Character Education
The Bag for Life
What is ‘Bag for Life’?
Education at Wheeler is about much more than the academic subjects children work so hard at every day. We want our children to develop their whole self to help them have the best future possible as they grown up and be ‘BRILL’ (Being Respectful, Responsible and Resilient in Learning and Life)!
This means we will provide opportunities within school for children to develop new skills and challenge themselves by trying new things. These skills and opportunities will mean the children will develop a wide range of skills outside of the curriculum, leaving Wheeler ready to make a difference to the world and the people around them.
Each child will be given a yellow Bag for Life bag containing a book which will be kept at school so children and teachers can use it whenever needed. Your child’s book is your way to record and reflect upon all the wonderful experiences and opportunities they will have at Wheeler as they progress through the school. By the time children leave Wheeler, this book will be a showcase of their time with us, and the skills they have gained in preparation for secondary school.
There will be opportunities for you and your child to include things they do outside of school too, as we always love to hear about the amazing things our Wheeler family do out of school and would love to know what your child has learned from these experiences. You can print a copy of the Home Experiences sheet below or ask your child’s teacher for a copy and send this into school with any pictures to be included in your child’s book.
How is it delivered?
Bag for Life has been designed so that children at Wheeler are supported to develop a wide range of skills through both through the curriculum and as part of additional activities. It will be integrated into whole school life, with children able to make links and reflect on what they are learning and the skills they are gaining as they progress through the year. At the start of the year, children will learn about the skills and experiences they will be covering that year as part of Bag for Life. They will be given the opportunity to discuss and reflect upon significant experiences they have undertaken, for example, swimming lessons or learning a musical instrument and include this in their book.
What are the skills?
There are five areas that we will focus on each year, making sure children get the widest range of opportunities possible to help best prepare them for the future. We call these ‘The Fab Five’ and each skill area is represented by a character:
Each skill area and character has skills mapped out to progress during your child’s time during Wheeler, matched to their age and stage. You can see the full progression from FS2 to Year 6 in the document below.. As they move through the school, the skills will increase in complexity, building upon the skills from previous years. Children’s work in and out of lessons, will contribute to the development of these skills and we hope the children will become confident in recognising the skills and characteristics in themselves and others.
Recognising and rewarding the skills
All staff will be looking out for children showing the qualities and skills represented by our Fab Five and will be awarding badges on Marvellous Me, in addition to giving stickers to the children. Each half term, there will be five awards given in each class, to the child who has best demonstrated the skills in each of the five areas. These certificates will be presented during our Friday celebration assembly at the end of each term.
If you have any questions, or would like to know more about Bag for Life and how it will benefit your child, please contact our Community and Character Development Lead, Mrs Wadley (laura.wadley@hcat.org.uk)
Information for parents
Classrooms are calm and purposeful places for pupils to learn.
There are
opportunities for pupils to attend different clubs and raise funds for charities
It is a safe and happy place to learn.
Being at Wheeler is like being part of a family and that makes learning fun
Pupils enjoy coming to Wheeler Primary School every day.
The teachers are so supportive they help and guide you all the way through the year
Leaders are passionate about preparing pupils to be good citizens for the world beyond Wheeler Primary School
They want pupils to ‘Be Respectful, Responsible and Resilient in Learning and Life’
The school has made recent changes to the teaching
of phonics to help pupils get off to the best start with their reading.
The support that leaders provide for families is a strength of the school.
Leaders have designed and implemented an ambitious and well-planned curriculum.
The staff are really encouraging. They always help us to be the best we can be
The pastoral team works well together to ensure that pupils are safe.
I think the best thing about being a Wheeler pupil is that all of the staff listen and care about you
Everyone cares for each other and that every teacher adds a little bit of fun into every lesson
The best thing is having someone to go to when you’re upset
Pupils are excited about adding experiences to their ‘Bag for Life’.
Pupils are encouraged to develop a positive attitude towards themselves and others.
Leaders and teachers have high expectations for every child.
Pupils report that bullying is rare, but if it happens, staff will sort it out quickly and fairly.
Pupils in key stage 2 talk confidently about a wide range of authors and texts they have read.
The leader’s vision for the school is demonstrated in the way pupils behave
Pupils take books home which contain the sounds that they are learning in class. This gives them plenty of practice.
Throughout my time at Wheeler, I have been given so many opportunities to experience and learn new things
Parents say that the school is ‘fantastic’ and that staff ‘greet the children come hail, rain or shine’ every morning as they arrive.
Pupils are proud to be part of the Wheeler family.
Leaders give pupils the opportunity to complete well-planned and exciting
activities, such as performing in front of an audience, in order to create a ‘bag’ full of life experiences as they progress through the school. .