At Westgate CP School, our vision is for every child to leave Westgate CP School as a confident, resilient and reflective individual, equipped with the knowledge, skills and values they need to flourish. We want our pupils to become successful learners, valued members of their local community and active, responsible global citizens.

For staff, this vision means that every interaction is an opportunity to make a difference. We believe that positive relationships are fundamental to effective learning and development. Knowing our pupils well, understanding their individual needs and responding consistently and positively enables us to create the conditions in which they can learn, develop confidence and achieve their potential.

We expect all adults in our school community to model the attitudes and behaviours we want to develop in our children. This includes being respectful, kind, professional and reflective; having high expectations of ourselves and others; working collaboratively; and taking responsibility for the impact we have on those around us. Strong relationships extend beyond those between adults and children: effective teamwork between staff and positive partnerships with families and professionals are essential to achieving the best outcomes for our pupils.

Our Learning Behaviours

We explicitly develop four learning behaviours which we want children to use both in school and throughout their lives:

·       Pride – taking responsibility for the quality of our work, our actions and our environment.

·       Courage – being willing to try, question, challenge ourselves and embrace new experiences.

·       Resilience – persevering when faced with difficulty, responding positively to setbacks and learning from            mistakes.

·       Teamwork – listening, cooperating, contributing and recognising the strengths of others.

As staff, we model these behaviours in our own practice and reinforce them consistently so that they become part of the culture of Westgate.

Our School Rules

Our three school rules provide a clear and consistent framework for behaviour:

All staff share responsibility for modelling, teaching and reinforcing these expectations. Consistency matters: children should experience the same high expectations and positive approach from every adult across the school.

Teaching, Learning and Opportunity

We have high expectations for every pupil and are committed to removing barriers that may prevent them from succeeding. We provide a broad, enriched and diverse curriculum which develops knowledge, curiosity and a love of learning, while exposing children to new experiences, different cultures, the natural environment and the wider world.

Reading is central to our curriculum, and we seek to develop confident, enthusiastic readers who recognise both the pleasure and lifelong value of reading.

We encourage children to think independently, make decisions, express their views and take appropriate risks in their learning. We help them to understand that mistakes are a natural and valuable part of the learning process and support them to reflect, adapt and try again.

Inclusion and Personal Development

Every child has individual strengths, needs, experiences and aspirations. We are committed to ensuring that all pupils have equitable access to learning and appropriate support to enable them to flourish. We will:

·       identify and respond promptly to barriers to learning and underachievement

·       provide effective and holistic support for vulnerable pupils, those with additional needs and those                      experiencing personal challenge or change

·       work collaboratively with families, specialist services and other professionals where additional support is          required

·       use assessment and our knowledge of individual pupils to inform teaching and ensure appropriate                    challenge and support

·       promote pupils' social, emotional, physical, spiritual and creative development alongside academic                    achievement

·       develop children's understanding of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and                tolerance

·       provide meaningful opportunities for pupils to contribute to school life, exercise their rights and                          understand their responsibilities

·       encourage pupils to become thoughtful, respectful and active members of their communities

Our Shared Responsibility

Our ethos is not something that sits separately from our daily work; it is reflected in how we teach, how we communicate, how we work together and how we respond to children.

Every member of staff has a role in shaping the culture of Westgate. By working consistently, reflecting on our practice and supporting one another, we create an environment in which children can develop the confidence, resilience and independence they need for their future.

Our shared aim is simple: to know our children well, expect the best of them, support them when they need us and equip them to succeed beyond Westgate.

Link to our British Values and SMSC Page is here: