PSHE and RSE Statement of Intent
At Monkleigh Primary School, personal, social and health education (PSHE) and Relationships Education (RSE) enables our children to become healthy, independent and responsible members of a society. We feel it is an important part of children’s education to help them to understand how they are developing personally and socially. We provide our children with opportunities for them to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of the diverse society in which we live.
We encourage our children to play a positive role in contributing to school and the wider community. We are aware of the way that PSHE and RSE supports many of the principles of safeguarding and links closely to schools Safeguarding and British Values Policies. We are all aware of the important role the PSHE curriculum has in supporting school to implement the 9 protected characteristics of The Equality Act 2010.
Through our PSHE curriculum at Monkleigh Primary School we recognise our duty to ‘actively promote’ and provide opportunity for children to understand the fundamental British Values (Democracy, The Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and Tolerance) first set out by the Government in the ‘Prevent’ strategy in 2014, for those with different faiths and beliefs in order for them to become fair, tolerant and confident adults in a forever challenging world.
PSHE Curriculum Implementation
At Monkleigh Primary School, we have created a rolling programme which meets not only the Government guidelines but the needs of our pupils. Teachers use the Kapow planning to underpin our curriculum objectives which will equip pupils with a sound understanding of risk and resilience and with the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe and informed decisions.
We believe that the purpose of PSHE education is to build, where appropriate, on the statutory content already outlined in the national curriculum, the basic school curriculum and in statutory guidance on: i.e., drug education, financial education, citizenship, personal safety, sex and relationship education (SRE) and the importance of physical activity and diet for a healthy lifestyle.
PSHE plays a vital part of primary education and needs to be taught regularly. Teachers may feel it necessary to teach PSHE as a block or as a result of an issue arisen in their own class and the nurture support staff may also join these sessions when appropriate. Class teachers may also plan sessions linked to cohort needs as they arise. PSHE is integral to the development of children’s values in order for them to become a positive citizen in a forever changing community.
A unit overview is produced by the teacher showing prior learning, key vocabulary, clear ‘I can’ statements for each lesson and end points for the unit. At the beginning of each unit of work an elicitation task is carried out using either the unit quiz from Kapow or a selection of key vocabulary for the children to discuss. There is planned progression across the Kapow scheme of work, so that children are increasingly and appropriately challenged as they move up through the school. The lessons will give children the opportunity to increase their knowledge and understanding of the topic. They will also be able to explore their feelings and ideas about topics and listen to the views of other people as lessons will often be discussion based. The overall aim is for children to be able to make their informed choices and decisions. Assessment is completed by the class teacher, again using a quiz or key vocabulary, alongside the lesson plan learning outcomes to demonstrate progression of both skills and knowledge.
At Monkleigh school we have developed a core set of skills and values that we believe will prepare our children for the next step in their education and further into the wider world. These skills and values are at the heart of our teaching across the curriculum and are recognised throughout the school by staff and children, and are celebrated each week in assembly.
PSHE is also an important part of whole school and class assemblies where children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured through the coverage of key events and National and Global news.
PSHE and RSE Curriculum Impact
By the time children leave Monkleigh School we believe our PSHE and RSE curriculum will have allowed them to develop the vocabulary and confidence needed to clearly articulate their thoughts and feelings in a climate of openness, trust and respect. Children shall understand what it is meant by ‘Resilience’ and attain the ability to bounce back from life’s everyday challenges. Pupils will have the skills and attributes to make informed choices and decisions and be able to negotiate and assert themselves confidently.
Monkleigh School shall embed the active development of a whole-school culture that prioritises physical and mental health, providing children with skills to evaluate and understand their own wellbeing needs, resilience and achievement. Children will know how to stay safe online and will be confident with developing healthy and safe relationships. The children will leave Monkleigh School as confident citizens and successful learners who are creative, resourceful and able to identify and solve problems.
