PSHE

Learning through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives, now and in the future.

Intent

At St Mark’s Primary School, it is our intent that we incorporate PSHE (personal, social and health education) into our everyday school life; that is to say that a lot of our lessons cover many aspects of these key life skills implicitly.

Wellbeing and good mental health are of paramount importance and our pupils are encouraged to recognise, understand and monitor their own feelings as well as feel empowered to seek support should they need it. In addition to looking after their mental health, children are also taught to develop a positive growth mind-set through specific teaching in PSHE lessons and across the wider curriculum, where skills such as resilience, perseverance and independence are celebrated.   

As a school, it is also imperative to support the children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. We believe that all stakeholders in our school uphold positive values, morals and beliefs which are in line with the core British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs. A strong sense of community and the wider-world is central to our ethos and this equips children with the knowledge, skills and strategies to live healthy, happy, full, safe and responsible lives.

Implementation

It is our intention that our PSHE education will help pupils prepare for all the opportunities, challenges, life decisions and responsibilities they will face.

We believe that PSHE plays a crucial part of primary education and is therefore timetabled to be taught at least weekly to ensure that quality time is dedicated to these areas. There are always occasions where teachers may feel it necessary to teach PSHE as a result of an issue that has arisen in their own class. Many objectives from the curriculum will also be covered as an important part of school assemblies, where children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured.  Teachers follow a Primary Scheme of Work called SCARF – Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience, Friendship (Coram Life Education). Developed by teachers and centred on a values-based and ‘Growth Mindset’ approach, SCARF’s lesson plans and resources help to promote positive behaviour, mental health, wellbeing, resilience and achievement. There is now a proven link between pupils’ health and wellbeing, and their academic progress. Crucial skills and positive attitudes developed through comprehensive Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) are critical to ensuring children are effective learners and SCARF provides a whole-school approach to building these essential foundations – vital for children to achieve their best, academically and socially.

SCARF lesson plans are organised around the PSHE Association’s Programmes of Study Learning Opportunities, which includes three core themes of Health and Wellbeing; Relationships; and, Living in the Wider World. These themes have been broken down into six main areas for termly coverage, and are ordered as follows:

·         Me and My Relationships

·         Valuing Difference

·         Keeping Myself Safe

·         Rights and Responsibilities

·         Being my Best

·         Growing and Changing

In addition to dedicated PSHE lessons, many other curriculum subjects make a link to PSHE, British Values, SMSC and the language is used consistently by all staff. British Values and SMSC displays throughout the school also reinforce the PSHE curriculum, further enabling children to make links.

Beyond our documented curriculum, it is hoped that the school’s values provide a culture that contributes equally towards the pastoral development of our children. Therefore, our teaching approach places great emphasis upon collaboration and cooperation: group work should be a key element of all classrooms, enabling our pupils to achieve success together. Beyond this, pupils are encouraged to show leadership in their community through Student Council.

Impact

Monitoring and assessment is an on-going process for PSHE and wellbeing; teachers’ use their assessment for learning as necessary, as well as monitoring and evidencing children’s learning in exercise books.

*  Children will demonstrate and apply the British Values of Democracy, Tolerance, Mutual respect, Rule of law and Liberty.

*  Children will demonstrate a healthy outlook towards school – attendance will be in-line with national and behaviour will be outstanding.

*  Participation in extra-curricular activity both in school and beyond is encouraged and celebrated.

*  Pupil Voice Surveys are used to assess knowledge of how to stay safe and emotionally confident within the school.

*  Children will become healthy and responsible members of society.

*  Levels of volunteering both within the school through librarians and peer mediators, and within the community through choir concerts within local care homes.

*  Children will achieve age related expectations across the wider curriculum.

*  Children will be well prepared for their journey preparing them for life and work in modern Britain.