Through our Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE), our school environment and our school ethos, we promote pupils’ self-esteem and emotional well-being and help them to form and maintain worthwhile and satisfying relationships, based on respect for themselves and for others, at home, at school and in the community.
All schools must provide a curriculum that is broadly based, balanced and meets the needs of all pupils. Under section 78 of the Education Act 2002, a PSHE curriculum:
- Promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of the pupils at the school and of society, and
- Prepares pupils at the school for opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later lifer.
The aim of PSHE is to enable our children to develop the skills, knowledge, understanding and attitudes they need to be able to:
- have respect for themselves and others, valuing the similarities and differences between people
- develop good relationships with other members of the school and wider community
- understand their role as a Global Citizen and develop a positive attitude towards other cultures
- 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
- be aware of safety issues and manage risk in their own lives
How is PSHE planned at Aldryngton?
As a school, we have been using a well-established scheme ‘Jigsaw’ since 2015. The Jigsaw Programme covers all aspects of Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) within context of a full PSHE programme in an age-appropriate way. Should changes to these curriculum areas occur in the future, Jigsaw will provide its schools with materials to ensure all statutory duties are fulfilled.
It provides even coverage from Foundation to Year 6 and although PSHE is taught as a discrete subject, it has links into other areas of the curriculum including science and religious education. In addition to the regular timetabled input, special events/weeks are organised such as Lower School Healthy Living Week. PSHE is also addressed on a daily basis as questions and incidents arise. At times, teachers may choose to hold an additional circle-time session in response to a particular event or issue. Social skills and Nurture groups to promote teamwork and friendship and to address specific social issues will be used as intervention group work. Social stories will also be used to address individual children’s needs.
Jigsaw covers all areas of PSHE for the primary phase and is organised into six ‘Puzzles’ which are designed to progress in sequence from September to July. Jigsaw includes lesson plans and resources for all year groups; teachers will use and adapt these to suit their own classes.
Extra-curricular opportunities/enrichment
To further stimulate interest and enjoyment in the learning process, a programme of events are embedded throughout the school. This helps aid children’s learning and understanding of life as they grow.
