Personal , Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) & Mental Health
Intent – What we are trying to achieve?
Our PSHE curriculum aims are that every pupil, irrelevant of needs, develops their knowledge, understanding, attitudes, values and skills have what they will need in order to reach their potential as individuals and within the community. We want our children to feel empowered with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage life’s challenges and make the most of life’s opportunities. We provide our children with opportunities for them to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. We aim to help them understand how they are developing personally and socially, and tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. Our pupils are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and beyond the curriculum, contributing fully to the life of their school and communities. In doing so they will learn to recognise their own worth, work well with others and become increasingly responsible for their own learning.
Cultural Capital is a term to describe the tools that students will need to learn in order to be successful in the world of work, in relationships forged throughout life and as a valued contributor to society as a whole. These tools consist of knowledge gained, behaviours learned and skills mastered. We plan to enrich a student's development in the following areas to increase their 'Cultural Capital balance'.
The PSHE programme should enable all children to:
- Have a sense of purpose,
- Value self and others,
- From effective relationships,
- Make and act on informed decisions,
- Communicate effectively,
- Cooperate with others,
- Consider where their future lies,
- Respond to and relish challenge,
- Have an active role in their own learning,
- Be effective citizens who contribute to their local community,
- Explore issues related to living in a democratic society,
- Distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law,
- Acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services,
- Further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions,
- Become healthy and fulfilled individuals.
As part of the PSHE curriculum we are required to teach Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). High quality RSE help create a safe school community in which our pupils can grow, learn and develop positive, healthy behaviour for life.
Implementation – How will we achieve this?
Whole Class teaching: The PSHE curriculum is covered through a planned programme of learning and delivered through discussions, debates, circle time, stories that raise issues, role play and assemblies. To support our teaching of PSHE we use the PSHE Matters Scheme, which incorporates and is supported by our school values.
Key Vocabulary: Children revisit vocabulary that has been built up from previous lessons and use this to discuss explain, justify and argue in lessons.
Marking and Feedback: Live marking will take place during the lessons which gives them immediate feedback to act upon within a lesson. Learning is marked tightly against the LI (Learning Intention). Where appropriate, next steps are identified that extends or clarifies understanding of the LI.
Baseline Assessment: At the start of each module, teachers are able to use a suggested ‘baseline’ assessment which enables them to find out what the children already know, understand, are able to do and are able to say. This process also means that the children will not receive the same learning as they did the last time they met the module but will, instead, have their learning and understanding extended and deepened.
Wellbeing Ambassadors: Children are appointed to form our ‘Wellbeing Ambassadors’ team. Their role is to promote awareness of Mental Health, support their peers and to share anti-stigma messages with the whole school. This will be done through the use of displays and assembly time.
Assemblies: We have regular assemblies with a PSHE theme. These sometimes include input from visitors to school, for example, representatives from charities, external agencies or the local community. The School Council and other children’s leadership groups also regularly use assembly time to provide the rest of the children with updates.
Parent Meetings: Parent meetings will be held to share and inform parents of the content of the curriculum, share the resources used and also enable parents to ask questions about the provision. School will use their ‘feed-back’ to help shape the content and delivery of this element of the curriculum, as appropriate.
Whole School Events: We have regular visiting speakers from the local community who come into to school to enhance the PSHE units of study where appropriate. These include:
- Religious leaders
- Fire Officers
- Paramedics
- Community Police Officers
- Road Safety Officers
- NSPCC
- Charity representatives
Their input is carefully planned and monitored so as to fit into and complement the programme.
Skills Assessment Wheels: We use the scheme’s Skills Assessment Wheels to facilitate a measure of progress. The children assess their level of skill at the start of a term and then re-assess themselves at the end. This enables teachers and children to ascertain whether progress has been made and highlights areas for further work.
Pupil Interviews: Pupil interviews will be held to ascertain impact of the curriculum on children and inform teachers on future planning.
Impact – What difference will this make?
We aim to equip children with the necessary tools to become confident, tolerant and well-rounded adults. Children will be able to approach a range of real life situations and apply their skills and attributes to help navigate themselves through modern life. Children will have a willingness and ability to try new things, push themselves and persevere. Children will have a good understanding of how to stay safe, healthy and develop good relationships. They will have an appreciation of what it means to be a positive member of a diverse, multicultural society. Finally, children will have a better understanding of mental health and how they can have a positive impact on others and the world around them.
Follow the link below to view policies regarding PSHE.