Nurturing Spirituality

Spirituality for Our Learners

At Hill Top C of E Nursery and Infant School, we believe spirituality flourishes naturally in our youngest children. Their innate sense of wonder, curiosity, and openness creates the perfect foundation for spiritual growth.

What is Spirituality?

Spirituality is about our connections – to ourselves, to others, to the world around us, and to God. It's how we experience wonder, find meaning, and understand our place in God's creation. Through our Christian foundation, we nurture each child's spiritual journey while honouring their unique path.

Through our school’s theologically rooted vision we encourage our children to know that they are each unique, valued and loved. In our learning community we recognise that everyone is made in the image of God. Our school values contribute to this by nurturing the inner soul of our children to develop:

  • A sense of self-worth and love, to develop resilience and agency and to know that they are loved and valued.
  • To love one another - recognising and celebrating diversity and difference.
  • Their place within the world and to be connected to the world within a relationship with God.

We encourage our children to learn and understand that this means accepting ourselves, and each other as unique and precious individuals and to act in love for one another and for God. Through this they can have a sense of connection with the world, a search for meaning, and a belief in God. This includes a sense of awe and wonder, care for nature and a desire to love others and the world around them. Through this they can spiritually appreciate all that is good, joyful, truthful and beautiful, and to embrace life and all that the world has to offer them.

 

Our Core Values in Action

Our approach to spirituality is guided by our vision:

 

‘Learning to LOVE, loving to LEARN and aspiring to SERVE’

 

We firmly believe love comes first. It is the foundation of who we are and all we do. We teach children to love first; 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' Mark 12:31 and to show love in their words and in their actions, treating everyone with dignity and respect.

 

Love Ourselves

We help children recognise their own worth as unique individuals created and loved by God. Through quiet reflection times, children learn to:

  • Understanding one’s own thoughts, feelings and emotions
  • Developing self-identity and personal values
  • Exploring questions about who we are and our place in the world
  • Recognising our own worth and uniqueness as God’s creation

 

Love Each Other

Children explore what it means to be part of a loving community through:

  • Building meaningful relationships through Christ like love
  • Developing empathy and compassion
  • Learning Bible stories about Jesus's kindness and compassion
  • Understanding and talking about different prospectives and beliefs
  • Courageous Advocacy - recognising our responsibility to care for others
  • Experiencing and building connection within our community

 

Love To Learn

We encourage children to:

  • Experience awe and wonder in all they do
  • see learning is a gift from God and a joyful way to discover His world.
  • use curiosity, questions, and a sense of wonder in every lesson.
  • see learning as a lifelong journey, growing in wisdom, faith, and understanding.
  • value effort, perseverance, and resilience as part of learning well.
  • celebrate each child’s unique gifts and help them flourish academically and spiritually.
  • connect learning with faith, showing how knowledge helps us love and serve others.
  • learn from one another through kindness, respect, and collaboration.
  • reflect on our learning, giving thanks for progress and seeking to grow further.

 

Aspire to Serve

Children explore what it means to serve by:

  • Praying regularly and talk to God about their day, worries, and joys
  • Showing kindness to classmates by sharing, helping, and including everyone
  • Obeying parents, teachers, and school rules as a way of honoring God
  • Telling the truth and acting honestly, even when it is difficult
  • Helping at home with chores cheerfully and without being asked
  • Being forgiving and saying sorry when they make mistakes
  • Caring for younger children, the elderly, and those who are unwell
  • Looking after God’s creation by keeping their classroom, school, and environment clean
  • Standing up for others who are treated unfairly or left out
  • Using their talents (such as singing, drawing, or reading) to help and encourage others
  • Listenng carefully in lessons and doing their best in schoolwork
  • Saying thank you and showing gratitude to God and to people around them

How We Nurture Spirituality Everyday

In Our Environment

  • Reflection areas for quiet moments
  • Providing natural resources that invite and inspire wonder
  • Outdoor spaces that connect children with creation
  • Note books of children's spiritual thinking and experiences

 

Through Our Activities

  • Daily worship with simple prayers and songs and space to reflect
  • Bible stories using puppets and role-play
  • Nature walks to discover God's creation
  • Creative expression through art, music and dance
  • Festivals and celebrations throughout the Christian year

 

Through Relationships

  • Responsive adults who listen to spiritual questions
  • Space and time for children to express their thoughts about God
  • Community connections with our local church
  • Family involvement in spiritual celebrations and Celebration Worship
  • Living our faith by modelling Christian values in all our interactions

The Journey of Faith

Spirituality is both a personal and shared experience. We celebrate each child's individual spiritual journey while providing the foundation of Christian faith. We believe that by nurturing spirituality in these formative years, we help children develop:

  • A sense of identity and belonging
  • The capacity for wonder and gratitude
  • The language to express spiritual experiences
  • Values that will guide them throughout life
  • A growing relationship with God

 

We invite you to be part of this journey as together we help our children grow in love for themselves, love for each other, a love of lerning and an aspiration to serve – all through our love of God.