Personal Development

At Elmridge Primary School, we want every child to enjoy a rich and memorable primary education. Our Personal Development and Enrichment offer gives children opportunities to develop confidence, resilience, independence and leadership while discovering new interests, experiencing new places and contributing to their community.

Our approach reflects our school motto, Growing Together, and our values of Care, Challenge and Collaboration. Through a carefully planned programme from EYFS to Year 6, we aim to ensure that every child leaves Elmridge with the experiences, character and skills they need for the next stage of their education and beyond.

Seeds to Success

At the heart of our offer is our bespoke Seeds to Success programme.

Every child from EYFS to Year 6 receives a passport containing a range of experiences to complete throughout the year. These include opportunities linked to the curriculum as well as experiences beyond the classroom, giving all children the chance to try something new, broaden their horizons and create lasting memories.

Children collect stamps as they complete their experiences and those who complete their passport receive a Seeds to Success certificate and commemorative badge. Experiences are linked to our values of Care, Challenge and Collaboration and include activities such as performances, community projects, competitions, outdoor learning and opportunities to represent the school.

Trips, Visitors and Experiences

We believe that children learn particularly well when they can experience their learning first-hand.

Throughout their time at Elmridge, children take part in a planned programme of educational visits and experiences, including museums, galleries, zoos, places of worship, theatres, botanical gardens and local community visits.

Our programme also includes opportunities such as an Outdoor Learning Day in Year 4, a Year 6 residential, Bikeability and visits linked directly to children’s curriculum learning.

Clubs, Sport and Performance

Children have access to a broad range of extra-curricular opportunities across areas including:

• sport and physical activity
• STEM
• art and creativity
• music and performance
• cycling
• nature and outdoor learning

Children may also represent Elmridge in sporting competitions, take part in performances and productions, participate in Young Voices, and enter STEM, writing and poetry competitions.

Leadership and Pupil Voice

We believe children should have meaningful opportunities to contribute to school life and develop as leaders.

Our pupil leadership opportunities include the Year 6 Pupil Leadership Team, School Parliament, Wellbeing Ambassadors, Eco Team, Digital Leaders, Diversity Ambassadors, Playground Leaders, Reading Ambassadors, Art Ambassadors and Music Ambassadors.

Through these roles, children develop responsibility, teamwork and communication skills while helping to shape and improve our school community.

Wellbeing

Children’s wellbeing is central to everything we do. We want pupils to feel happy, safe and valued and to develop the emotional skills and resilience needed to manage challenges successfully.

Our wellbeing provision includes Wellbeing Wednesdays, ELSA support and drop-ins, Youth Mental Health First Aiders, Wellbeing Ambassadors, our PSHE curriculum and whole-school mental health events and activities.

We are also working towards the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools Award, supporting our commitment to embedding positive mental health and wellbeing throughout school life.

Community and Wider Opportunities

Our children benefit from strong links with our local community and a range of external organisations.

We work with local artists, faith leaders, care homes, secondary schools, professionals and community organisations to provide children with authentic experiences, raise aspirations and help them understand the wider world.

Children also have opportunities to support charities and community projects, helping them develop empathy, active citizenship and a sense of responsibility towards others.

Opportunities for Every Child

We are committed to ensuring that enrichment is not something available only to some children.

Our Seeds to Success programme provides a core entitlement for every pupil. We monitor participation, adapt activities where appropriate and work with families to remove barriers wherever possible.

Our aim is simple: every child should have opportunities to experience success, develop confidence, discover new passions and make memories that will stay with them long after they leave Elmridge.