Fundamental British Values

Fundamental British Values in the Early Years

The fundamental British values are:

  •          Democracy
  •          Rule of law
  •          Individual liberty
  •          Mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths.

Democracy – Making decisions together

In Shanklea’s Early Years Foundation Stage we support children's personal, social and emotional development (PSED) by giving them opportunities to develop their self-confidence and self-awareness, to make choices and decisions about what they want to explore and how they're going to use the resources we provide them.

We ensure children take turns, share, collaborate and make decisions together. Skills that are essential if they are to get on in the adult world.

Managers and staff encourage children to see their role in the bigger picture, encouraging children to know their views count, value each other’s views and values and talk about their feelings, for example when they do or do not need help. When appropriate demonstrate democracy in action, for example, children sharing views on what the theme of their role play area could be with a show of hands.

Children are given opportunities to develop enquiring minds in an atmosphere where questions are valued.

Rule of law – Understand that rules matter

As part of the focus on managing feelings and behaviour:

Staff ensure that children understand their own and others’ behaviour and its consequences, and learn to distinguish right from wrong.

Staff collaborate with children to create the rules and the codes of behaviour, for example, to agree the rules about tidying up and ensure that all children understand rules apply to everyone.

Individual liberty – Freedom for all

As part of the focus on self-confidence & self-awareness and people & communities as cited in Personal, Social and Emotional development and Understanding the World:

Children develop a positive sense of themselves. Staff provide opportunities for children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and increase their confidence in their own abilities, for example through allowing children to take risks on adventure play, mixing colours, talking about their experiences and learning.

Staff encourage a range of experiences that allow children to explore the language of feelings and responsibility, reflect on their differences and understand we are free to have different opinions, for example in a small group discuss what they feel about transferring Year groups.

Mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths

As part of the focus on people & communities, managing feelings & behaviour and making relationships as cited in Personal Social and Emotional development and Understanding the World:

Managers and staff create an ethos of inclusivity and tolerance where views, faiths, cultures and races are valued and children are engaged with the wider community.

Children acquire a tolerance and appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures; know about similarities and differences between themselves and others and among families, faiths, communities, cultures and traditions and share and discuss practices, celebrations and experiences.

Staff encourage and explain the importance of tolerant behaviours such as sharing and respecting other’s opinions.  They promote diverse attitudes and challenge stereotypes, for example, sharing stories that reflect and value the diversity of children’s experiences and provide resources and activities that challenge gender, cultural and racial stereotyping.