Our definition of Spirituality at Leafield is:

Something that touches us all. It is a great connection to something that is bigger than ourselves. It is about awe and wonder, asking the ultimate questions and being inspired to look beyond ourselves whilst we respect and care for others and nature.

Spiritual Development

Leafield Primary School is a Church School that is committed to encouraging the exploration of the Christian faith and values, while being open to other faiths, beliefs and values. Pupils’ spiritual development is shown by their:

• Beliefs, religious or otherwise, which inform their perspective on life and their interest in and respect for different people’s feelings and values.

• Sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them, including the intangible.

• Use of imagination and creativity in their learning.

• Willingness to reflect on their experiences.

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
• Wanting to love and to be loved by people 

Awe and Wonder

Children are born inquisitive, and it is our duty to nurture this natural curiosity and guide them towards looking at the world and noticing, with awe and wonder, the natural and man-made delights all around us. We want to encourage them 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. As a church school, this is especially important. 

Love

We are a very caring school and pride ourselves on our ethos of family. Through our Christian Values, we teach children to care for friends, family and the community. Indeed, our curriculum includes learning about those we love and who love us. 

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:

• Express personal beliefs and compare views with others, sharing feelings and opinions through discussions and stories.
• Begin to develop their own system of beliefs which may or may not include religious beliefs.
• Experience a love of learning through rewarding their enthusiasm and by encouraging exploratory play and learning.
• Reflect upon the world around them and show a sense of awe and wonder towards aspects of the natural world or human achievement.
• Reflect on the situations of others through role play, stories.
• Experience a range of stories, music, art, drama and dance.