Zones of Regulation
In order to support children to self regulate their emotions, we teach children across the school to use the Zones of Regulation. The Zones of Regulation organises our feelings, states of alertness, and energy levels into four coloured Zones – Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red. The simple language and visual structure of The Zones of Regulation helps make the skill of regulation more concrete for all learners.
Class Time / Circle time
All classes participate in weekly Class Time. The theme is often based on the weekly assembly and linked Big Questions; children are expected to use critical and sustained shared thinking skills. Alternatively Circle Time could be used to explore restorative approaches if class relationships have broken down.
Character Weeks
Each half term children take part in a character week, with a focus on one aspect of personal development; relationships, mental and physical wellbeing, online safety, inclusion and diversity and keeping safe.
Personal Development Opportunities
Personal Development Records (PDRs)
To support children to overcome barriers to achieving our School Vision each child in Years 4-6 works with a chosen adult to complete and review their Personal Development Record. The PDR is a structured dialogue which encourages children to identify their personal strengths and personal areas to develop. Children reflect on their learning habits; how they stay healthy; their skills in maintaining respectful and positive friendships; and how they take responsibility in the community and for our environment.
Ambassadors and Responsibility Roles:
To support children to take responsibility in our community, we encourage children to volunteer for Ambassador and responsibility roles. Reading Champions help younger children with reading; Lunchtime Ambassadors encourage children to eat a healthy diet in the lunch hall; Pupil Leaders represent the school at external events and help others to solve friendship problems using restorative skills and Community Ambassadors engage in collaborative activities with the elderly at a local day centre. Each class votes annually for two School Council representatives. The School Council meets each half term and plans fundraising events as well as organising ‘action weeks’ linked to the E1 Pupil Parliament.
Clubs and Enrichment Activities
Staff encourage all children to commit to attending clubs and engaging with enrichment activities. We offer a range of sports, music and art clubs before and after school, in addition to lunchtime.
Sporting Opportunities
We have arrangements with several local schools for children in KS2 to participate in competitive sports matches.
Business Partners and Volunteers
Staff welcome collaboration with local business partners (EBP) and reading volunteers who visit the school weekly for reading, maths and chess sessions. Children are expected make a commitment to attend every week.
E1 Partnership
Children are encouraged to engage in activities with children from local E1 schools: sports events, Pupil Parliament and Scholars.
To support children to overcome barriers to achieving our School Vision each child in Years 4-6 works with a chosen adult to complete and review their Personal Development Record. The PDR is a structured dialogue which encourages children to identify their personal strengths and personal areas to develop. Children reflect on their learning habits; how they stay healthy; their skills in maintaining respectful and positive friendships; and how they take responsibility in the community and for our environment.
Ambassadors and Responsibility Roles:
To support children to take responsibility in our community, we encourage children to volunteer for Ambassador and responsibility roles. Reading Champions help younger children with reading; Lunchtime Ambassadors encourage children to eat a healthy diet in the lunch hall; Pupil Leaders represent the school at external events and help others to solve friendship problems using restorative skills and Community Ambassadors engage in collaborative activities with the elderly at a local day centre. Each class votes annually for two School Council representatives. The School Council meets each half term and plans fundraising events as well as organising ‘action weeks’ linked to the E1 Pupil Parliament.
Clubs and Enrichment Activities
Staff encourage all children to commit to attending clubs and engaging with enrichment activities. We offer a range of sports, music and art clubs before and after school, in addition to lunchtime.
Sporting Opportunities
We have arrangements with several local schools for children in KS2 to participate in competitive sports matches.
Business Partners and Volunteers
Staff welcome collaboration with local business partners (EBP) and reading volunteers who visit the school weekly for reading, maths and chess sessions. Children are expected make a commitment to attend every week.
E1 Partnership
Children are encouraged to engage in activities with children from local E1 schools: sports events, Pupil Parliament and Scholars.