Spirituality reflects the belief of the vast majority of humanity, including Christians, that we are not merely complicated biological machines - that as well as mind and body we also have a spirit or soul. Christian faith points to us being made in the image of God, who is a spiritual being. That image is shown in many different ways but among them are our freedom of will and the responsibility that comes with that, our creativity and our ability to relate to God.
We welcome the work of Liz Mills and the Stapleford Cetre in helpfully identifying three key elements in spirituality and how they can be part of children's experience at school.
WINDOWS: giving children opportunities to become aware of the world in new ways; to wonder about life's 'Wows' (things that are amazing) and 'Ows' (things that bring us up short). In this children are learning about life in all its fullness.
MIRRORS: giving children opportunities to reflect on their experiences; to meditate on life's big questions and to consider some possible answers. In this they are learning from life by exploring their own insights and perspectives and those of others.
DOORS: giving children opportunities to respond to all of this; to do something creative as a means of expressing, applying and further developing their thoughts and convictions. In this they are learning to live by putting into action what they are coming to believe and value.