Spirituality at CTS
At Christ the Sower, spirituality is about the development of a sense of self, of soul, personality and character. Our school vision, underpinned by CARE, supports the development of spirituality both as a whole school community and also for each and every individual.
'A loving place where we all care, learn and grow together.
Underpinning all that we do, is our explicit intention that all members of our community show CARE. The compassion we show towards each other develops a sense of soul. We teach this through nurturing children and adults to make good choices, and we ask that we all aspire highly for ourselves, and each other.
How do we describe spirituality at CTS?
At Christ the Sower Ecumenical School, spirituality encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices, embracing the diverse ways in which individuals find meaning, connection, and purpose in life. For many, spirituality is about deepening relationships with oneself, others, the environment, and, for those who believe, a higher power.
Within the Christian tradition, for instance, each person is seen as a unique and valued creation, shaped by God in His image. God is often likened to a potter, with each individual as the work of His hands. Life, much like pottery, can experience cracks and breaks, leaving us feeling fractured or changed. Christians believe that, no matter the circumstances, God is always present to restore and heal, mending the broken pieces of our lives.
This sentiment is echoed in Isaiah 64:8: "We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." Similarly, the Japanese art of Kintsugi—where broken pottery is repaired with golden glue—illustrates the belief that beauty can emerge from life’s challenges, with repaired cracks allowing light to shine through.
'We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand'.
In these special moments there is a spiritual opportunity.
Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken ceramics with golden joinery or glue, creates something that has been broken into something differently beautiful and even more valuable. Using this metaphor, the ‘wows’, ‘ows’ and ‘nows’ of life offer the possibility of becoming cracks that are filled with gold, adding significance and value to life. In all these moments, there is an opportunity to invite God to be involved in making sense of these experiences.
While these examples are rooted in Christian faith, the idea that resilience and beauty can arise from hardship is universally resonant. At CtS, spirituality is an inclusive journey that honours everyone's unique path, inviting all to find meaning and connection in the Ows, Wows, and Nows of life’s experiences. A fulfilling spiritual journey is a fulfilling part of life, that is open to people of all faiths and none.


We read the story of the 'Kintsugi Kid' in collective worship.
WOWs, OWs and NOWs
WOW Moments
Cracks may be caused when something so good and breath-taking happens that the pot expands and cracks – the wows of life.
OW Moments
Cracks may happen when something challenging happens and threatens the comfort of everyday
– the ows of life.
NOW Moments
- These are ordinary everyday times: being able to be present in the moment, being open and receptive to life, because God is not just for emergencies!
We help each other to recognise these moments in life and to reflect on events that make us who we are.
Everyone will respond differently to WOW, OW and NOW moments, therefore making each crack unique to us as individuals.
This is how we develop our very own sense of self, soul, personality and character.
Our Own Unique Spiritual Journey.
How do we know that Spiritual Development is effective at CtS?
Spirituality is helping our children to love and respect themselves and enjoy good positive relationships with others. They take an interest and delight in the world around them and openly share their love of learning. They are open to what lies beyond, including in developing their spirituality, and for many, a faith and belief in God.
Our children can articulate our school Christian vision, and they have a developing understanding of Christian and positive life values, including British Values. They are able to express, understand and manage their feelings as well as respect those of others. They have a strong moral compass and engage in courageous advocacy projects as active, caring and responsible citizens. They are able to enjoy quiet and stillness. They possess an active imagination and show joy in creativity and discovering new skills. Therefore, we know that our approach to spiritual development is effective.
Supporting your child's Spiritual Development
If you as a parent would like to understand more about supporting your child’s spiritual Development please look at the video below from the National Institute for Christian Education nicer.org.uk
Fostering spiritual awareness in children can be a deeply personal and meaningful journey. Here are ten ideas to help parents guide their children in developing spiritual awareness:
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Be a Role Model: Your own spiritual practices and beliefs can influence your children, so model the behaviours and values you want them to embrace.
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Open Dialogue: Encourage open and non-judgmental conversations about spirituality, allowing your children to ask questions and express their thoughts and feelings.
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Explore Different Beliefs: Introduce your children to a variety of spiritual and religious traditions, helping them understand the diversity of human beliefs and values.
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Nature and Mindfulness: Spend time in nature with your children, teaching them to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Practice mindfulness together to develop a sense of presence and inner calm.
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Read Spiritual and Moral Stories: Share age-appropriate books and stories that convey moral lessons, values, and spiritual themes.
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Family Rituals: Establish family rituals that connect to your spiritual or cultural traditions, such as prayers, blessings, or ceremonies. Make these rituals meaningful and participatory for your children.
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Encourage Self-Reflection: Help your children develop the habit of self-reflection and journaling. Encourage them to think about their values, beliefs, and the meaning of life.
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Acts of Kindness: Teach your children about the importance of compassion and kindness by engaging in acts of service, such as volunteering together or helping those in need.
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Encourage Questions: Welcome and explore your children's questions about spirituality. Help them seek answers and develop their own understanding.
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Mind-Body Practices: Introduce practices like yoga, meditation, or tai chi to help your children connect with their inner selves and develop a sense of inner peace and balance.
Remember that spirituality is a personal and evolving journey. Spirituality does not have to link to faith. We are all spiritual beings, even if we do not believe in God. It's important to respect your children's autonomy and allow them to develop their own beliefs and values as they grow. Creating a supportive and open environment for their spiritual exploration is key to their development in this area.
The role of Religious Education in Spiritual Development
The Church of England’s ‘Statement for Entitlement’ outlines the aims and expectations for Religious Education in CE schools and guides this school’s approach to RE and spirituality. The role of RE is neither to promote nor undermine organised religion. But part of its purpose is to provide structured opportunity for consideration of the non-material aspects of life. RE can contribute dynamically to children and young people’s education by provoking challenging questions about meaning and purpose in life, beliefs about God, ultimate reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. It can support their own discovery of their personal spiritual journeys of meaning, purpose and value.
RE allows children to reflect upon and share their own knowledge and lived experiences, plus find out about the experiences, beliefs and traditions of other people. Through this process, children expand their knowledge, begin to shape their own beliefs form opinions and add breadth to their world view.
High quality RE lessons at Christ the Sower Ecumenical School,.offer children opportunities that challenge their thinking through Big Questions. They critically reflect on their own religious, spiritual and/or philosophical convictions and are equipped with the skills to confidently discuss religious, spiritual and philosophical ideas.
Spirituality Development
Spiritual Development at CtS, enables children the opportunity to think about themselves, their relationships with others, about beauty and creation and the world beyond. We model an environment of inclusion and respect. We allow children the space, processes, imagination, relationships, intimacy and trust that they need to be spiritual beings.
At Christ the Sower Ecumenical Primary School, we enable children to explore their spirituality by
- Teaching children that everyone has a worldview, and that some people, including Christians believe in a higher power
- Giving the children a chance to talk about spiritual questions.
- Teaching our vision and values through our worship.
- Providing children with opportunities to serve others within the school and the local community
- Providing opportunities for quiet reflection in each daily worship.
- Providing reflection areas in each class and in communal areas in order for the children to have time during the school day when they can quietly reflect and/or pray. This includes quiet spaces in our outdoor areas, so the children have the space to reflect and be quiet.
- Encouraging the children at CTS to be the best version of themselves. Staff set good examples and best practice is rewarded in class and during celebration worship.
- Seeking to find ways in which all curriculum areas can contribute to children’s spiritual development and using these opportunities in our planning.
- Through all curriculum areas we foster spirituality through prayer, dance, singing in class, worship and school choirs, music, poetry, art, drama, story and a love of nature and the environment.
- Governors working alongside the Worship lead and Headteacher to contribute to developing spirituality across the school.