Philosophy 4 Children (P4C)

How P4C is taught at XXXX

In a typical P4C session, the facilitator (in most cases this is the Class Teacher) will present the children with a stimulus. This could be a video, a photograph, a story, a short film or even an object or artefact. The children then have to think of concepts that the stimulus invokes.

A concept is usually something that’s abstract – meaning you cannot physically see or touch it. For example, love, happiness, anger or fear.

But they don’t have to be abstract. In short, a concept is something that has pre-conceived ideas connected to it and these can be challenged, discussed and enquired in P4C.

After this, the children generate their own philosophical questions based on one or more of the subjects. To begin with, in EYFS for example, the question making process may be more heavily scaffolded by the facilitator.

However, as children move up through the school they are confident generating these independently. The questions are read out to the class and there is a class vote on which question they would like to base their enquiry on.

The enquiry is then carried out across the remainder of the session and following sessions if needed.

Throughout the enquiry process, we give our children the opportunity to voice their thoughts and opinions in a safe and understanding environment where they are able to develop their confidence, independence, speaking and listening, social and reasoning skills.

Read more about our curriculum.