Sauncey Wood Primary School

Be curious, be kind, be your best, be you!

Our school motto sums up what we want for our children: to be the very best version of themselves that they can be and be proud of it! We have designed our curriculum to, not only give our children the very best academic outcomes, but to give them the skills and attributes that research shows us are an even stronger success predictors than IQ or socioeconomic status for our children leading positive lives once they leave us (click here to see the research).

We believe strongly in developing our children's leadership skills, where the children learn self confidence and take a lead on the direction of the school and their learning (click here to learn more).

We also teach our children how to develop key behaviours that will support their learning and development into confident young people (click here for more information). 

We employ many mental health intititives that teach children to develop relisience, confidence, safety and prepare them for the challenges that are to come (link to come). 

 

The Power of Curiosity in Learning

We believe that curiosity is the spark that helps children learn and grow. When children are curious, they ask questions like “What is this?”, “How does it work?”, and “What can I do with it?”. These questions help them explore, play, and discover new things.

Curiosity helps children use their imagination and think creatively. They start to wonder things like “What if I change this?” or “Can I use it in a different way?”. This kind of thinking helps them come up with new ideas and solve problems.

Being curious means seeing the world as an exciting place full of possibilities. It brings joy and excitement to learning and helps children become lifelong learners.

As children grow older, they sometimes get fewer chances to be curious. That’s why it’s so important for schools to keep encouraging curiosity, not just in the early years, but all the way through primary school and beyond.

We want every child to feel free to ask questions, explore their ideas, and enjoy the adventure of learning!

 

Why Kindness Matters

We believe that kindness is one of the most important things a child can learn. Being kind means thinking about others, sharing, helping, and caring without expecting anything in return.

Kindness helps children:

• Make strong friendships by being thoughtful and caring.
• Feel happy and confident, because doing kind things makes us feel good inside.
• Understand others better, by learning to see things from someone else’s point of view.
• Grow into successful people, because kind and caring individuals often become great leaders and team players.

When children are kind, their brains release “feel-good” chemicals that reduce stress and boost happiness. That’s why kindness isn’t just good for others. It’s good for us too!

In today’s busy world, it’s more important than ever to teach children to be kind. Kindness helps create a school where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. And when children learn to be kind, they help make the world a better place.

 

Be Your Best

We encourage every child to be their best, not by being perfect but by trying their hardest and learning from every experience.

Being your best means:

• Trying your hardest, even when things are tricky.
• Setting your own goals and working towards them.
• Learning from mistakes and using them to grow.
• Not comparing yourself to others, but focusing on your own progress.

We know that no one can be their very best every single day as everyone has off days! But having a positive mindset and always trying helps children build confidence, resilience, and emotional strength.

When children try their best:

• They learn important life skills like responsibility and self-discipline.
• They feel proud of their efforts, even if things don’t go perfectly.
• They become better at solving problems and bouncing back from challenges.

We celebrate effort just as much as success. When children keep going, even when it’s hard, they’re showing real strength and that’s something to be proud of!

Celebrate Being You!

We believe every child is special and that’s something to celebrate!

Being yourself means knowing what makes you unique and feeling proud of it. When children celebrate who they are, they grow in confidence and happiness.

Here’s why it’s great to celebrate being YOU:

• You feel proud of your talents and interests, and you’re excited to learn more about them.
• You believe in yourself, which helps you try new things and keep going when things get tough.
• You build resilience, which means you bounce back from challenges and keep trying.
• You make good choices, because you know what’s important to you.
• You grow in confidence, which helps you make friends, speak up, and enjoy learning.

Self-esteem means knowing you’re important and believing in yourself, not thinking you’re better than others. When children have healthy self-esteem, they:

• Handle stress and setbacks more easily.
• Try new things and take on challenges.
• Make good friends and treat others kindly.
• Feel happy and ready to learn.

Parents and teachers play a big part in helping children feel good about themselves. When we celebrate each child’s uniqueness, we help them grow into confident, caring, and successful people.