PSHE Curriculum - Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education
The PSHE curriculum at Wheelock develops the children’s understanding of how to form and maintain healthy positive age-appropriate relationships, develops their own self-worth and respect, improves their emotional resilience and the ability to articulate their feelings, as well as developing the virtues of integrity, kindness, courage and trustworthiness. The links between good physical health and emotional wellbeing are fully exploited at each development stage. Furthermore, supported by high-quality learning experiences, children develop a strong moral compass, which guides them through the decision making process as they age.
Due to the demographic of Wheelock Primary School, and our below national average ethnic minorities pupils on roll, it is important that we build upon the children’s experiences to provide a wider understanding of the diversity in our country, and across the world, as a whole in terms of race, religion, relationships. The intent is to develop tolerant, respectful young people, prepared for their future lives in the wider world. Alongside the science and Physical Education curriculums, PSHE develops the understanding of health and fitness. In our school, we give children the knowledge to be able to make an informed choice with regards to diet and exercise. Additionally, in our increasingly technological world, the children in Wheelock Primary use online resources frequently both in and outside of school, and are therefore exposed to an increased risk of internet abuse. Our intent is to ensure all children are able to stay safe, making the correct choices about their use of technology and know who to talk to if they feel unsafe or worried about content on the internet; children leaving Wheelock are digitally literate. .
Improved attainment in other areas of the curriculum will be observed, due to the positive relationships between both staff and pupils, as well as peer to peer relationships, attitudes and engagement promoted within this curriculum area.
PSHE, alongside all areas of our curriculum at Wheelock, promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. The PSHE mapping document shows how these are applied within the PSHE sessions.
Pedagogy
PHSE at Wheelock is provided through the Jigsaw 3-11 Program. This offers a comprehensive programme of primary PSHE which meets the statutory Relationships and Health Education, in a spiral, progressive and fully planned scheme of work. This gives children relevant learning experiences to help them navigate their world and to develop positive relationships with themselves and others.
The Jigsaw program consists of six half-term units of work (Puzzles), each containing six lessons (Pieces) covering each academic year. At Wheelock, teachers will access the higher year group work for their main cohort, then either extend the more able or scaffold and support those who need it.
- Term 1: Being Me in My World
- Term 2: Celebrating Difference (incl. anti-bullying)
- Term 3: Dreams and Goals
- Term 4: Healthy Me
- Term 5: Relationships
- Term 6: Changing Me (incl. RSE) **
(**Changing Me will be taught in age-appropriate classes due to the more sensitive nature of this content).
Alongside the main PSHE provision offered at Wheelock, the children’s experiences are supplemented by the No Outsiders program. No Outsiders books are used at least once per half term to promote key objectives linked to protected characteristics such as race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, faith and belief and disability. These books are chosen by each year group leader to meet the needs of the cohort, from a selection supplied by the co-ordinator. In addition, Wheelock Primary takes part in regular cross-trust projects linking the schools within the Learning for Life Partnership.
At appropriate times in the year, there are additional PSHE sessions linked to the wider world and opportunities that arise (such as democracy links during local and national elections etc). When restrictions allow, children experience visits from external bodies to further promote their understanding and appreciation of diversity. Our Rights Respecting Schools sessions also support our wider PHSE vision for our pupil.
The whole school, and individual classroom environments, reflect Wheelock’s approach developing the children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development through high quality displays and an ethos of acceptance and celebration of differences. In addition, children’s work can be found and assessed in Tapestry for EYFS, class books and individual topic books through a variety of mediums (QR coded roleplays/ discussions, annotated photographs, written work etc) for Key Stage 1 and 2. Children will also show their understanding of topics covered through regular pupil feedback with the co-ordinator and key stage leaders.
Furthermore, in addition to the main PSHE curriculum provided to all Wheelock pupils, a number of additional groups have been developed to encourage the children’s peer support of the PSHE curriculum and the embedded values. These groups are chosen through self-selection, class promotion and teacher choice. Although flexible to meet the needs of a cohort, these may include:
- Acorns Provision (nurture support in groups/ individual dependent on need)
- Individual Mentoring (1:1 support for identified children)
- Treetops
- ELSA
- Junior Safety Officers
Assessment
- Children will be happy, healthy informed citizens.
- Children will develop positive and healthy relationship with their peers both now and in the future.
- Children will understand the physical and emotional aspects involved in RSE at an age appropriate level.
- Children will have respect for themselves and others.
- Children will have positive body images.
- Children will know how to keep themselves safe physically, mentally and technologically.
- Children will understand that the world is diverse and that everyone has the right to equality.
- Children will be able to articulate themselves clearly using age appropriate language surrounding the key themes of PSHE.
- Children will have the building blocks necessary to continue to learn and develop after they leave Wheelock Primary School.