PSHE Curriculum Statement
Intent
Why are we teaching the subject? What do we want our children to gain from learning the subject?
The intent of our PSHE curriculum is to deliver a curriculum which is accessible to all and that will maximise the outcomes for every child so that they know more, remember more and understand more. It aims to help them understand how they are developing personally and socially, and tackles many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up.
PSHE helps our children to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe, and prepared for life and work. Children are encouraged to develop a balanced approach to life and learning, working to eliminate any barriers to learning. The PSHE curriculum at Pilsley enables the children to explore their own needs, beliefs and values and appreciate differences in others. We provide our children with opportunities for them to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. We seek to inspire in our children high levels of self-belief and self-esteem, encouraging positive achievement in both academic and non-academic outcomes. Our curriculum seeks to promote the children’s interest in becoming positive and active members of society. Our children are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community.
At the core of our PSHE curriculum is the NC programme of study, which is personalised for our pupils. Progression is ensured by the effective assessment of impact. This curriculum prepares our children for their future education and life beyond.
Implementation
How is the subject taught? How is the subject organised throughout the school?
PSHE is taught in class groups in regular weekly sessions throughout the year, so that children can revisit and build on their learning. This structure allows children to develop a depth of understanding as well as enabling them to retain the knowledge through consolidation and progression. At Pilsley, we use the PSHE Matters scheme of work. This covers a broad range of umbrella topics:
These topics are taught over a two-year cycle. The subject lead and class teachers work together to identify the key knowledge and skills of each topic, enabling progression throughout each class across the school. The content of each topic is considered in the long-term planning ensuring that the topics support the whole-school long term curriculum plan. At the beginning of each topic, children are able to convey what they know already as well as what they would like to find out. This informs the programme of study and also ensures that lessons are personalised and take account of children’s different starting points. Consideration is given to the accommodation of our greater depth learners as well as to the support pupils may need to access the programme of study. Our local area is utilised fully to achieve personalised outcomes, with opportunities for outside learning embedded in practice.
PSHE is taught discreetly across the school. There are also opportunities to link PSHE objectives to our class projects throughout the year. PSHE is embedded in school life at Pilsley. Our school PRAISE vision is fully implemented through daily acts of worship as well as being brought into our class learning and life around school continually. These key values are:
Perseverance
Respect
Achievement
Independence
Service
Enthusiasm
Impact
How do we know what each child has learnt? What evidence do we have?
Self-reflection books are completed by the children to evidence their key learning in each topic, comparative to their starting points. This allows class teachers to assess any need for revisiting learning for individual children and ensures sticky knowledge. At the end of each topic the children also self-assess their learning on the class topic web in their exercise book. Assessment for Learning is embedded in practice, with both staff and children continually reflecting on their learning, allowing for support and extension in both knowledge and skills. In every area of school life our pupils are given very high expectations in their behaviour. We have a successful rewards and consequences system, which progresses throughout the school to maintain effectiveness. How our children engage in this system, coupled with their interactions with peers and adults during each school day, offers effective assessment of our PSHE teaching and learning.