As part of our pastoral and behaviour policy, we have developed a values education project. This involves teaching the children 8 values through the school year through assemblies, stories and lessons, and having a reward system to praise children who adhere to these values.

The values are: Aspiration, Cooperation, Courage, Gentleness, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility and Tolerance. Our first value for this term, which launches today, is ‘Cooperation’. Some examples of behaviours that demonstrate this value are:

• Listening
• Sharing
• Taking turns
• Teamwork
• Awareness of others and their needs
• Empathy
• Assertiveness to speak out/ being willing to share opinions
• Patient, reconciliatory, solution-focused, compromising
• Negotiation
• Willingness to sacrifice own views/ thoughts for others
• Positivity – spotting good in others
• Using own skills/talents/abilities for others
• Helping and encouraging others  

Please could you discuss ‘Cooperation’ with children at home, and explore ways to reinforce it. Each week we will give special certificates to those children who demonstrate good values, and these will be displayed in the office reception area. Please feel free to come and look at them!