Reflection Areas and Prayer Spaces

At Monkton Church of England Primary School, we have a clear understanding of the need for collective worship and opportunities for reflection. Therefore,  within school, we have many areas where the children can sit and enjoy quiet and peace in order to support the children in taking time for prayer and discussion. We have noticed that our lives are constantly busy and on-the-go, with lots of noise and we rarely stop and pause. Our reflection areas give the children this moment:  we  sometimes overlook the benefits of quietness. When God met Elijah, he did not speak through the strong wind, the earthquake or the fire, but in the gentle breeze (1 Kings 19 1-13). Jesus showed us the importance of retreating from the busyness of the world. In Mark 1:35, we read about Jesus getting up early in the morning and going to find a place where he could pray alone. Perhaps helping our children to meet with God in silence may be one of the most enduring gifts we can give them - it allows us to offer our children the chance to reflect and believe 'With God, all things are possible' (Matthew 19:26). 

Within school we have:

- a prayer shed (currently being developed by our Walking Through Doors School Council)

- water fountain in our quiet garden

- Tom's Nurture Garden

As well as this, each classroom has a prayer tray for children to write their own prayers and then have read out during our worship each day.

We also have a prayer box at the entrance to the school so that if children have a worry, thought or just would like to write a prayer about something that matters to them, then they can write it at home and bring it into school. These also get selected and read out during worship. 

 

As part of our commitment to safeguarding and helping children feel happy, safe and comfortable in school, we now have a post box just inside the entrance to school.

As children come into school, they have the opportunity to share a worry, share a thought or share a prayer by posting it into the post box. Every day, a member of staff will empty the post box and then we can read the shared worry, thought or prayer and help to make things better, whatever that may be.