PSHE and RSE at Swarcliffe Primary School

The intent of our PSHE curriculum is to offer a curriculum which is accessible to all and utilises first hand experiences. PSHE is at the heart of our school ethos. At Swarcliffe Primary, we understand that our broad and balanced curriculum must reflect the needs of all our pupils. It ensures that each pupil will know and understand more about how to play a positive and successful role within our society, both as a child and as an adult. We aim for children to have a breadth of knowledge of their world, locally, nationally and globally and give them the confidence in tackling problems that may occur such as: moral social and cultural issues that are part of growing up within this. Opportunities are given to our children so that they can learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. We are dedicated to ensuring that Swarcliffe Primary is a happy, stimulating and caring place and we expect high standards of behaviour and good manners throughout the school. Behaviour and attitude to learning is underpinned by values that are taught through PSHE lessons, making it integral to the success of the whole school.

 

At Swarcliffe Primary, we use the You, Me, PSHE scheme of work to deliver all lessons. We expect teachers to use a PSHE programme to equip pupils with a sound understanding of risk 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, relationship and sex education (RSE) and the importance of physical activity and diet for a healthy lifestyle.

We believe that PSHE plays a vital part of primary education and needs to be taught at least weekly. This enables staff to ensure full coverage of PSHE is taught in their year group. There are always occasions where teachers may feel it necessary to teach PSHE as a result of an issue arisen in their own class. PSHE is integral to the development of children values in order for them to become a positive citizen in a forever changing community. PSHE is an important part of school assemblies were children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured.

Mental Health

We are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all pupils at Swarcliffe and are very lucky to be supported in school by Place2Be, a National charity. The in-house counselling service is able to offer some children, who have been referred by the school or a parent, support through weekly 1:1 sessions with a counsellor. Pupils in years 1-6 also have access to ‘Place2Talk’ – a safe space to talk through their worries about school, friendships, family, or significant events such as bereavement or parents separating.

 

To support young people’s understanding of mental health we also use MindMate (NHS Leeds) sessions to enable the children to understand the importance of keeping our minds healthy as well as our bodies.

 Relationship and Sex Education

 When teaching RSE there are four main aims of teaching RSE:

  • to enable children to understand and respect their bodies,
  • to help children develop positive and healthy relationships appropriate to their age and development,
  • to support children to have positive self-esteem and body image and to empower them,
  • to be safe and safeguarded.

 

Each year group will be taught appropriate to their age and developmental stage. At no point will a child be taught something that is inappropriate; and if a question from a child arises and the teacher feels it would be inappropriate to answer, (for example, because of its mature or explicit nature), this information with be shared with you by your child’s class teacher. The question will not be answered to the child or class if it is outside the remit of that year group’s programme.

Examples of additional texts we use to enhance our PSHE curriculum:

I Didn't Do It! - Sue Graves

My Big Shouting Day – Rebecca Patterson

There's a House Inside My Mummy – Giles Andreae

Fergal is Fuming – Robert Starling

What's Going On Inside My Head – Molly Potter

Forest of Feelings – Jo Browning Wroe and Carol Holliday

What's Happening To Me? - Alex Frith and Susan Meredith

Enrich, Enhance, Excite

Here at Swarcliffe we encourage our children to take part in a range of practical roles and activities that promote active citizenship for example school councillors, food ambassadors, class and whole school fundraising and we have curriculum ambassadors that provide opportunities for our children to be involved in every aspect of their school lives.

We participate in, and promote National events such as: Democracy week, Road Safety week, Anti-Bullying week and Internet Safety. As well as, those more local to us such as: Christmas carolling at nursing homes and local shops.

Every week during Friendship Sessions and Marvellous Minutes, the children are given the opportunity to take part in mindfulness activities such as: colouring, yoga, healthy baking and circle time.

Through extra-curricular activities the children learn basic lifelong skills such as: gardening, baking and cooking. Children also have the opportunity to undertake outdoor and indoor sports activities to encourage a holistic approach to their health and well-being and promote a healthy lifestyle.

 

In addition, we enhance our curriculum with attending visits outside of school and inviting visitors into school:

  • regular trips throughout the school year to support our local Recovery Hub (elderly people recovering from injuries);
  • singing in the community at our local supermarkets;
  • collecting tins of food at Harvest time for the community;
  • annual visits from Road Safety team;
  • age appropriate assemblies from NSPCC charity;
  • regular visits from the local Fire Station (Year 5)
  • safety talks from RNLI and Network Rail.

PSHE Curriculum Documents

Name
 PSHE Documents
 PSHE Policies
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