Intent
Kirk Merrington Primary School PSHE lessons aim to equip children with essential skills which will enable them to embrace the challenges of creating a happy and successful life in the future. They aim to develop the whole child through carefully planned and resourced lessons that develop knowledge, skills and attributes children need to protect and enhance their wellbeing. Through our lessons, children will learn how to stay safe and healthy, build and maintain successful relationships and become active citizens, responsibly participating in society around them. We believe that a successful PHSE curriculum is a vital tool in preparing children for life in society now and in the future. Our PSHE units aim to cover a wide range of social and emotional aspects of learning, enabling our children to develop their identity and self-esteem. The themes and topics have been carefully chosen to support the social, moral, spiritual and cultural development of our children and provide them with protective teaching on essential safeguarding issues, developing the knowledge of when and how to ask for help.
Our plans are developed from the Learning Outcomes and Core Themes provided by the PSHE Association Programme of Study, which is reco, copy the text mmended and referred to by the DFE in all key documentation relating to PSHE provision in schools. We also use SCARF to provide in depth lesson plans and resources to support our teaching and delivery of PSHE and RSE. Our plans follow the three core areas of Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. Our lessons fulfil the requirements of 2020 Statutory Relationships and Sex Education, setting these learning intentions in the context of a broad and balanced PSHE curriculum.
Implementation
Our PSHE lessons are designed to be taught in thematic units. This will enable our children to recall and build upon previous learning, exploring the underlying principles of PSHE education regularly at a depth that is appropriate for the age and stage of our children. Our lessons signpost key words, building vocabulary to develop understanding. Teachers have the flexibility to choose from a range of resources which will help them to tailor their lessons to the maturity and needs of their class. We will also draw on the expertise of people around us and invite visitors in to enhance our lessons.
Impact
Through our effective curriculum, our children are enabled to develop the vocabulary and confidence needed to clearly articulate their thoughts and feelings in a climate of openness, trust and respect, and know when and how to seek the support of others. Our children will apply their understanding of society interactions from the classroom to our wider community. By prioritising physical and mental health and wellbeing, our children will have the skills to evaluate and understand their own wellbeing needs, practise self-care and contribute positively to the wellbeing of the children around them.
Successful PSHE education can have a positive impact on the whole child, including their academic development and progress. This can be achieved by mitigating any social and emotional barriers to learning and building confidence and self-esteem. Evidence suggests that successful PSHE education also helps disadvantaged and vulnerable children achieve to a greater extent. This is achieved by raising aspirations and empowering them with the skills to overcome barriers they face. Our whole-school approach will positively impact wellbeing, safeguarding and SMSC outcomes. This will ensure that our children develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to succeed at school and in the wider world.
