PSHE

PERSONAL, SOCIAL, HEALTH & ECONOMIC EDUCATION

PSHE plays a pivotal role within the Sandwich Junior School curriculum and underpins our belief that for children to be effective learners they need to be able to feel safe and also be given the opportunity to discuss issues and develop understanding related to their own personal wellbeing (physical, emotional and mental). Our learners are given the chance to explore their own relationships with others, their own sense of identity and also to relate their experiences to the wider world in which they are growing up. In addition to being taught discretely, PSHE pervades many other subject areas within the Curriculum with links and opportunities constantly made in order to develop the skills of both sympathy and empathy with those around them and with figures and characters from outside of their own personal experiences.

MISSION STATEMENT

pshe mission statement.pdf

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

The aims of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education in our school are to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society; prepare pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life and to enable pupils to:

Have respect for themselves and others, valuing the differences and similarities between people.
Develop good relationships with other members of the school and wider community.
Be independent, self-disciplined and responsible members of society.
Be positive and active members of a democratic society.
Develop self-confidence and self-esteem, and make informed choices regarding personal and social issues.
Know and understand what constitutes a healthy lifestyle, including Mental and Emotional Wellbeing.
Be aware of safety issues and manage risk in their own lives.
Be aware that no one has the right to interfere with their personal space, including medical interventions.

The school's PSHE Curriculum will also reflect and enhance the consistent approach to exhibiting the school's ethos of 'As a team we soar, strive and play' and the Core Values of the Eagle (aspiration and success); the Wolf (teamwork); the Salmon (resilience and perseverance) and the Dolphin (having fun whilst learning).

THE CURRICULUM & PROGRESSION

new pshe curriculum map.pdf

AUTUMN TERM - HEALTH & WELLBEING

During the Autumn term, pupils will study a range of skills to develop their 'Health & Well Being' This will include aspects of both physical and mental wellbeing with a progression through the different year groups dependent upon developmental capacity to deal with the issues which this topic requires. Â This term is split into smaller constituent parts (Healthy Lifestyles; Growing and Changing; and Keeping safe).

During this term's work, children will cover an ever developing series of lessons which deal not only with their physical and mental wellbeing but also with aspects of safety. In relation to safety, whilst Year 3 children will deal with themes such as road safety and how to look after themselves personally, as they progress through the Key Stage, children will also cover rail and fire safety as well as, later on in their journey, dealing with travel to school on public transport and other relevant developmental issues. All year groups will also develop an understanding of Online Safety and the support systems which are in place for them in regard to social media (in later year groups).

SPRING TERM - RELATIONSHIPS

During the Spring term, pupils will again develop a progressive toolkit of skills around the overarching topic of 'Relationships'. This topic is again developed through three smaller elements of Healthy Relationships; Feelings and Emotions; and Valuing Difference.

As children progress through the Key Stage they will deal initially with their understanding of what constitutes their own personal family unit and an understanding of how to develop positive friendships. In further years this will develop into a wider understanding of the many varied types of relationships which exist and how to create healthy relationships with others whilst also recognising unhealthy traits in friendships.

'Bullying is an intention that is repetitively aimed at harming someone's physical or mental health.'

SUMMER TERM - LIVING IN THE WIDER WORLD

Finally, in the Summer term, pupils study skills and themes around the topic of 'Living In The Wider World.' This covers the aspects of Rights & responsibilities; taking care of the Environment; and Understanding Money. Children at Sandwich Junior School are encouraged and taught to be aware of both local and global issues of the time and will develop a progressive understanding of their own role in ensuring a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to life. The actual Curriculum content here will be guided to an extent by current issues and tailored to the relative ages of the children. Thus, whilst Year 3 may be focusing on 'The Plastic Whale', higher year groups may undertake work on topics such as 'The Black Lives Matter' campaign. In relation to money, children will initially be taught such skills as small scale pocket money budgeting and saving, whilst older year groups will be taught concepts such as debt, interest and loans.

THE RHSE (RELATIONSHIPS, HEALTH & SEX EDUCATION) CURRICULUM

The statutory aspects of Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) are woven through and within the overall PSHE Curriculum.

Children will be taught to recognise and respect the differing models of family units in the modern world - this will be supported by texts within the library and within class and will include recognition of same sex parents and blended families.

Being comfortable with and respecting our own bodies will also be taught explicitly during the Health & Wellbeing unit - this will range from lower year groups learning about how to stay healthy through exercise and diet to the older year groups undertaking lessons on the changing body and puberty. Recognition of responsibilities for our own bodies and the right to say no to both physical touch and emotional pressure will also be addressed within these lessons.

PSHE WITHIN THE WIDER COMMUNITY

Sandwich Junior School is fully committed to providing its pupils with as broad and balanced a curriculum as possible.

With this in mind, it should be noted that the above themes and content are also supplemented by a wide range of opportunities to explore topical and relevant subjects through a variety of different means:

CORE VALUES & ETHOS

The school's Core Values, designed in collaboration with the children as a 'Change Project' reflect many positive aspects of self-awareness and underpin all areas of practice and are constantly referred to in order to give the children an effective code for living both within and outside of school. Teachers use these Core values as the basis for behaviour management within the classroom by exploring and questioning digressions in relation to how these incidents fail to uphold our Core Values. Similarly, celebrations of achievements are also constantly underpinned by these Values (Headteacher's Stamps for Good Work or exhibiting exceptional generosity / kindness; Celebration Assembly certificates etc).

The Core Values help me at home when I am upset or frustrated.

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING

The school has a commitment to promoting developmental strategies for Mental health and Wellbeing and this is supported by a wide variety of means: Mindfulness specialists are employed to provide bespoke activities and programmes such as Breathing Space techniques (delivered both in small groups and, in some cases, as one to one classes should the need be evident) and Yogic education delivered as whole class exercises.

This specialist provision has also enabled whole school CPD so that there is a consistent offer to the children across the school as part of our daily Curriculum: Breathing Space and Mindfulness is delivered on a daily basis in order to allow time for introspection and calming; MMMs (Mindful Morning Minutes) frequently begin the day as preparation for learning; 5 A Day exercises are used to punctuate learning in order to refocus.

PSHE objectives are also supported through a wide variety of links with outside agencies and professionals including three yearly Childline Workshops delivered to the whole school on a progressive programme of education; informational workshops delivered by Railway, Highways and Fire Safety professionals and also visits from Local Magistrates to enhance the Year 5 and 6 PSHE curriculum.

PSHE & OTHER SUBJECTS

A wide range of progressive whole school texts within English designed to explore multi-culturalism, identity and positive relationships along with developing a deep rooted sense of emotional literacy. Examples of this include the exploration of fairness, justice and democracy within the 'Long Walk to Freedom' or the understanding and empathising with a different culture in the work undertaken on 'Brother Eagle, Sister Sky'. Aspects of PSHE are also covered within a wide variety of other subject areas, examples being the understanding of a rainforest tribe in Geography; empathy with other cultures and beliefs in a whole range of RE topics; the understanding of societal breakdown during WW2 and in work undertaken on Anne Frank and many other subject links which allow the implementation of the discreet PSHE skills taught. Science also clearly supports PSHE and vice versa through such elements as 'The Eatwell Plate' in Year 4 (revisited in Year 6).

In a similar vein, the school has a Themed Week (Health and Wealth Week) during Term 6 which allows the whole school to revisit physical health objectives and also to focus upon the 'Living In The Wider World' strand of PSHE by undertaking a wide variety of money related activities from clear Mathematics objectives to such links as DT objectives in making games related to money.

ASSEMBLIES & OTHER APPROACHES

Frequent and regular assemblies explore diversity, tolerance, healthy risk taking and collaborative working - these are delivered on a whole school basis by the Headteacher and are also supplemented by other celebrations and occasions; examples being the 'Tree of Love' assembly in the build up to Christmas which enable children to show their thoughts and express their feelings towards people and animals they no longer see and the lighting of candles to remember the meaning of Armistice Day.

Sandwich Junior School also supports the objectives of the PSHE Curriculum through investment in developing the school as a 'THRIVE' organisation with specialists trained in the delivery of this programme should children require this specific style of interaction. Sensory Circuits programmes are also used for some children in order to develop their physical and motor skills, thus enhancing self- esteem and physical and mental wellbeing.

I won't get to see my grandparents this year but this lets me remember them and give them love.

THEMED WEEKS & DAYS

PSHE is also enhanced at Sandwich Junior School through special theme weeks and days. Examples of this are our participation in Anti Bullying Week during which the children participate in a series of lessons on the topic given by the Anti Bullying Alliance, whilst also undertaking work on expressing and opposing specific types of bullying behaviours (Year 3 focus on Physical Bullying; Year 4 on Verbal Bullying; Year 5 on Cyber Bullying and Year 6 on the theme of Isolation).

Each year there is also a safety focus on road and cycle safety with Road safety Week including a 'Be Bright Be Seen' Day where the children participate in a number of workshops around the aspect of safe travelling and identifying risks on the road.

The school also engages with the Childline programme of outreach where representatives deliver specific workshops aimed at bot Lower Key Stage and Upper Key Stage - this supports the children's education on 'Staying Safe' and gives them invaluable advice on how to voice concerns and reach out if they feel in need of extra help.