Philosophy for Children

Philosophy for Children (P4C) is a way of exploring “big questions” and engaging in philosophical thinking.  All of our teaching staff are trained in delivering P4C and we include it in our learning every week, sometimes in separate sessions and sometimes linked with the curriculum. 

In P4C sessions we use all sorts of stimulus to create discussion such as film clips, photographs, paintings, sound clips, stories or ideas that emerge from our lessons.

The children learn to discuss in a Community of Enquiry where we have rules to ensure the children can discuss safely and confidently.  They listen carefully to each other, encourage everyone to take part, disagree in constructive ways, build on what each other has said and challenge assumptions.

These are the rules Beech class have decided on:

P4C COMMUNITY RULES:

• Be respectful towards other people and their opinions.

• Let other people speak and encourage them to do so.

• Listen to others and what they’re actually saying.

• Build on what others have said.

• Look at the person who’s talking or who you’re talking to.

• Disagree politely.

P4C is a great way of developing the children’s independent thinking, risk taking, cooperation, questioning and creativity (5 of our Planet Inspiration characters!).  We use it to discuss lots of global issues and develop our global awareness.

Beech Class debated the idea of school uniform and how important it is and what it should consist of in P4C.