Spirituality
What is Spirituality to us?
Pause and take time in the moment; have time to Live in the moment; Reflect on the moment and what it means to you and how it fits into the bigger picture of life and the World.
As a Church School Spiritual Development at Hucknall National C of E Primary goes further than this as it enriches and encourages the child’s journey towards a discovery and deeper understanding of their ‘inmost being’, God our creator and the wonder of the environment around them. It goes beyond what a child can do and know and relates to the sort of person they are and are becoming.
Our view of this development is based on the findings in ‘The Way Ahead Report’, by the Church of England (2012):
“The Church school offers a spiritual and moral basis for the development of human wholeness and a sure foundation for personal and social values based on the person and ministry of Christ. A distinctive language is provided for understanding life and interpreting human experience. As a community of faith, the Church school should, in its best expression, reflect the nature of the Trinity, a life shared and defined by reference to others. Here we can begin to discover who we are, why we are, and - perhaps most importantly - what we might be.”
Our Spiritual Development Curriculum
At Hucknall National we teach children the following ‘Spiritual Capacities’ using Bible references as a framework for interpreting these capacities from a Christian perspective. We have linked these capacities to our core Christian Values to ensure Spirituality threads through all our learning and is meaningful for children in real terms.
Whilst we understand ‘Spiritual Experiences’ can often take place ‘in the moment’, we believe that by planning for such encounters we are able to provide our children with progressive experiences which help them to deepen their Spirituality, by having the opportunity to:
- ‘Understand’ what it means to them personally – especially by reflecting on what Jesus would have done in the same situation
- ‘Respond’ to the experience so that they can begin to impact and shape their lives
In order to achieve this deeper level of Spirituality we have created a ‘Spiritual Development Planning Document’ so we can ensure each of the Capacities is taught appropriately at different age groups and also to make certain the children have had enough opportunity to reflect and respond so they actually learn from the experience long-term.
Spiritual Capacity | Bible Verse | What our children will learn |
be guided by their beliefs and values and be willing to take a stand to defend them
Be Strong | Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6.14 & 15 Think of all the hostility Jesus endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. Hebrews 12. 3 | Our children will learn that whilst full of love and compassion for the marginalised, Jesus was also uncompromising and courageous when he needed to be. Through a focus on Christian values such as courage, respect, perseverance and justice pupils will be given opportunities to reflect on their own developing beliefs and opinions. They will be able to hone their skills of advocacy, taking inspiration from other individuals past and present who, by standing up for their principles, have transformed society. |
be self-aware and empathise with the experience of others in the school and wider community
Be Self-Aware | So God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them. Genesis 1. 27 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13. 14 &15
| Our children will experience the Bible’s teaching that every person is made in the image of God and is loved unconditionally by him. Through a focus on Christian values such as compassion, friendship, dignity, service, justice and community they will be offered opportunities to imagine what it means to walk in the shoes of another, recognising their intrinsic value and acting toward them with the respect that stems from a deep awareness of their dignity as fellow human beings. |
love themselves, care for themselves, believe in their potential to achieve, and find inner strength and resilience when facing challenges
Be Courageous | ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ Joshua 1. 9 ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11. 28 | Our children will observe/experience a range of different ways of praying and in so doing will understand that Christians can ask God for strength and courage in the face of any challenge that they might be experiencing. Through a focus on Christian values such as trust, perseverance, hope and peace they will develop a habit of reflecting on what they can learn through times of struggle as well as success. |
exercise imagination and creativity, appreciate beauty in the world and be alive to experiences of awe and wonder
Be Amazed | When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is humankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? Psalm 8. 3&4 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139. 14 | Our children will learn about the Christian belief in a creator God and that, made in his likeness, each of us is believed to share that creative potential. Through a focus on Christian values such as generosity, joy, thankfulness, courage and hope children’s innate capacity for wonder, imagination and creative exploration of the natural world will be stimulated and developed. |
be intrigued by mystery and be open to an awareness of the transcendent in the whole of life
Be intrigued | Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. Ecclesiastes 11. 5 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55. 8 Jesus took Peter, John and James up on a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Luke 9. 28, 29 | Our children, who begin school with a natural wisdom and wonder about creation, will be offered opportunities to understand the belief that God is at work in all that he has made. They will learn that love cannot be understood in purely rational terms and therefore will recognise the significance of mystery for many when thinking and speaking of God. Through a focus on Christian values such as joy, respect and dignity they will build a ‘language’ for appreciating the transcendent in the whole of life. |
be comfortable with stillness and silence and open to engage in reflection/meditation/prayer
Be Still | Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46. 10 Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things. 2 Timothy 2. 7
| Our children will be given opportunities to spend time in mindful reflection, meditation and prayer. They will become familiar with stilling strategies to help them cultivate an inner calm and to prepare for prayer. Through focusing on Christian values such as wisdom, hope, joy and peace, they will be invited to reflect on things in their experience that they find puzzling or intriguing as well as some of the big questions of life. |
be ready to say sorry when mistakes are made, to forgive themselves and to forgive others
Be Forgiving | The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. Psalm 145. 8 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3. 13
| Our children will learn that Christians believe that nothing is beyond the scope of God’s forgiveness. They will be helped to appreciate that Christians believe that Jesus made forgiveness possible for all people through his sacrificial death and resurrection. Through a focus on Christian values such as hope, compassion, forgiveness and trust, children will begin to understand what is involved in offering forgiveness to others and also being able to accept forgiveness from others. |
be willing to take risks and to reflect, learn and grow following experiences of failure as well as success
Be Reflective | David replied, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." 1 Samuel 17. 37 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Luke 19. 8 | Our children will reflect on the person of Jesus who took huge risks to ensure he completed his mission which at first appeared to be a complete failure yet ultimately was transformed into victory. Through a focus on Christian values such as courage, justice, hope, trust and truthfulness, they will consider what might be sufficient reasons for taking risks in the light of what they have learned from past experiences. |
demonstrate curiosity and open mindedness when exploring life’s big questions
Be Wise | One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them: “Who do the people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that a prophet of old has arisen.” “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” Luke 9. 18-20 | Our children will learn from Jesus’ readiness to use questions to make people think, to challenge assumptions and enable them to come to their own conclusions. A focus on the Christian values of truth and wisdom will help children look below the surface and the superficial in order to reveal new possibilities and avoid jumping to conclusions. |
appreciate and be thankful for what is good in life like friends and family, and show generosity towards other
Be Thankful | Be thankful in all circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5. 18 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9. 7
| Our children will have opportunities to reflect on all that is good in life and appreciate the Christian belief that this as God’s ‘gift’ rather than their entitlement. Through a focus on Christian values such as thankfulness, generosity, justice, community and service they will better learn to appreciate what they have. They will grow in their understanding that for many millions of people in the world life is a struggle, and will engage with issues of justice, poverty and the environment. |
Spirituality in EYFS
Spirituality in Year 1
In year 1, we have been reflecting on the different capacities we have been exploring through different activities. This ranges from Yoga sessions, to collecting food donations and even our Nativity performances. Have a look at our floor book pages below to see which capacities we have explored so far and our reflections on them.
Spirituality in Year 2
Spirituality in Year 3
Wellies and raincoats for a rainy day
Normally when it is raining we stay inside but on this day, Year 3 came into school in wellies and raincoats to appreciate mother nature in all it's glory. The children loved being out in the rain. They were walking through and splashing in the puddles and enjoyed catching the rain in their mouth.
The trees outside our classroom
We are very lucky in year 3 to have a fantastic view of the beautiful trees at the front of the school. The children have watched as leaves have turned from green to yellow to brown and red. The children have enjoyed making predictions as to when the last leaf will fall and when the leaves will again start to grow.
