The Pledge
A pledge is a solemn promise. Our pledges have come directly from consultation with our children as part of our aim to give our children the best experiences and opportunities they can have in life. We want to give our children experiences to cherish and to help develop happy, interesting individuals. The experiences are designed to build aspiration and to give our children future interests - an experience to excite, motivate and inspire. Our pledges have been developed to broaden our children’s horizons – opening their eyes to the myriad careers they might pursue.
| Year Group | Experience | Reason | Building Aspiration & Cultural Capital | Off-site/wider experiences |
| N | A Farm Visit | We want to show how spending quality time with animals can have a positive impact on our mood and health. Pets can be calming stress-fighters. They can help lower our blood pressure. Stroking animals prompts a release of ‘feel good’ hormones in humans including serotonin and oxytocin which helps to cut down on levels of stress. |
In this pledge we take a look at how farmers care for animals. We also encourage children to think about the natural environment within different communities. |
Wellgate Community Farm Balance Bike Training Community Police Workshop Road Safety Workshop Families in school to talk about their ‘professions’ Healthy Eating Workshop run by The Pantry |
| Reception | Theatre Visit | Most of our children are used to seeing the world through TV, so the joy of experiencing real life theatre is a real treat. The benefits of getting involved with the performing arts from a young age extend beyond entertaining. Through puppetry, acting or physical theatre we pledge to expose our children to tales of other cultures, events and traditions. | This pledge allows the children to explore drama in a theatre setting giving them opportunities to experience and appreciate the arts at a young age. We encourage our children to immerse themselves in the arts and creativity. |
Wellgate Community Farm Balance Bike Training Community Police Workshop Road Safety Workshop Families in school to discuss their ‘professions’ Healthy Eating Workshop run by The Pantry |
| Y1 | A picnic in the park | There is something about having an outing in fresh air. And there are many things fresh air contributes towards your health. Fresh air improves your blood pressure, heart rate, naturally cleanses our lungs, and strengthens our immune system. Having a picnic with peers and friends is a great way of socially interacting and spending quality time with each other, whilst being surrounded by the serenity of nature. During our pledge, we also promote responsible behaviour and an understanding of our environment as it is linked to keeping our environment clean and litter free. | Through this pledge we hope to instill a love of nature into our children alongside deep community spirit. |
Princess Diana Memorial Playground Traditional Tale Workshop visiting school Anti-bullying workshop ‘Sports for Champions’ athlete visit to school NED show Healthy Eating Workshop |
| Y2 | A visit to the sea | Sea air accelerates the ability to absorb oxygen and balance serotonin levels - a chemical linked with mood and stress. It helps relaxation, health and well-being. It is a time to have fun and be fascinated with our environment without technology, which seems to dominate modern lives. It is a time to explore, paddle in the sea, build sand-castle and make memories with our friends. | We believe that it is important for our children to experience this very British phenomenon. Visiting another eco-system, and one that is so different from the one in which we live, we hope to broaden our children’s horizons – and encourage them to seek these out in later life. |
Modes of Transport (Tube, Train & Cable Car) Frinton On Sea ‘Zoolab’ visit to school Anti-bullying workshop ‘Sports for Champions’ athlete visit to school NED show Healthy Eating Workshop |
| Y3 | A meal in a restaurant | Today’s busy lifestyle can make eating together a challenge, but it’s worth it! There are nutrition, health, social, and mental benefits to eating with others. People of all ages eat better when they share a meal with others. They tend to eat more fruits and vegetables and other nutrient-rich foods. Eating together gives children the chance to learn more words and how to communicate better. Visiting Mezze with their peers is a wonderful opportunity to experience the joy of sharing a fine meal. | In this Pledge we take a closer look at being a chef, in order to inspire them to shape their own futures. We want our pupils to have a clear understanding of the link between achieving well at school and getting into an interesting job and career that is not bound by social mobility and harmful gender stereotypes. |
Mezze Restaurant Natural History Museum Anti-bullying workshop ‘Sports for Champions’ athlete visit to school NED show Bikeability Workshop (Learn to Ride) Dogs Trust Workshop Tate Modern Workshop Music Recitals by Redbridge Music Services Healthy Eating Workshop |
| Y4 | A sleepover in school | For many of our children, this is the first experience of life away from home where they look after their own belongings, get themselves ready for bed etc. They are able to trial time away from their families in a safe environment which they are familiar with. | This allows the children to enhance their self-esteem, confidence and make life long, lasting memories of fun and friendship. |
Sleepover at school Natural History Museum Ilford Synagogue Anti-bullying workshop ‘Sports for Champions’ athlete visit to school NED show Bikeability Workshop(Learn to Ride) Dogs Trust Workshop Consent Assembly Knife Assembly-Keeping Safe Ukulele Tuition Families in school to talk about their family traditions Music Recitals by Redbridge Music Services Healthy Eating Workshop |
| Y5 | Chislehurst Cave Visit |
A unique opportunity for children to experience a labyrinth of man-made caves. This Pledge is steeped in History with links to; the Druids, Romans, Saxons and how the caves were used during WWII. There is a real sense of atmosphere and awe and wonder when walking through the caves. There is also a sense of over-coming fear - developing emotional resilience – as the caves are dark and eerie. |
In this pledge we look at Historians and geographical skills. |
Chislehurst Caves Museum of London Swimming Programme Anti-bullying workshop ‘Sports for Champions’ athlete visit to school NED show Bikeability Workshop Consent Assembly Knife Assembly-Keeping Safe Prevent Assembly – Met.Police Equaliteach Workshop Healthy Eating Workshop run by ISS ‘Brave’Assembly ‘Speak out –Stay Safe’ – NSPCC Workshops Music Recitals by Redbridge Music Services Healthy Eating (Bike Smoothie) led by ISS Year 5 ‘Taster Day’ @ Woodbridge High School Music Recitals by Redbridge Music Services |
| Y6 | A West End Theatre Trip | Growing up has many challenges and a love of the arts (in any of its forms) can be a comforting release and offer a momentary escape from reality. When watching theatre our children can be transported into the hearts, minds, bodies and stories of others in a way that can transcend race, class, gender and age. | Children can see that their future aspirations extend beyond the academics –into drama, music, dance, technology –for them to be creative, develop artistic minds and lead and innovate in the future. They could be our next generation of designers, musical directors, performers, producers and stage manages. |
Year 6 Residential Anti-bullying workshop ‘Sports for Champions’ athlete visit to school NED show Bikeability Workshop Consent Assembly Knife Assembly-Keeping Safe Prevent Assembly – Met.Police Equaliteach Workshop ‘Brave’Assembly ‘Chicken Show’ – Stopwatch Theatre Co. ‘Speak out –Stay Safe’ – NSPCC Workshops Drugs Workshop – how to stay safe Healthy Eating (Bike Smoothie) led by ISS Music Recitals by Redbridge Music Services |