Learning Traits
At Stanley Grove, we believe that developing strong learning traits is just as important as gaining knowledge. In assemblies we explore core learning traits such as kindness, creativity, perseverance, tolerance, and respect through inspiring stories, thoughtful discussions, and real-life examples. These assemblies help our children understand what these traits look like in action and how they can use them every day, both in school and beyond. Below, you’ll find a collection of the stories we’ve shared and the key messages we’ve taken from them.
Effort and perseverance 3.3. 25
During this assembly, we focused on one of our key learning traits: effort and perseverance. We read Dream Big by Deloris Johnson, a powerful story that reminded us that success doesn’t come overnight—it takes hard work, determination, and belief in ourselves. We talked about how challenges help us grow, and that every small step we take with effort brings us closer to our goals.
Toleracne and respect 27.3. 25
During this assembly, we explored the important learning traits of tolerance and respect. We shared the story Along Came a Different by Tom McLaughlin, which helped us think about how we treat people who may not look, think, or act like us. The story reminded us that differences should be celebrated, not feared, and that kindness, understanding, and working together make us stronger as a community.
Creativity 22.4.26
In this assembly, we focused on the learning trait of creativity. We read The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, a story that encouraged us to take risks, express ourselves, and believe in our ideas—no matter how small they may seem at first. The story showed us that creativity starts with just one brave mark and grows when we have the confidence to keep going and share our imagination with others.
Kindness 28.4.25
In this assembly, we explored the learning trait of kindness. We read We’re All Wonders by R.J. Palacio, a heartfelt story that reminded us everyone is unique and deserves to be treated with respect and compassion. The story encouraged us to choose kindness every day, to look beyond differences, and to see the beauty in others—because when we’re kind, we help make the world a better, more accepting place.
Staying Safe
Helping our children understand how to stay safe is a vital part of our school life. Through assemblies, we teach important messages about staying safe in a range of situations both in and out of school. Our aim is to empower children with the knowledge and strategies they need to make safe, informed choices every day.
Water safety 6.5.25
In this assembly, we focused on the important topic of water safety. With summer holidays approaching, it’s vital that our children understand how to stay safe around rivers, lakes, the sea, and swimming pools.
Some of our older children watched a powerful video from the RNLI titled “Caught in the Current” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN2Jai9HCXw which told the real-life story of a group of teenagers who got into difficulty while swimming in open water. The film highlighted how quickly things can go wrong—even for confident swimmers—and how peer pressure can sometimes lead to risky decisions.
We discussed key safety messages, including:
- Always swimming in safe, supervised areas.
- Spotting the dangers of cold water shock and strong currents.
- Calling 999 and asking for the coastguard in an emergency.
- The importance of staying calm and floating if you fall into water unexpectedly.
Our younger children also learned simple water safety tips in an age-appropriate way, helping them understand how to enjoy water safely with adult supervision.
This assembly was an important reminder that knowing how to stay safe around water can save lives.
Clever never goes 9.6.25
In this week assembly, we introduced the important message of Clever Never Goes. This campaign helps children learn how to stay safe by thinking cleverly, especially when they’re out and about without an adult. Clever Never Goes teaches children to focus on what someone asks them to do. If someone asks them to go somewhere, even if it’s someone they know. They should stop, think, and never go without checking with a trusted adult.
We explored what “clever” choices look like and used real-life scenarios to help children practise how they might respond.