P4C

At Bradway, Philosophy for Children (or P4C) is an integral part of our school improvement strategy. It's an enquiry based approach to learning that opens up children's thinking through the exploration of ideas. It helps children to develop into effective thinkers and to take responsibility for their own learning. Children learn that their ideas have value as do the ideas of other people and it helps to promote tolerance and understanding which, in turn, leads to improved behaviour in school.

"P4C is a fun activity to do - it's good to sit with friends and hear their ideas. Sometimes their ideas really help us with problems. " (Y6 pupil)

At Bradway we have always understood that preparing children to successfully face the challenges of the world, and preparing children to be successful learners, are two sides of the same coin; in our opinion, you can’t have a successful learner over time if you neglect development of the whole child and P4C helps with all aspects of children’s learning.

Children love doing P4C. The following quotes from our children exemplify the positive and wide ranging effect that philosophical thinking, and specifically P4C, can have on children’s lives:

“I didn’t have a lot of friends before P4C – I found it hard to fit in – people liked different things to me. P4C teaches us to work together and to be kind.” (Y5 pupil)

"I think P4C might be one of the most important things in the world, to make the world a better place” (Y3 pupil)

In September 2019 we achieved the SAPERE Silver Award for our achievements with P4C.

Below: FS2 children engaging in a P4C enquiry

Below: Our Silver award

Below: Year 6 children engaging in a P4C enquiry