Our Offer
SMSC
The spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) elements of our learners’ journey are woven into everything that we do, underpinned by our ethos of supporting learners to Engage and Rebuild. We value the importance of SMSC to develop an understanding of self and others, a recognition of differences and commonalities, empathy and self-reflection.
How do we deliver SMSC?
Red Balloon of the Air delivers SMSC through the curriculum, therapy sessions, time with Link Mentors, Online Community (which invites small groups to agree on areas to explore, e.g. the environment, as well as linking with national recognition days, such as World Religion Day), PSHE, Social Communication Groups, time with peers in either RBAir’s Centre in Milton, Cambridge, or RBET’s Learning Hub in Danbury, Essex, clubs, trips and other activities. These all encourage mutual respect, inclusion and collaboration (our core values).
We celebrate our learners’ willingness to engage in these areas and experience shows us that personal development leads to increased self-confidence, greater emotional regulation, increased academic engagement and a desire to think about future aspirations. The skills our learners develop, including the active promotion of fundamental British values, help them to succeed in life as local, national and global citizens.
Please see below for examples on how we deliver SMSC or refer to our SMSC Policy, which can be found here.
Spiritual Development
Enabling self-reflection, exploring beliefs and values, encouraging learners to develop enjoyment, fascination, imagination and creativity in learning about themselves and the world around them.
- Self-reflection in therapy sessions
- Time given to reflect on confidence and understanding in academic sessions
- Exploration of their own and others’ belief systems in Social Communication and Online Community sessions for World Religion Day
- Exploration of key festivals and special days throughout the year in Social Communication and Online Community sessions
- Visits to the Cambridge Buddhist Centre and Cambridge Central Mosque
Moral Development
Encouraging learners to make ethical decisions, how to apply their understanding of right and wrong in their own lives (whilst respecting the views of others), developing empathy and a sense of responsibility.
- PSHE/RSHE sessions compulsory for all Key Stage 3 & 4 learners
- Active promotion of fundamental British values of individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance across all areas
- Discussions in sessions around a range of issues across the curriculum
- Exploration of moral and philosophical questions in Social Communication and Online Community sessions
- Evaluation of a range of moral issues included in the texts used in English sessions
- Anti-Bullying Week in Social Communication and Online Community
Social Development
Building confidence and developing positive communication skills in a range of contexts, understanding and building healthy relationships, accepting and engaging with the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance.
- Link Mentor sessions and individual activities based on learners’ needs
- In-person Social Communication sessions
- Work experience at the community shop and other local spaces/businesses
- Theme days at RBAir’s Centre in Milton, Cambridge, and RBET’s Learning Hub in Danbury, Essex, such as Bushcraft, baking, art and music
- Regular trips are organised to local parks, farms and activity centres
- RBET’s Learning Hub, Danbury, Essex, has partnerships with a local community allotment group and a nearby Nursery & Pre-School
- Independent travel training sessions are offered from RBET’s Learning Hub in Danbury, Essex
Cultural Development
Enabling learners to gain knowledge and respect for the cultural influences on their own and others’ heritage, recognising and valuing the common threads running through the range of diverse cultural, ethnic, religious and socio-economic groups in local, national and global communities. Encouraging engagement with artistic, musical, sporting and cultural opportunities.
- Use of texts from different cultures in English
- Awareness days/months in Online Community such as Black History Month and LGBT+ History Month – cross-curricular links
- Trips to museums and art galleries
- Cooking, music and art activity days in both RBET’s Learning Hub in Danbury, Essex, and RBAir’s Centre in Milton, Cambridge
- Clubs In-Centre Humanities, English, Art and Languages (HEAL) days – National Poetry Day and World Book Day
- Half-termly boxing, badminton and archery activities in RBET’s Learning Hub in Danbury, Essex