PSHE policy document can be found on the School Policies page.
Relationships Education Parent Information
What is PSHE education?
PSHE Education stands for Personal, Social, Health and Economic education.
‘Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) is an important and necessary part of all pupils’ education. All school should teach PSHE during on good practice.’ Department for Education, September 2013
PSHE is currently a non-statutory subject. However, section 2.5 of the national curriculum states that all state schools ‘should make provision for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE)’. Following further guidance from the Department for Education, schools are now required to include information about their PSHE education provision when publishing their curriculum. The six core areas which all aims are taught are: Me and My Relationships, Valuing Differences, Keeping Myself Safe, Rights and Responsibilities, Being My Best and Growing and Changing, (including British Values, citizenship, Economic Wellbeing and aspects of Careers education).
The relationships and Health and Wellbeing sections of PSHE education is compulsory in primary schools, with plans to also make the remaining parts of the PSHE curriculum statutory following further government consultation.
Why is PSHE education taught?
PSHE education aims to teach children the knowledge and skills that they need to stay safe and be happy and healthy, while also preparing them for life in the present and future. Importantly, it equips children with the skills they need to live successfully as citizens of the communities to which they belong. In addition, PSHE education encourages children to develop positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. This is achieved by empowering them with the knowledge and understanding of why this is important and how it can be achieved.
PSHE at St Michael in the Hamlet
At St Michael in the Hamlet Primary School we aim to promote healthy, independent and responsible members of society. We encourage all our pupils to play a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community through school councils, fundraising events, supporting nominated charities and involvement in community activities. Our pupils are given opportunities in PSHE lessons and assemblies to develop confidence, self-motivation and an understanding of their rights and responsibilities within our diverse society.
We teach PSHE in a variety of ways: through weekly PSHE lessons, as a discrete subject, via assemblies and through other subjects such as RE, History, Geography, Literacy, Maths and Science, as well as through outdoor educational visits, community work and activities.
Scheme of Work
At St Michael in the Hamlet we follow a scheme of work provided by SCARF (Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience, Friendship). SCARF is a comprehensive framework of study, consisting of six core units – one per half term – and six key lessons within each unit. The core units are revisited again in each year group, allowing children to consolidate and build on from prior knowledge taught in the previous year groups. They will explore the underlying principles of PSHE education regularly at a depth that is appropriate for the age and stage of the child. Lessons also signpost key words, building a rich vocabulary to develop understanding.
SCARF’s PSHE units are designed to be delivered in a creative manner, using many approaches such as role play, discussion, and games with groups of various sizes. These activities enable children to build confidence and resilience. Resources are also provided for communicating with parents and carers about how and why each theme is covered and suggestions for extending the learning at home.
Assessment for learning opportunities are built into each lesson and pre and post unit assessments are provided for each unit of work. Assessments are not used as tests, but rather a way to see and celebrate the achievements of each child from their starting point in their learning. Each PSHE lesson begins with a discussion of children’s existing knowledge and experience, providing an opportunity for baseline assessment. Each lesson ends with an opportunity to consolidate and reflect upon learning.
Across the wider curriculum we strive to ensure all subjects make a link to PSHE, BV, SMSC and the language is used consistently by all staff. Whole school, Key Stage and class assemblies always make a link to PSHE, British Values and SMSC. Additionally, the children have many opportunities to interact with visitors and workshops with various PSHE focuses throughout the year, including school nurses to appropriate year groups. Finally, at St Michael in the Hamlet we pride ourselves on the wide range of groups we provide for our children which support their needs and development over the course of the school year
Progression across the school document
PSHE has six strands in our school – Me and My Relationships, Valuing Differences, Keeping Myself Safe, Rights and Responsibilities, Being My Best and Growing and Changing.
Useful websites
Autumn 1 – Me and My Relationships – At Home Activities
KS1
‘Right & Wrong’ with Naomi Wilkinson
‘Believe’ with Naomi Wilkinson
KS2
Andy & The Odd Socks – Choose Respect!