As part of the review of the school vision, and the introduction of the strapline ‘Through our roots we flourish’, Children, Staff and Governors were asked to consider what the term flourishing means, what it looks like at our school, and what it means to us individually and collectively. These thoughts have then been shared in the shape of leaves, helping the tree on our central vision display in school to flourish.

In introducing the strapline, ‘Through our roots we flourish’, each child in the school worked on their own or collective piece of artwork to give their representation of what the strapline means. These representations are displayed in our school.

What does a flourishing child look like at our school?

• Feels happy and safe, and wants to come to school each day to take part in the range of learning opportunities available, both inside and outside of the classroom

• Holds the confidence and the courage to be themselves, and to share their thoughts and opinions

• Recognises their abilities, talents and strengths, enabling them to reach and achieve their personal goals in order to make good progress

• Feels supported by all around them, staff, peers and parents/carers, in order to reach their potential, and knowing how to ask for support when they need it

• Celebrates their achievements and those of others equally

• Recognising areas to build and develop further, in the pursuit of further achievement

• Enjoys learning, playing and taking part in a range of opportunities

• To take responsibility for their learning, and the choices they make

• Builds resilience to deal with a range of challenges, especially when tasks and activities become difficult, with a preparedness to have a go and fail

• Has the ability to regulate themselves and their behaviour choices, and has an understanding of boundaries and the school rules

• Can make and develop friendships, and treat others how they would like to be treated, showing empathy in understanding the views and feelings of others

• Being able to articulate themselves with confidence and self-belief

• Holds the confidence to seek support from an adult if they are worried or have a concern

• Displays good physical health, and mental health and wellbeing, with an understanding of where to ask for help if they need it

• Recognises the awe and wonder of the world around them and appreciates the unique setting of our school

• Understands the need to be respectful to all members of the community

In order for our children to flourish, they need to be supported by adults who are also given an environment to flourish.

What does a flourishing adult look like at our school?

• Feels part of a team, and whose contributions are valued, abilities are recognised and voice is heard

• Values the character, abilities and viewpoints of others, and recognises the differences in us all

• Feels supported in their role, and given the opportunity to develop further, exploring areas of interest

• That there is an understanding of life outside of work, with support to achieve a work life balance

• Fulfilment within their role, and acknowledgment of what they have achieved

• Recognition of the work they do, and the positive influence they have on the lives of the children, and the adults around them, both inside and outside of the school community

• Know who to turn to for support, whilst being open and approachable to give support to others

• Holds a strong understanding of the challenges faced within school, how they may impact on all members of the school community, and the strategies needed to work towards them

• Feels confident to work within a mutually respectful environment, where all are able to ask questions

• To harbour a sense of humour and to feel a belonging within the school community

Our relationships as a school extend both within and beyond the school grounds, where we recognise the importance of interacting and engaging with the school and wider communities. These include our parish church community, as well as the Diocese of Gloucester and the wider Church of England Network. We also hold a unique place within our village, across the village green from the parish church. We recognise the wider communities that we form a part of, from the local to the wider world.

What does a flourishing school community look like?

Within School

• Welcoming parents and carers to a range of events, including celebration worships, sports days, performances and learning showcases

• Celebrate collective and individual achievements through our weekly Friday celebration worships and termly parent and carers celebration worships, including the awarding of Values Awards, Headteacher Awards, Golden Acorns and the Cup of Kindness

• Placing each of our children within one of our team groups, creating a sense of belonging within the school, and encouraging them to achieve and work towards earning points for their team points total

• Supporting our teachers to reach out to other organisations, such as undertaking CPD and the sharing of best practice, linking in with educational outreach groups to deliver learning activities and enrichment to the pupils, including with our federated school, Bisley Blue Coat Church of England Primary School

• An open-door policy in which parents and carers are invited to hold regular communication with staff, and through which they are invited to give their time in contributing to the learning experiences of the children through supporting activities such as reading, knitting, themed weeks, after-school clubs and school trips

     With the Church

• Regular use of the Church to celebrate key services within the Christian Calendar, such as Harvest, Christingle, Christmas and Easter, in addition to our leavers’ service. These services invite our parents and carers to join us, ensuring they feel part of the church community

• Worships are held both within the Church, and within school, and led by both members of staff, pupils and members of our church community. This includes Open the Book, led by Reverend Sue and her team, held every Monday.

• A joint approach to special themed days linking the church with school, such as our Christingle service, in which pupils collect money for the Children’s Society through their collecting candles, and preparing for our Harvest Service in which we collect for Stroud Food Bank

• Lessons in the churchyard – we are lucky to have such a space on our doorstep and use the churchyard for lessons.  Examples include studying the flowers and wildlife as part of Science, and an RE link through activities such as identifying symbols, studying the building as a place of worship, and through experience Easter and Christmas visits

• Reverend Sue is an ex-officio foundation Governor, and links in with wider development of the school, including meeting with the Executive Headteacher on a regular basis.

• We also work closely with the Diocese of Gloucester through their education team, undertaking CPD such as the new headteacher training and engaging in the literature shared by the Diocese.  The Diocese offered support to the Governors when recruiting the new Executive Headteacher.

• The termly meetings with the Bishop’s Visitor provide the Executive Headteacher with the opportunity to access support as required.

With the Village

• Our local community are encouraged to join our annual May Revels event, where we showcase the school through tours, hold a school stall to promote the school and its offering, and invite the community to have fun and engage in a range of activities

• The school is represented at the annual Oakridge Village Flower Show and Fete, where children showcase the school, and their talents, through some of their work via entries into competitions

• We reach out to community spaces, including the Village Hall which is used for our Christmas Dinner and our School Performance, and involve members of the community supporting the school through roles such as running the lights, designing the scenery and creating costumes

• We visit a local artist in his studio to learn about local art and the methods used to create his artwork

• We link with the Allotment organisation in a managing and visiting our school allotment

• The school contributes to the Oakridge ‘What’s on’ newsletter, to keep the community abreast of latest development at the school, and to invite members of the community to various events through the year

• A connection has been made with the Oakridge History Society where we link in our curriculum learning through the borrowing of research, resources and artefacts

• Our local PCSO works with us regularly to educate the children in key life skills in keeping safe.

With Wider Communities

• We attend the Goodwill Evening in Stroud, where our choir sing, in addition to our choir performance at Bisley Farm shop

• Supporting national charity initiatives including Children in Need and World Book Day

• Celebrating the Platinum Jubilee, and Coronation of King Charles through whole school activities, whilst understanding the historical significance of the events

• Encouraging children to take part in activities with other schools such as local cluster sports events and events with our federated school Bisley such as Art week, STEM week, Sports week, Chinese new year and collaborative school trips

• Charity Shoeboxes – we have worked closely with organisations to create and fill shoeboxes that are then sent to some of the poorest countries in Europe in time for Christmas

• We support Stroud Food Bank through our Harvest Service and collection

• Our Eco Warriors support the World Wildlife Foundation through sponsoring a polar bear

• Through our following of the Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus for RE, and the use of resources from NATRE, we teach our children to explore and understand different world views in a manner which allows them to be respectful and considerate of others, and has included visits to Gloucester Mosque and the Cheltenham Hindu Temple to help support our learning in this area

• Our curriculum includes elements on diversity and environmental matters so that children can understand how to be part of a tolerant society as well as understand some of the key challenges that the world is facing.