O​ur PSHE Curriculum

(Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education)

O​ur Curriculum Intent

Our PSHE curriculum enables our children to journey through their understanding of health and well-being, relationships and the world around them, whilst developing the skills and confidence to make appropriate choices and develop a sense of belonging. Within each topic, age-appropriate content supports pupils’ spiritual, moral, cultural, social, mental and physical development and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life. For example, each year group identifies the characteristics and benefits of healthy relationships, relevant to their stage of development; this supports pupils in becoming confident in who they are.

Progression of PSHE themes is carefully planned and sequenced, which allows children to develop building blocks of knowledge and reflect upon their learning. This approach is fundamental in ensuring that the knowledge and tools they learn are transferable between contexts. Our children’s understanding of emotions and feelings creates consistency between home and school and supports learning in other subjects. Pupils increasingly take responsibility for their own and each other’s well-being through skills such as meditation and mindfulness. Healthy choices, mental health and physical fitness are developed through active experiences and enrichment opportunities across the whole curriculum. Our values are most evident in our celebrations of individuality across the community, such as whole-day events, which acknowledge and celebrate the different challenges children and families face. Every child is valued and children are taught to embrace differences, and to be respectful and to be considerate towards each other, our community, our environment and ourselves.

Kindness, empathy and our school values are promoted at all levels throughout our school; we have a centrally-displayed kindness tree, and our active and motivated pupil leaders inspire the other children through their passion, respect and love of our world. Our on-going relationship with professionals in the local community ensures that the children can experience activities that encourage expression in different ways, such as yoga and mindfulness workshops.

In an ever-changing world, we constantly review and adapt our curriculum to encourage ambition for all and provide, ‘A curriculum for life’.

T​he Purpose Of Our Curriculum

We develop children who…

  1. Develop personal and social skills, fostering respect, empathy, and effective communication;
  2. Educate about physical and emotional well-being, promoting healthy lifestyles;
  3. Provide understanding of relationships and sex education (RSE) in an age-appropriate manner;
  4. Encourage responsible citizenship and an understanding of different cultures and perspectives;
  5. Teach about safety, including digital safety, and how to make informed decisions;
  6. Foster emotional intelligence and resilience to prepare for life's challenges and changes.

 

C​lick here to access how PSHE links to our school values and ethos and to British values.

C​lick here to read our school values and ethos.

O​ur Curriculum Offer - What We Teach In PSHE

We have adapted the PSHE Association's thematic approach and have intertwined myHappymind planning to ensure a bespoke curriculum suited to the needs of our pupils.

Education that prepares for life today and tomorrow. What we teach in the classroom will help our pupils foster lifelong aspirations, goals and values. With this in mind, PSHE education isn’t just another school subject. It’s a chance to give every child and young person an equal opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge they need to thrive now and in the future. This includes helping them to deal with critical issues they face every day such as friendships, emotional wellbeing and change. And giving them a solid foundation for whatever challenging opportunities lie ahead, so they can face a world full of uncertainty with hope. From making informed decisions about alcohol to succeeding in their first job, PSHE education helps pupils prepare for all the opportunities, challenges, life decisions and responsibilities they'll face. This in turn achieves a 'virtuous circle', whereby pupils with better health and wellbeing can achieve better academically, and enjoy greater success. PSHE Association, 2023

EYFS

Through Personal, Social, Emotional Development children are supported to build constructive and respectful relationships that allow them to play, learn and develop alongside both adults and their peers. As children make friendships they learn to manage conflict and rivalries with the support of adults. Children are empowered to envisage themselves as valuable individuals who are aware of what makes them unique In the Early Years. They are encouraged to express their feelings and adults carefully model the handling of these feelings and emotions to support children in becoming independent in moderating their own feelings. Children are taught to manage their own physical needs and understand the importance of respecting others' privacy. A large part of the curriculum in the Early Years supports the developing resilience within young children, children are encouraged to persevere to meet their goals and targets. As a part of the learning journey experienced in the Early Years, developing the understanding of rules and routines is an integral part that runs parallel to all.

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2

In Key Stage 1 and 2, lessons are planned and taught to ensure cross-strand coverage of all of the key PSHE strands, in line with the National Curriculum .

In Year One the focus is: working well with others; other people are special too; caring for myself (growing and caring for ourself); caring for others, and keeping safe and looking forward.

In Year Two the focus is: who is in charge? Celebrating and recognising differences (process of growing from young to old); my body is important; changing friendships, taking charge and looking forward.

In Year Three the focus is: settling in; focus on feelings; keeping safe in school (valuing differences and keeping safe); in someone else’s shoes and people and their work.

In Year Four the focus is: feeling good; keeping healthy; changes in families; ups and downs in relationships; keeping safe outside of school and looking ahead (growing up).

In Year Five the focus is: who decides? Risks and pressures; we are all different; it’s my body (puberty); being involved in the community and looking at the world.

In Year Six the focus is: Managing conflict; the world of work; taking responsibility for my own safety; changing relationships (puberty, relationships and reproduction); rights, responsibilities and the law; transition and managing change.

 

 

O​ur planning, which links to myHappymind, ensures that key themes are revisted regulaly and children build upon prior learning.

 

PSHE long-term plan

PSHE medium-term plan - EYFS / Year 1/ Year 2/ Year 3/ Year 4/ Year 5 / Year 6

PSHE knowledge progression

 

myHappymind. is a NHS backed science-backed programme for schools which is grounded in the latest science and research about what it takes to create positive wellbeing. It’s taught to every single child and there’s a curriculum for every year group from Early Years to Year 6.

Giving today's children the skills to thrive in tomorrow’s world.

 

 

O​ur Curriculum Offer - How We Teach PSHE

Our PSHE curriculum is designed through a spiral, thematic programme which ensures repetition, practise and revision of prior learning. Through this approach, our children are given the opportunity to deepen their essential knowledge, skills, understanding and learning behaviours. Our PSHE offer reflects and meets the personal developmental needs of our children.

High priority is placed on our children’s physical and mental well-being and teaching ensures that children champion our school values and ethos. Our PSHE curriculum offering is delivered through a wide variety of different teaching and learning strategies, with an emphasis on interactive learning such as discussion, role plays and teamwork with the teacher acting as a facilitator. Children are encouraged to make links to other areas of the curriculum: online safety in computing, health and wellbeing in P.E. and mental health through myHappymind.

We ensure that all pupils, regardless of their starting points, have access to high-quality lessons and we provide opportunities for children to make real decisions about their lives, to take part in activities which stimulate choices and where they can demonstrate their ability to take responsibility for their decisions. Teachers use responsive teaching to adapt learning and provide resources to meet the needs of individual pupils to ensure ambition for all. We provide a safe and supportive learning environment where children can develop the confidence to ask questions, challenge the information they are offered, draw on their own experiences, express their views and opinions and put what they have learned into practise in their own lives.

A​mbition for all

We work hard to ensure that all children can access our curriculum and teachers adapt their planning and teaching methods to ensure that all children receive the support they need to make progress and reach their full potential. Structured support, such as scaffolding and modelling, is provided to help the children as they learn new concepts. This is used to break tasks down into smaller steps, providing prompts or cues. Teachers consistently model behaviours, skills, or thought processes to children. This helps learners understand how to approach a task or solve a problem effectively. Pre-learning activities also prepare children for upcoming lessons or topics, this can include introducing key vocabulary, texts, concepts, or background knowledge to build a foundation for learning.
Within lessons, collaborative learning allows children to work together, learn from their peers, and develop important social and teamwork skills. In addition, classroom walls are used to display working walls, key information, visuals, and reference materials related to the current topic. Technology and digital resources, including computers, tablets, and interactive whiteboards, are integrated into teaching and learning. Teachers and teaching assistants provide individualised support to children who require it, offering guidance, encouragement, and assistance as needed. By tailoring and adapting our teaching and support methods, we create an inclusive learning environment that celebrates diversity and fosters success for all children.

 

Click here for further information on how we support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).


W​hat Makes PSHE Special at Grappenhall Heys?

We ensure that all pupils, regardless of their starting points, have access to high-quality lessons and we provide opportunities for children to make real decisions about their lives, to take part in activities which stimulate choices and where they can demonstrate their ability to take responsibility for their decisions. Teachers use responsive teaching to adapt learning and provide resources to meet the needs of individual pupils to ensure ambition for all. We provide a safe and supportive learning environment where children can develop the confidence to ask questions, challenge the information they are offered, draw on their own experiences, express their views and opinions and put what they have learned into practise in their own lives.

A​t Grappenhall Heys, we celebrate PSHE and promote citizenship in our children through termly challenges. We promote pupil wellbeing through a variety of enrichment opportunities such as yoga and mindfulness sessions in school and related extra-curricular clubs.

Our Pupil Voice

'I have enjoyed learning about respect for others and how to be a good friend.' Year 3 pupil
'I didn't realise that PSHE links to so many different subjects I learn in school.' Year 6 pupil
'I'm excited to learn more about my brain and how it works.' Year 2 pupil

Click here to learn about our PSHE Pupil Voice

C​lick here to learn about how we celebrate citizenship at Grappenhall Heys

H​ow Can You Find Out More?

Click here to read our PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) Policy and Relationships Education (including Sex Education) Policy

myHappymind.

C​lick here for more information on myHappymind

The important role of sleep on your Mental Health

There are lots simple things you can try to improve your sleep, like going to bed at a similar time each evening, and staying off your phone an hour before bed. Getting sleep is really important. Links to sleep webpage

Relaxation

Relax like a cat relaxation exercise - this is a guided relaxation, using the analogy of a cat, to ease any anxiety and create a sense of calm for children. Click here

Emotional check-in

This resource supports children and young people to not only express their feelings but identify why they are feeling in a particular way. Click here


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