INSPIRE Prayer Spaces

We were delighted to welcome INSPIRE prayer spaces into our school as part of our provision in school for the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development of our children.

INSPIRE Prayer Spaces is a joint initiative between GenR8 and the Diocese of Ely.

Prayer Spaces in Schools enables children and young people, of all faiths and none, to explore some of the big questions in life, spirituality and faith in a safe, creative and interactive way. Prayer Spaces gave children and young people an opportunity to develop skills of personal reflection and to explore the idea of prayer in an open, inclusive and safe environment. The approach does not attempt to convert and purposely allows pupils to make their own meaning and to draw their own conclusions.

INSPIRE Prayer Spaces gave all our our pupils from Y1-6 a hands-on opportunity to reflect on their identity, values and emotions around the concept of ‘being strong.’ Pupils accessed imaginative activities to explore spirituality around this theme in fresh creative ways. Our blue hall was set up with temporary structures using various fun, hands on, reflective and colourful stimuli and resources for children to engage with at their level.

No-one was required to pray, and the prayer spaces were designed for students of faith as well as those with none. For children who did not wish to pray, they were encouraged to think about their own beliefs and feelings whilst in the prayer space, and enjoy being in the relaxing atmosphere. 

Lean On Me

"The pipe cleaners made me think about being stung by a wasp but my friends made me ok. They helped and supported me. My dad is one pipe cleaner and my
sister is the other. They help me when I'm sad.
The pipe cleaners are three colours and I like twisting them together and I thought about my two friends and I'm thinking about my great grandma and my
granddad who are in heaven now. They all help me.
The three pipe cleaners show us we are not alone, we are stronger together but still a bit flexible.
When you're together with your friends, you can do anything!"

Finding Strength

"The wool and glue activity reminded me about the things which give me inner strength in life."

Leaving an Impression

"I made a rainbow in the sand. .Rainbows come after rain and sunshine. You need both. It's like life is good and hard at the same time."

What is a Prayer?

Responses to the question ‘What is prayer?’

"Prayer is talking to God."
"I think it means looking around and listening." 
"Some people pray when they want their family to be safe."
"Prayer is a bit like meditating."
"Some people make the sign of a cross."
"I don't know what prayer is."
"Prayer is being quiet."
"Prayer means doing something,even when you're quiet."
"Prayer is about having peace. It might be about keeping secrets and you might talk to God about them."
"People sitting on a carpet, relaxing, thinking."
"It could be asking God to forgive you."
"It might be praying for your family when there's sickness."
"Candles make me think about God."
"I'm thinking about temples and churches I've seen on my travels."
"It makes me think of celebrations."
"You can pray for other people, that bad things don't happen to them."
"Some people sit differently and they might be praying for something or to Jesus."
"If you go to a church, you might pray for people who have died."
"Sometimes people put their heads down or hands together."
"Prayer might be celebrating something."
"Sometimes there are lights and candles."
"I think you can pray anywhere. I'm already thinking!"

What's on your Mind?

Whilst sitting around a bubble tube, children were encouraged to consider ‘what’s on your mind?’ They were asked to write down a worry, or something that they wanted changed.

"My favourite was the bubble tube because we watched the bubbles change colour. It gave me time to think."
"The bubbles made me sad because my mum and dad aren't together. The bubbles give me ideas and I have pictures in my head."
"The bubble tube helped me to say what's in my mind and what frightens me...the killer clown in our area. It's in my dreams but now I've managed to say it out loud for the first time (others joined in, agreeing that they're also frightened by it, how to cope and shared tactics.)"

What if?

 If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

David & Goliath

Being strong when you face a fear.  What does being strong mean?

"Being strong in our bodies means eating vegetables, doing exercise, getting sleep, drinking water, doing sport, getting muscles."
"It don't matter if your body is weak or strong if your mind is strong."
"Being strong means being brave, some people do brave jobs."
"Even small people can be strong. They can have mental strength. Don't give up, persevere!"
"Even though you don't look strong, you might be strong on the inside. Or big strong people might be frightened!"

" I really like what you've done to this place.  It's so beautiful and colourful".

It's good to be you!

Reflecting on ‘It’s good to be you!’ Children wrote what they were good at, or what they thought their gifts were. They were encouraged to think about how they might use them.