Cultural Capital

Cultural capital refers to the knowledge, behaviours, and skills that a child can draw upon to demonstrate their cultural awareness and competence. It is a key ingredient for success in society, career, and the world of work. Cultural capital gives power and helps children achieve goals and social mobility, regardless of their starting point.

At Salisbury Manor Primary School, children benefit from a curriculum that builds on their existing knowledge and understanding through our teaching of discrete subjects. The curriculum builds on prior learning and revisits topics to ensure children ‘know more and remember more’. We believe that exposure to culture and new situations is crucial for their ongoing success.

Every child and family who joins our setting will have their own knowledge and experiences that will link to their culture and wider family. This might include languages, beliefs, traditions, cultural and family heritage, interests, travel, and work. Research shows that when children and families’ cultures are valued, both the child’s experience of learning and progress can benefit.

Ofsted defines cultural capital as “the essential knowledge that pupils need to be educated citizens, introducing them to the best that has been thought and said and helping to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.”

Gradually widening children’s experiences as they progress through our school is an important step in providing rich and engaging learning across the curriculum. We plan carefully for children to have progressively richer experiences in nursery and beyond. This ensures that children become productive members of society.