PSHE
The Intent, Implementation and Impact of our Curriculum
Intent
At Smallberry, we recognise that all of our children are growing up in a world that is rapidly changing and we want to ensure that children are equipped with accurate and relevant knowledge, skills and strategies needed to manage their lives now and in their futures.
It is our intent that all children, including those with SEND, EAL, PPG and most able, will build resilience and the confidence to develop their skills and understanding when having new experiences, meeting new challenges and finding themselves in unfamiliar situations. We recognise that while children are growing up in a world full of opportunities they are also faced with anxieties and risks at both a global and local level. Our intent is to support children to develop vital skills and attributes which will allow them to manage issues that are emerging; especially at a local level, such as, gang related crime, knife crime, social media and online bullying and anti-social behaviour. These key skills and attributes such as self-management, empathy, critical thinking, communication and resilience are crucial to children’s’ life chances.
Our fully inclusive PSHE curriculum allows children to acquire the knowledge to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, health and relationships as well as preparing them for a successful adult life. It develops the qualities and attributes children need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of their community and a global society.
Through focusing on the local context we are able to address the children’s direct experience in order to best support and meet their needs. We continually use this to adapt our curriculum. By consulting local child health profiles we recognise the need to promote healthy lifestyles. In order to develop children’s understanding of health and to support them to make informed choices with regards to diet and exercise, children are taught explicit lessons through the PSHE curriculum. Children will be given the appropriate vocabulary to be able to articulate their feelings and develop emotional intelligence. The intention is to promote mental wellbeing and empathy across the school and into the community. The children at Smallberry Green Primary School have a range of family backgrounds and life experiences. It is important that we build upon these experiences to provide understanding of the diversity in our country as a whole in terms of race, religion and relationships. The intent is to develop tolerant, respectful young people, prepared for their future lives. In Smallberry, the children use online resources frequently both in and outside of school. Our intent is to ensure all children are able to stay safe, making the correct choices about their use of technology.
Implementation
We use the PSHE Association Programme of Study and Jigsaw to support planning a personalised and flexible PSHE education scheme of work. Together, they enable us to develop all of our pupils’ knowledge, skills and understanding based on the three core themes of the PSHE Association: health and wellbeing, relationships and living in the wider world. It takes into account progression and development of pupils’ understanding of the overarching concepts and development of essential skills. Each core theme is covered half-termly in weekly lessons. Content has been selected to ensure opportunities to explore the overarching concepts and to develop the essential skills and attributes set out in the Programme of Study, through a programme that is relevant and appropriate to the ethos of our school and the needs of our pupils. We use a spiral approach so topics are gradually revisited at a deeper and much more challenging level in each year group, gradually extending thinking, expanding knowledge and developing skills, rather than providing a series of ‘one-off’ topics.
To promote and develop positive attitudes towards healthy lifestyles every year group is taught explicit lessons on making healthy choices and choosing a healthy diet and lifestyle. Healthy eating is promoted during lunchtimes and through events such as our Health Fair and healthy eating week.
Children’s’ mental wellbeing is supported through circle time sessions, friendship benches and song leaders. We also have trained emotional literacy support assistants (ELSA) who offer support to children who may require greater support to meet their emotional needs. This provision allows children to meet with our ELSA at set times and are provided with a calm, safe space for them to feel supported and nurtured. During these sessions children are provided with support for a wide range of emotional needs including recognising emotions, self-esteem, social skills, friendship skills, anger management and loss and bereavement.
There are many other opportunities where children are involved in PSHE outside of the discreet lesson, including assemblies where a range of themes are covered. Visitors are also used to enhance children’s knowledge and skills of themes covered in the PSHE curriculum. At appropriate times in the year, there are themed weeks and days EG. anti-bullying week.
As a health-promoting school our culture also places PSHE in the wider context of the schools’ approach to ethos, culture, environment and SMSC development, giving children a voice, Learning and teaching, curriculum planning and resourcing, policy development and partnerships with parents/carers, local communities, external agencies and volunteers to support pupils’ health and wellbeing.
Impact
Children in Smallberry develop positive and healthy relationships with both peers and staff. As well as this, racism is not an issue within our school, Smallberry is an inclusive school where diversity is celebrated. Children have respect for themselves and others. Children use their knowledge and understanding in developing skills and attitudes, for example through participating in discussions, group task and activities, managing conflict and making decisions. Children know how to keep themselves safe physically, mentally and technologically. They are aware of their responsibilities in looking after each other and the world around them. Through our curriculum, we believe that we prepare children for the next stage in their education as well as preparing them for life in modern Britain.
Whole School PSHE Curriculum