Personal, Social and Health Education
PSHE is an important subject to teach, it is vital if pupils are to learn how to keep safe and healthy in an ever-changing world. Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education is a school subject through which pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes that they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. These skills and attributes help pupils to stay healthy, safe and prepare them for life and work in modern Britain. When taught well, PSHE education helps pupils to achieve their academic potential, and leave school equipped with skills they will need throughout later life.
PSHE is a key way that schools can ensure that pupils are receiving a wide and varied curriculum that is relevant to the lives they live today and prepares them for the future.
Personal, social and health education (PSHE) is a planned, developmental programme of learning opportunities and experiences through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. We believe that the education of PSHE enables children to become healthier, more independent and more responsible members of society.
We encourage our pupils to play a positive role in contributing to the life of the school and the wider community. In doing so, we help to develop their sense of self-worth. We teach them how society is organised and governed. We ensure that the children experience the process of democracy through participation of the School Council. We teach children about their rights and about their responsibilities. They learn to appreciate what it means to be a positive member of a diverse and multi-cultural society.
Indeed, the teaching of PSHE helps in many ways to meet the objectives set out in the Children Act 2004 (Every Child Matters) – ‘that to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being’. PSHE makes a significant contribution to pupil’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development, their behaviour and safety and the school’s statutory responsibility to pupils’ wellbeing. In addition, the learning provided through this comprehensive PSHE provision is essential to safeguarding pupils, as Ofsted has set out. Please click on the link at the bottom of the page to read our full policy for PSHE and a policy written with the children.
What we teach
PSHE respects and takes account of pupils’ prior learning and experiences. Our teaching reflects the needs shared by all children and specific needs of pupils at Gildersome Primary School. In 2017/18, our school adopted a new PSHE scheme of work ‘You, Me, PSHE’. This provides our school with a clear and progressive PSHE curriculum which can be used from years one to six.
We have divided PSHE into 7 different strands:
- Sex and relationship education
- Drug, alcohol and tobacco education
- Physical health and wellbeing
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Keeping safe and managing risk careers
- Financial capability & economic wellbeing
- Identity, society and equality
Within each strand, we have designed age appropriate topics for the different year groups. Please click on the link below to access the curriculum for Year 1-6.
All curriculum information about Relationships and Sex Education can be found in the above PSHE schemes of work
Alongside this scheme of work, we teach wellbeing lessons from the MindMate programme.
Six different themes are explored during the year: ‘Feeling Good to be Me’, ‘Friends and Family’, ‘Life Changes, ‘Strong Emotions’, ‘Being the same, being different’, ‘Solving problems/making it better’. These themes are supported by a planned programme of class lessons and activities. Assemblies also focus on our weekly ethos statements.
In addition to this, developing a growth mindset is of importance to the children in our school. Teachers ensure that pupils have opportunities to develop their growth mindset across the curriculum. As well as this, the school follows Growth Mindset Lessons (Rising Stars) in every year group.
How we teach PSHE
At Gildersome Primary School we will provide children with a range of experiences and opportunities that can enrich and broaden their learning in PSHE.
Much of what we teach will be delivered through class discussion and will include time for personal reflection. Teaching is responsive to class and pupil needs and decisions may be taken to explore one aspect in greater depth, or move on, as dictated by the needs of the cohort. From whole class sessions, the Learning Mentor or teacher may follow up certain themes with individual pupils in more detail dependent on need.
Whole school focus weeks or days will be adapted to meet the needs of each year group and to ensure coverage of the scheme of work. Some aspects of the programme may need to have parental approval.
EYFS
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, PSHE is encouraged through the ‘Personal, Social and Emotional Development’ Curriculum. See link below.
PSHE is about making connections and is strongly linked to play, PSHE is taught through activities that are part of topics and experiences, as well as on an individual basis to develop personal skills such as dressing, feeding and toileting. Positive experiences are built through daily opportunities to share and enjoy a range of activities, as members of a small group or occasionally during whole school activities.
Drug Education
To deliver our Drug Education we use an outside provider who deliver a lesson to each year group from FS2 to Y6 each year. Class teachers then build upon this starting point using the Leeds Primary Scheme of Work.
FS2- Different feelings & emotions / Taking care of our body / Medicine chat.
Year 1- How our body works / Healthy lunchboxes / Medicine chat / Exercise and rest.
Year 2- How we are different to our friends / How our body works / Being special.
Year 3- Smoking & effects on the body / What is in a cigarette / Passive Smoking.
Year 4- Alcohol & effects on the body / Alcoholic drinks.
Year 5- Solvents / Volatile Substances & effects on the body.
Year 6- Cannabis & effects on the body / Drug discussion.
Feedback from children
We wanted children in school to tell us some of the things that they liked about their new PSHE lessons. Children also identified different things that they wanted to get out of their PSHE lessons and see in school as a result of new learning.
Here are some of the things they said (2019) ...
'It makes me happy'
'It helps me to solve problems'
'It tells me that I need to talk about my feelings and that makes me happier'
'It helps me with understanding that people can look different and that is okay, and that you don't have to be afraid or shy, you can just be who you want to be'
'I now know how to look aftermy body and my head'
'It gives you a chance to talk about your feelings'
'I used to sulk and get mad. PSHE has taught me how to stay calm'
'I enjoy lessons because it is an open safe space where everyone can contribute and talk about their own personal experiences and their worries'
Here are some of the things that will make our new PSHE lessons even better (2019) ...
'Learn more about health'
'I would like to learn a lot more about emotions and how things can affect people in their lives'
'We could learn more about how to be a nice friend'
Anti-Bullying Week
Please see below some of the display things/activities the children made or did during Anti-bullying week. These are being displayed around the school to remind children of our school ethos.
British Values
We are learning about British Values and how we relate these to our school and local community. This is what our children told us about their understanding of the Values.
Please click on the link to read our 'Gildersome Values'.
School Council
The children are very proud to have voted for their School Council members and they take their role very seriously. Please click on the link to see who our School Council are this year.
Below is an example of school council meeting minutes which are fed back to the classes.