PSHE

 

Curriculum Intent

Through the teaching and delivery of PSHE we aim to promote positive behaviour, mental health, wellbeing, resilience and achievement. We recognise that PSHE prepares pupils for both their futures and their present day-to-day lives and aim to ensure that children grow up to be responsible citizens, who have a sense of belonging, feel that they are valued and make a meaningful contribution to both their immediate community and the wider world.

Through PSHE at Grange Community Junior School, we aim for all pupils, by the end of Year 6, to:

  • understand the importance of a range of relationship;
  • know how to keep themselves safe;
  • know about health education (puberty, physical health and fitness, healthy eating, mental wellbeing, drugs and tobacco);
  • are prepared for their next stage of education and experiences later in life.

Implementation of the curriculum

At Grange Junior School, PSHE lessons are taught weekly.  This is predominantly by one person ensuring that there is parity of learning.

Our ever expanding wider provision of PSHE promotes opportunities to link our school values, British Values (BV) and Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural (SMSC) responsibilities. Along with our broad and balanced curriculum, there are overlaps with other subjects, for example Computing (E-safety), Science (recycling), PE (leading healthy active lives). As  some objectives for PSHE education will be met outside of the allocated timetable slot, this allows for some flexibility within the timetabled lessons. This enables us to respond to local/national/global events that may occur.

The curriculum is developmentally appropriate, tailored to meet the needs of the children and content is made accessible to all including children with SEND. We adhere to the Equality Act of 2010 and ensure that the needs and interests of all pupils, irrespective of gender, family, culture, ability or aptitude are addressed and respected.  We ensure that role models in all different relationships are used in the classroom and discussions for example by using stories which celebrate different families. Coverage of themes has been mapped out across the whole key stage.  Where it is possible sometimes skills might be addressed in real contexts such as cultural enrichment days, class assemblies and charity fundraising events.

The distribution of lessons compliments key campaigns throughout the year, such as: Anti-Bullying Week, Black History Month, International Women’s Day and Mental Health Week.

Over the course of a year children will engage in key identified topic areas. These are revisited and built upon as children move through the school. As they revisit each topic, the aim is to deepen their understanding and ensure that challenge of key concepts is increased. The topics include:

  • Health and wellbeing;
  • Relationships;
  • Living in the wider world.

Sex and relationship education

At Grange, we teach Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) in line with the requirements of the National Curriculum for Science and the RSE Curriculum.  At Grange, we consider that Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is an integral part of the Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship curriculum, and is closely linked to the Science curriculum. We aim to offer pupils a carefully planned programme covering human development, relationships, sexuality and family life within a safe, comfortable atmosphere and with a relaxed relationship between teacher and pupil. Parents do have the right to withdraw their child from sex education within the RSE framework, which only covers conception and contraception, but not from the biological content covered within the science curriculum. (A copy of the RSE policy can be found on the information tab of the school website, under policies.)

Relationships Education: The focus is on teaching the fundamental building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships, with particular reference to friendships, family relationships, and relationships with other children and with adults. These areas of learning are taught within the context of family life, taking care to ensure that there is no stigmatisation of children based on their home circumstances. Families can include single parent families, LGBTQ parents, families headed by grandparents, adoptive parents, and foster parents/carers amongst other structures, along with reflecting sensitively, that some children may have a different structure of support around them (for example looked after children or young carers).

Health Education: The focus is on teaching the characteristics of good physical health and mental wellbeing. Teachers will be clear that mental wellbeing is a normal part of daily life, in the same way as physical health.

Sex Education: The focus is on teaching children the facts about puberty (preparing boys and girls for the changes that adolescence brings) and reproduction (how a baby is conceived and born).

Enrichment activities within the school, also include:

  • Community events such as coffee morning, Harvest Festival, Christmas Fair, Summer Fair;
  • Choir and whole school singing events;
  • School council projects;
  • Health and physical wellbeing such as Sports Day, Daily Mile;
  • Focus on democracy and human rights such as school voting;
  • Assemblies for worship and sharing of work;
  • Charity fundraisers such as PTA events, Red Nose Day, Sports relief;
  • Visits from neighbourhood police, Fire and health professionals alongside Keep Safe events;
  • Sports and Play leaders;
  • Cultural days for example Christian and Nepali celebrations;
  • First Aid;
  • Junior Duke.

Impact of our curriculum

The desired impact of our PSHE curriculum is when children leave our school, they have a sense of belonging and are confident in how to be responsible citizens. They have a good understanding in making the right choices, how to keep themselves safe in a variety of different contexts and how to ask for help if needed.

Overview of PSHE curriculum

PHSE

Support for parents to support your child 

We would like to remind parents that you don’t need to be experts in curriculum subjects—encouraging curiosity and learning alongside your child is what matters most. Encourage your child to ask questions and then help them find answers.

  • Take a look at some of the recommended reads on our website.
  • Watch documentaries and videos together with your child
  • Take a look at some of the resources on offer on educational websites.

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