PSHE Curriculum Intent
At Aspire our PSHE curriculum aims to equip children with essential skills, knowledge and attitudes that enable them to learn to stay safe and healthy, to build and maintain positive relationships and become active citizens, responsibly participating in society around them.
The themes and topics taught support social, moral, spiritual and cultural development and provide children with protective teaching on essential safeguarding issues, developing their knowledge of when and how they can ask for help.
Our PSHE curriculum aims to increase our children’s self-confidence and aspirations by thinking about their futures and the growth they have already made. The new skills pupils learn will support them in developing their understanding, tolerance and empathy for others and self-regulation strategies which will support them in their everyday life and as they progress in their education and life beyond.
We also go beyond the planned curriculum in order to respond to particular issues that may be affecting an individual, a class or the school as a whole. This responsive element is crucial in meeting the personal development needs of our children in the context of their home, their experiences and the local community in which they live.
PSHE Curriculum Implementation
At Aspire Academy our curriculum covers all of the required objectives and follows the three core areas of
- Health and Wellbeing
- Relationships
- Living in the Wider World .
Our scheme of work fulfils the requirements of 2020 Statutory Relationships and Health Education, setting these learning intentions in the context of a broad and balanced PSHE curriculum.
We follow the progressive themes and objectives from the Twinkl Life PSHE curriculum although teachers may use a range of resources to ensure that their lessons meet the needs of the children in their class.These units are taught in a spiral curriculum that revisits each theme every two years. This enables children to recall and build upon previous learning, exploring the underlying principles of PSHE education regularly at a depth that is appropriate for the age and stage of the child. Lessons also signpost key words, building a rich vocabulary to develop understanding.
The Twinkl Life PSHE units are designed to be delivered in a creative manner, using many approaches such as role play, discussion and games. These activities enable children to build confidence and resilience. Resources are also provided for communicating with parents and carers about how and why each theme is covered and suggestions for extending the learning at home. Assessment for learning opportunities are built into each lesson which enable self-evaluation and reflective learning and allow teachers to evaluate and assess progress. Each lesson begins with a discussion of children’s existing knowledge and experience, providing an opportunity for baseline assessment. Each lesson ends with an opportunity to consolidate and reflect upon learning.
Although we teach PSHE as a discrete subject, every pupil’s social and emotional development is intrinsic to our everyday communications and interactions. PSHE is evident in our school values of ASPIRE, as well as supporting other areas of the curriculum such as English,PE, Science, RE and Computing. The messages we drive are a priority in developing the whole of the child.
Additional PSHE lessons will be planned and taught where a particular need or concern arises for a particular child or group of children. These responsive lessons are often linked to keeping safe in and out of school.
Another key part of our implementation is the participation in awareness days and theme weeks to increase children’s understanding of important issues. i.e Children’s Mental Health Week, Anti Bullying Week, One Tree Day, NSPCC Days, Safer Internet Day etc.
We also take every opportunity to broaden our children’s experiences and use trips and visitors to enable this. E,g. Junior Citizen Workshops, TFL workshops, Children’s University Activities, Healthy Eating workshops etc
PSHE Curriculum Impact
The impact of our Aspire PSHE curriculum and their learning journey will be captured in their Class PSHE books and measured in a variety of ways; questioning during lesson time, listening to child-led discussion, using images and recordings of children’s practical learning, talking to children about their learning and book monitoring.
The impact of the curriculum will also be evident in the quality of the relationships and interactions between children and staff around the school, how children show respect and tolerance of others and how children keep themselves safe. All of these qualities and behaviours are celebrated through our Aspire Core Values.
The intended impact of the PSHE curriculum is that children will:
- Develop the vocabulary and confidence needed to clearly articulate their thoughts and feelings and know when and how to seek help and support from others.
- Build their confidence, self-esteem and resilience in order to have the courage and ability to try new things, challenge themselves and persevere.
- Understand the importance of good physical and mental health and wellbeing
- Demonstrate kindness and respect towards themselves and others.
- Take responsibility for their actions.
- Have a good understanding of how to stay safe, healthy and how to develop good relationships.
- Have an appreciation of what it means to be a positive member of a diverse, multicultural society.
- Have goals and aspirations for their future.
- Demonstrate and apply the British Values of Democracy, Tolerance, Mutual respect, Rule of law and Liberty.