Spirituality

“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.”

As a Church School, and a place where everyone can flourish, we aim to create an environment that will nurture people’s minds, body and soul. By ‘people’ we refer to all who are part of our Sutton family: children, staff, parents/carers, visitors, governors etc.

We believe that spirituality should influence all areas of education and life. Therefore, we ensure that throughout the curriculum there are rich deep-thinking opportunities which contribute to pupils’ spiritual development.

Spiritual development relates to fundamental questions about the meaning and purpose of life which affect everyone, and is not dependent on a religious affiliation.

As a church school we are guided by the Christian faith and Christian values which Christians hold dear. However, we truly welcome all and we openly encourage children to reflect in the way that suits them best, enabling them to participate in an ongoing process of spiritual realisation and to flourish in a way that will help them find peace, comfort and strength throughout life’s ever-changing journey.

Children’s spiritual development is nurtured through all aspects of our provision. We believe it is important to develop strong relationships using our school Vision and Values as well as the development of knowledge, concepts, skills and attitudes. We give children opportunities to:

Have regular time in the day for quiet and reflection. This might be listening to a story, lighting the candles in worship, listening to music, use of the reflection areas around school or the prayers said throughout the day.

• Have opportunities for creativity and using their imagination.
• Sing in lessons and as part of our daily collective worship.
• Constantly reaffirm the importance of relationships. How we talk to and relate with each other is fundamental.
• Express awe and wonder, appreciate beauty in all its forms, and appreciate the connections and unity in the world.
• Encourage each other to admit mistakes and to say sorry. Recognising and owning up to faults is an important process that allows us to heal and grow from our experiences.
• Encourage everyone to show kindness, caring and compassion, and to express these in practical ways. (eg: how we treat each other every day; charitable works; through prayer spaces).
• Explore the ‘Big Questions’ – particularly through our RE curriculum, topics, worship, theme weeks, news events and through nurture sessions.
• Read often, giving opportunities to discuss and reflect. This includes both secular and religious texts, in particular The Bible.
• Begin to develop their own system of beliefs, which may or may not include religious beliefs.
• Reflect on the situations of others through role play or stories.

Spiritually helps children to develop a love for the people and things around them and to accept themselves and enjoy good relationships with each other. They take an interest and delight in the world around them and are open to what lies beyond the material (this may manifest itself in faith/belief in God). They are able to express and understand feelings, as well as respect those of others. They have a strong moral sense and a love of what is good. They are able to enjoy quiet and stillness, they possess an active imagination, and show joy in creativity and discovering new skills.