At Hasland Infant and Nursery school, personal development is central to our provision and underpins everything we do.  We are committed to supporting children to grow into confident, resilient and kind individuals who are well prepared for life in modern Britain and for their future beyond school.

Our school values are reflected in our SMILE Expectations and are woven into everyday school life, guiding everything we do.  They help children develop positive attitudes, make thoughtful choices and understand how they can contribute positively to our school community and wider society.  Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions, show kindness, respect and consideration to others, keep trying when things feel challenging, and work together while celebrating and learning from each other’s strengths. 

We place a strong emphasis on our safeguarding curriculum, which is delivered primarily through our PSHE and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) programmes, as well as through the wider life of the school. Online safety is taught explicitly through this curriculum and within computing lessons, ensuring that children develop the knowledge and understanding needed to recognise risks, behave safely and responsibly online, and know what to do if they feel worried or unsure.

In addition to the timetabled curriculum, safeguarding messages are reinforced through assemblies, themed days and weeks, and daily interactions. This helps children develop the knowledge, confidence and resilience needed to make safe choices, become increasingly independent, and understand how to keep themselves safe.

We place a strong emphasis on promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for all children. Through a supportive and nurturing whole-school approach, we help children to understand and manage their emotions, build positive relationships and develop resilience. In line with our SMILE expectations, children are encouraged to be kind, respectful and supportive of one another, while developing the confidence to ask for help when they need it. Children know that there are trusted adults in school who will listen and support them. Wellbeing is promoted through our curriculum, assemblies and daily interactions, with additional support provided when needed.

We actively promote British Values, helping children to develop a clear and age-appropriate understanding of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance. Through lessons, assemblies and pupil voice opportunities, children are encouraged to share their views, listen respectfully to others, and develop an understanding of their rights and responsibilities as members of the school community and wider society.

Our curriculum and wider school experiences strongly support children's Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development. Children are given opportunities to reflect, develop a strong sense of right and wrong, build positive relationships, and learn about and appreciate diversity. Through age-appropriate teaching about the Protected Characteristics, children develop an understanding of equality, learn to respect differences and recognise the importance of treating everyone fairly. This helps to create a school community where everyone feels safe, valued and included, reflecting our SMILE expectation that 'Everyone Matters'.

As a consequence of the high priority we place on personal development, the school has received the Silver BERT award, recognising excellence in building effective relationships.

Through our strong commitment to personal development, every child is supported to become a confident, kind, respectful and responsible member of the community. We ensure that children leave Hasland Infant and Nursery School well prepared for the next stage of their education and equipped with the skills, values and attitudes they need to thrive in life beyond school.