PSHE is taught thematically but this is flexible owing to class need and current issues in school and in the outside world. Teacher’s often use circle time to support pupils in this area and allow pupils to articulate their thoughts and feelings in a safe environment. As a school we are keenly aware of the need for our pupils to have a sound economics education, we routinely discuss enterprise and entrepreneurship, learn about how money is earned and spent, discuss the consequences of debt and make links between financial security, education and well-being.  Year 5 and 6 pupils complete drug and alcohol and sex and relationship education on a two yearly cycle.

We champion the NHS ‘Five ways to wellbeing’ approach (

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing/)

when exploring issues of emotional ane mental health. We incorporate these into PSHE lessons but they also form part of our school approach and values. The values are:

• connect
• be active
• take notice
• keep learning
• give

Curriculum Intent – PHSE

Curriculum Intent- PHSE

Through PHSE at Thornhill and Arlecdon Primary Schools we intend to equip our pupils with knowledge, skills and attributes which will keep them healthy and safe and prepare them for life and work in today’s Britain. 

Evidence shows that well taught PHSE helps academic and non-academic skills particularly of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. At both schools we have high proportions of vulnerable and disadvantaged children. We know we need to help our pupils manage the challenges and responsibilities they face now and as they grow up (unfortunately many of our children face too many challenges at a young age and take on more responsibilities than we would like children of their age to.) We work with some challenging children, who through no fault of their own, have issues that affect their academic and non-academic skills.

Teenage/young pregnancies, substance misuse, unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, unemployment, high suicide rates, low self-esteem and a high proportion of mental health problems are all issues that affect our local communities and are, unfortunately, present (to some extent) in a large percentage of the households our children grow up in.

We aspire to ensure that a well delivered PHSE curriculum will tackle the barriers to learning listed above, raise aspirations, develop our children’s resilience, self-esteem, risk management skills, critical thinking and ultimately improve the life chances of all our children but especially our most vulnerable and disadvantaged.

All children access ‘Kidsafe’ lessons regularly which equips them with clear messages about how to keep themselves and others safe.

We aim for children to have the following skills and knowledge by the end of the EYFS:

• To be active listeners
• To say how they feel
• To respect differences
• To explore life situations through role play

We aim for children to have the following skills and knowledge by the end of the KS1:

• To feel empathy towards others
• To have coping strategies for extreme emotions
• To determine risk
• To keep themselves safe and healthy
• To know Britain is a multi-cultural society

We aim for children to have the following skills and knowledge by the end of KS2:

• To know what are healthy and unhealthy life choices and to recognise positive and negative relationships
• To know the British values, why they are important and apply them to everyday situations
• To know the 5 steps to well-being and how they can apply them to everyday life situations
• To know how they can improve their environment
• To have strategies to manage their emotions and know where to access help
• To know how to keep themselves safe and healthy
• To be financially aware