Collective Worship
At St Chad’s, our school vision—LOVE God, LOVE Neighbour, LOVE Self—is the foundation of everything we do, anchoring our Collective Worship themes and guiding our shared values. Collective Worship is at the heart of our school community, offering a daily, invitational moment to unite, reflect, and nurture spiritual growth. These sessions allow children to engage in ways that feel meaningful to them, whether through quiet reflection, prayer, or simply thinking about the messages shared. As an inclusive school, we celebrate and respect all faiths and viewpoints, fostering a welcoming environment where every child feels valued.
In Reception, children begin their journey by exploring our school's core values: love, friendship, compassion, and respect. These foundational principles are revisited and deepened as they progress through school. By Key Stage 1, children are introduced to more abstract concepts that broaden their understanding of character, community, and the wider world. To inspire children to live out these values, we celebrate their achievements in weekly Love Book worships and encourage acts of service, such as fundraising for local charities that are meaningful to our school’s community. This focus reflects our commitment to supporting our area, which experiences significant disadvantage.
Collective Worship is designed to be creative, engaging, and memorable. Each session incorporates music, stories, drama, poetry, mindfulness, and moments of stillness, helping children develop a sense of calm and curiosity. These sessions are enriched by exploring the Christian calendar, national and international events, and important celebrations from other faiths, such as Eid, Diwali, and Vaisakhi. Members of our diverse school community are regularly invited to share their experiences, reflecting the rich tapestry of beliefs and traditions within our school.
Our weekly Collective Worship schedule is thoughtfully planned to offer variety and purpose:
- Monday: Whole-school worship led by the Headteacher.
- Tuesday: Values for Life worship.
- Wednesday: Singing worship.
- Thursday: Key Stage worship.
- Friday: Celebration worship (Love Book).
Each worship follows a consistent four-part structure: Hello Time, Story Time, Reflection Time, and Prayer Time. Our school prayer is inclusive and invitational, ensuring children can join in ways that feel comfortable to them. Singing and class prayers further enrich these special moments.
Our whole-school Collective Worships are enriched by Roots and Fruits (Imaginor), a resource that provides thoughtful and engaging materials to support our themes and values. For class-based worships, we use Oscar Out of the Box and Jack in the Box (Imaginor), which offer age-appropriate content designed to inspire curiosity, reflection, and spiritual growth. These resources ensure that every worship is dynamic, inclusive, and meaningful. Further information on these resources can be found here.
Over a two-year cycle, we explore twelve Christian values rooted in Bible teachings: friendship, compassion, respect, courage, forgiveness, generosity, justice, service, perseverance, thankfulness, trust, and truthfulness. These values encourage children to ask “big questions” about their place in the world and how they can make a positive difference. Our Values in Action map helps connect worship themes to practical, real-world experiences, such as themed events, local trips, and home learning opportunities.
At St Chad’s, we integrate spirituality into everyday learning through our on-site Forest School, which provides opportunities for children to connect with nature and develop mindfulness. In Key Stage 1, the concepts of ‘ows, nows, and wows’ encourage children to reflect on moments of awe, gratitude, and wonder in their lives, deepening their understanding of spirituality and their sense of wonder about the world around them.
Relational practice is central to our ethos, and we are committed to supporting children’s behaviour and wellbeing. By explicitly teaching emotional literacy and introducing the Zones of Regulation, we equip children with tools to recognise and manage their emotions effectively. These skills are further reinforced during collective worship, where moments of stillness provide opportunities for children to reflect, regulate, and connect with themselves and others.
Our Bible story spine is an integral part of our collective worship and religious education. Children spend time ‘hugging’ these stories closely, exploring their messages and embedding them in their hearts and minds. This deep engagement ensures that the stories become lasting sources of inspiration, shaping children’s values and guiding their actions.
At St Chad’s, we aim to nurture the whole child, fostering a community rooted in love, respect, and connection. Through Collective Worship, Forest School experiences, and our commitment to emotional wellbeing, we strive to support every child in flourishing as they grow in understanding of themselves, others, and the world around them. For more details, please refer to our Collective Worship Policy, which can be found here.