PSHE at St Michael's Catholic Primary School

 Intent         

Our intention at St Michael’s is that when children transition to high school and further, they are able to do so with the emotions, knowledge and understanding that they will build with us. Our curriculum aims to prepare children for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences for later life and to play a positive role in an ever-changing and diverse society. We are aware that our curriculum should reflect the needs of our pupils and our community.

At St Michael’s, our personalised curriculum builds upon the three core PSHE themes of: Relationships, Health and Wellbeing and Living in the Wider World. Teaching and learning of PSHE in the classroom should show progression across all Key Stages and our curriculum intends for knowledge and vocabulary to be built on. It is important that children are aware, to an age-appropriate level, of the varying dynamics of society which will affect the world around them and that they learn how to deal with these so that they have good mental health and well-being. We intend for our children to have high aspirations and truly believe that anything is possible.

Implementation

We strive to provide our children with learning opportunities within and beyond the curriculum through specific lessons, cross-curricular learning, collective worship, links with local communities and further activities that enrich experiences. Through assemblies, teaching and learning and wider community links, children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is nurtured, stimulated and challenged. We have a strong focus on ‘The 5 Ways to Wellbeing’ that enables children to create, focus on, and build a healthy mind. Our teachers work closely alongside the pastoral team to ensure that mental health and wellbeing is central to the development and happiness of our children.

EYFS
In the Foundation Stage, PSHE is taught as a primary and fundamental part of topic work and is embedded throughout our personalised curriculum. The objectives taught are the Personal, Social and Emotional Development statements from ‘Development Matters in the EYFS’ and the PSED Early Learning Goals. Reception also uses SCARF resources.

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
In KS1 and KS2, PSHE is taught through a clear and inclusive curriculum. Our curriculum is personalised to link to other areas of learning and follows Come and See as an integral element. Both Key Stages use the SCARF programme to further enhance teaching and learning, all of which comprehensively cover the statutory guidance of relationships education and health education. Across our school, there is a strong emphasis on building resilience, developing emotional literacy and nurturing strong and good mental health and well-being.

Wider Curriculum

• Through assemblies, teaching and learning and wider community links, children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is nurtured, stimulated and challenged.
• Throughout all aspects of our school life, we strongly believe that the development of resilience, independence and confidence will enable children to embrace challenge in all areas of life, and to foster a love of learning. We do this by using an ‘I can’ approach. This focuses on the language we use in class, praising children for their efforts, and encouraging children to reflect on their thinking by using a growth mind-set. This supports both our school values and PSHE values, therefore linking them efficiently.
• Children can make links and contextualise all areas of learning through our personalised curriculum and through PSHE, British Values and Well-Being displays.
• Come and See is a central and vital part of our PSHE curriculum, enhancing many areas such as diversity, confidence and belief.
• We challenge all pupils to show our twelve school values that enable them to contribute a positive role within our school and wider community.
• Our school takes part in many enrichment activities e.g. ChildLine, Life Caravan, PCSO and theatre productions, etc.
• The school also takes part in Magic Breakfast, an initiative to ensure that all children receive breakfast every day.
• Children are also encouraged to be active everyday with activities such as the Daily Mile and through equipment given for breaks and lunch times, all of which contribute to a healthy body and a healthy mind for all pupils.

Impact

By the time children leave their current classrooms and move on to new learning opportunities and experiences each year, they will be able to manage, understand and reflect on their emotions with a strong and developed emotional literacy. Children will be able to approach real-life situations with confidence, resilience and assertiveness, applying this knowledge to navigate the wider world.  Children will be healthy, independent and responsible members of a society. By teaching pupils to keep healthy, stay safe and by building empathy and open-mindedness, our school tackles barriers to learning, raises aspirations and improves the life chances of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils. As well as this, children can navigate the difficulties of growing up with confidence, respect for themselves and others, and self-esteem.