Spirituality

Spirituality is about the things that touch our hearts and minds beyond the everyday. It involves our mind, body, and soul, and it helps us explore fundamental questions: Who am I? Why am I here? How should I live? It’s not limited to religion – everyone can experience spirituality, whether they follow a faith or not. For some, it includes belief in God or a higher purpose; for others, it might mean a sense of wonder about life, nature, or human connection.

In simple terms, spirituality is our search for meaning, our feelings of awe and curiosity, and our deepest values that guide how we treat ourselves and others.

Our Definition

As a school, we describe spiritual development as an ongoing, reflective journey of growing in understanding and relationships – with ourselves, each other, the world, and God.

It is “something more than the material, something more than the obvious, something to wonder at, and something to respond to.” We encourage everyone in our school to look beyond themselves – to ask big questions, to feel awe and gratitude, and to seek deeper meaning in experiences.

Spirituality at Little Waltham

At Little Waltham, we understand spirituality as relational – it’s about relationships in four key areas:

Self: appreciating our own unique identity and reflecting on our feelings and dreams.
Others: showing empathy, love, and respect for other people, and recognising the value in everyone.
World & Beauty: marvelling at the world around us – nature, art, and all that is beautiful or mysterious in creation.
Beyond: seeking connection with something greater beyond the material world – for our school this includes God’s presence, but it can also be a sense of wonder at the universe or life’s big mysteries for those of all beliefs.

Our Values and Vision

Our school’s Christian vision and values shape everything we do, including our approach to spirituality. “We are one body with many parts” (1 Corinthians 12:14) underpins our vision of working together in unity so that every member of our community can flourish. When we talk about spirituality, we link it directly to our core values of compassion, courage, perseverance, and forgiveness:

Compassion – Spirituality helps us care for others. We encourage children to “love your neighbour as yourself” by showing kindness, empathy, and generosity.
Courage – We grow spiritually when we face challenges with hope and bravery. The story of Jesus and other role models inspires pupils to be courageous in doing what is right.
Perseverance – Keeping going in tough times can be a spiritual act. Through reflection and prayer, children find inner strength and resilience.
Forgiveness – Spirituality teaches us about grace and starting anew. We learn from Jesus’s example to forgive others and ourselves.

Spirituality at School

Spirituality isn’t a standalone lesson – it happens throughout school life. We create many opportunities, both planned and spontaneous, for children (and adults) to develop spiritually. Here are some ways you might encounter spirituality at Little Waltham:

Moments of Awe and Wonder: Children are given time to notice the beauty in the world. This could be watching butterfly cocoons in science, a stunning piece of art or music in class, or simply pausing to admire a rainbow on the playground. These moments spark curiosity and appreciation for creation.
Reflection and Stillness: We provide quiet times for pupils to pause and reflect. After playtime, during worship or during PSHE, classes might sit in silence for a minute calmly and think about what they are grateful for. These practices help children become comfortable with stillness and their own thoughts.
Prayer and Reflection Space and Big Questions: Our teachers weave “big questions” into lessons. In RE and beyond, pupils explore questions like “How should we treat others?” or “What makes me unique?” We encourage openness and curiosity, showing that not all questions have one “right” answer – what’s important is thinking deeply and respecting different beliefs.
Collective Worship and Prayer: As a Church school, daily collective worship is a special time for spiritual growth. In worship, children and staff come together to sing, pray, and reflect on themes like thankfulness or friendship.
Creative Expression: We encourage children to express their thoughts and feelings through art, music, drama, and writing.
Caring for others and the World: We believe service and empathy are key parts of spirituality. Throughout the year, pupils take part in activities that help others – such as collecting items for the local food bank, raising money for charities, or buddying up with younger children to support them.
Special Theme Days and Events: To shine a spotlight on spiritual development, we sometimes have dedicated events like Faith Days. On these days, normal lessons pause for deeper exploration of spiritual themes.
Outdoor Learning: We make use of our beautiful grounds and local area to connect with nature.

Windows, Mirrors, Doors

Spiritual growth isn’t confined to one subject – it weaves through our curriculum, relationships, and routines. Children are encouraged to use their “windows, mirrors, and doors”:

Windows: looking out at the world with awe and learning from what they see (the “wow” and even “ow” moments – things that amaze us or challenge us).
Mirrors: looking inward and reflecting on their experiences and feelings, alone or with others. We give time for children to ask questions and ponder answers, learning from each other’s perspectives.
Doors: looking ahead and taking action – responding to what they’ve learned with changes in behaviour or creative expression. This could be deciding to be more compassion, creating a piece of art about their ideas, or participating in an act of service.