Philosophy for Children 

At New End School, we use the Philosophy for Children (P4C) approach to teaching and learning, to help children to develop into effective, critical and creative thinkers and to take responsibility for their own learning in a caring and collaborative way. We do this by providing practical ways of developing good thinking, questioning and communication skills.

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With experience, children’s questions become deeper and more thought provoking. The children’s discussions become more disciplined and focused yet, at the same time, more imaginative. The approach not only helps to develop creative and critical thinking skills but also encourages children to care more about what others say and develop the ability to recognise differences and explore these collaboratively.

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The aim of these discussions is to help children to develop the skills and dispositions that will enable them to contribute as responsible citizens of the future. This supports the school’s core identity, where children learn to listen to and respect each other.

Discussions are linked to a particular topic area or curriculum subject, particularly in English, PSHE or RE. There is the opportunity to make links between matters of personal concern such as love, growing up, friendship, bullying and fairness and more general philosophical issues such as change, personal identity, free will, space, truth and right and wrong.

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This approach helps to create an environment where a child’s questioning can flourish, developing children’s abilities to ask their own thoughtful questions. Additionally, it helps to enhance the quality of learning as a whole and raise standards of attainment and achievement.

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