Intent:
Personal and Social development plays an important role in everyday life at the Skylark Federation. Our school’s intent for PSHE learning is for our children to be happy, healthy, safe and listened to. We encourage children to be reflective of their own experiences and understand how they are developing personally and socially. We support them to understand and respect the diversity and differences in our communities, form effective and fulfilling relationships and build emotional resilience. We believe it is important for children to recognise their own self-worth and become increasingly responsible for their own learning and behaviours.
Our PSHE curriculum develops learning and results in the acquisition of knowledge and skills which will enable children to access the wider curriculum and prepare them to be a global citizen now and in their future roles within a global community. It promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils, preparing them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences for later life. Our Relationships, Sex, Health Education enables our children to learn how to be safe, and to understand and develop healthy relationships, both now and in their future lives.
Implementation:
The statutory guidance covers three core themes: ‘Health and Wellbeing’, ‘Relationships’, and ‘Living in the Wider World’. We use the Let’s Talk scheme developed by Opening Young Minds to implement the PSHE and RSHE curriculum. The aim is to give children the tools and language to express their emotions and tackle challenges, creating a culture of positive personal development.
The focus areas in the Let’s Talk scheme are;
· Resilience
· Relationships
· Well-Being
· Heath Education
· Friendships
· Wider World
· Sex and Relationship Education
As part of the Let’s Talk curriculum there is also a focus on careers with a dedicated Careers Curriculum. Each class explores a different career on a termly basis, helping pupils’ develop aspirations for the future.
Learning is progressive from Reception to Year 6 enabling pupils to build on and develop their knowledge and understanding further.
We believe that PSHE plays a vital part in children’s development and wellbeing therefore, it is taught weekly during discrete lessons. This enables staff to ensure that a full coverage of PSHE is taught. In addition to this there may be occasions where teachers feel it is important to teach PSHE as a result of an issue arisen in their own class. This ensures that our PSHE curriculum meets the individual needs and development of the children.
We have also implemented a comprehensive school-wide approach to Therapeutic Thinking in our Behaviour Policy. This supports our aim of developing the whole child through a spiral curriculum approach developing knowledge, skills and understanding.
Themed weeks with a PSHE focus include activities and discussions around areas such as Anti Bullying and Children’s Mental Health Week. Where possible people are invited into school to share their careers, roles and responsibilities such as firefighters from the local fire station and a parent who is a pilot.
PSHE is an important part of school assemblies where children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured. Our termly values are formed from Values for Life. Children’s achievements are celebrated during a weekly celebration assembly. This includes a Kindness Award to celebrate and promote a culture of kindness.
Impact:
By the time our children leave our school they will:
· be able to approach a range of real-life situations and apply their skills and attributes to help navigate themselves through modern life
· be on their way to becoming healthy, open minded, respectful, socially and morally responsible, active members of society
· appreciate difference and diversity
· recognise and apply the British Values of Democracy, Tolerance, Mutual respect, Rule of law and Liberty
· be able to understand and manage their emotions
· be able to look after their mental health and well-being
· be able to develop positive, healthy relationship with their peers both now and in the future.
· understand the physical aspects involved in RSHE at an age-appropriate level
· have respect for themselves and others.
· have a positive self esteem
Impact of our PSHE curriculum is reflected through the behaviours and attitudes of our pupils and their relationships with each other. Subject and school leaders monitor the impact of our curriculum provision through regular monitoring.