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Middlefield Community Primary School

Middlefield

Community Primary School

Philosophy for Children

We have achieved our Gold Award!  Well done to all our staff, pupils and parents.

Until we can welcome parents and visitors into school to take part in some P4C events, you can keep up-to-date with us as we continue to build on our success by following us on class dojo and on our school Twitter account

 @middlefield_cp

What is P4C?

To help you understand more about P4C, the official SAPERE website explains P4C as:

An approach to learning which enhances children's thinking and communication skills, boosts their self-esteem, and improves their academic attainment. In P4C, a stimulus, such as a story, video clip or image, is shared with a group of children.

Philosophical questions are open to examination, further questioning and enquiry. They are contestable, central and common – that is, there is more than one valid point of view, the question is important in the lives of the children, and it is a shared issue or concern. Children might come up with philosophical questions such as:

  • Is it ever OK to lie?
  • What makes you you?
  • Do we have to respect everyone?
  • Can good people do bad things?
  • Do we all have the same rights?

Through a vote, the children then choose the question they would most like to discuss. The teacher gives the children time to think and reason individually about the question before facilitating the exchange of ideas and opinions as a group, or community of enquiry. Over time, the teacher supports the children to think more deeply and philosophically by encouraging the 4Cs of P4C – critical, creative, collaborative and caring thinking.

As questions grow more philosophical and imaginative, children learn to listen carefully to each other, to explore differences of opinion respectfully, and to value the ideas of others.

Please see https://www.sapere.org.uk/ for more information. 

What our pupils think about P4C:

“I like talking about things with my friends.” – Millie, Year 1

“I like the games.” – James, Year 1

“I like playing games at the start.” – Bobby, Year 1

“I like talking to my friends.” – Lottie, Year 1 

“I like thinking about the questions.”-  Charlotte, Year 2

“I like listening to my friends.” – Ellis, Year 2

“I enjoy the debates, I think they are fun.” – Elizabeth, Year 3

“I like investigating the focus topic.’ – Matthew, Year 3

“I like P4C because it is always fun and I like sharing and listening to answers from other children in my class.”  - Sophie, Year 3

“I like P4C because I like sharing and expressing my opinions and ideas.” Harry, Year 3

“I like the challenges at the beginning. I think it’s good to encourage the children who don’t usually talk to speak out.” – Maisie, Year 4

“I like the questions because they really get you thinking and there’s no right or wrong answer, it’s all about opinion.” – Evan, Year 4

“It’s creative and fun ideas.” – Kyria, Year 4

“I like all of our discussions.” – John, Year 4

“I enjoy explaining why I picked my side in the warm up game (vote with your feet).” – Dominiks, Year 5

“I liked talking about anti-bullying. I liked the poem because it had a good message.” – Bella, Year 5

“I love the way P4C really gets you thinking. It’s a fun lesson.”  - Katelyn, Year 6

“I like that there’s no right or wrong answer. I think P4C is fun too.” – Harry, Year 6

P4C Family Event

Earlier this year, we held our first ‘P4C Family’. This was a chance for parents to see what P4C looked like at Middlefield. Together, parents and children took part in a selection of some P4C activities. The event was a great success and we hope to host more P4C events in the future.

 

Lead Philosopher

To promote the use of the 4Cs within our P4C lessons (and across the curriculum) we will be awarding a special title to a deserving philosopher from each class.

 

At the end of each half term, a pupil from each class, who demonstrated one or more of the 4Cs, will receive a special certificate and be chosen as Lead Philosopher.