PSHE

Personal, social and health education (PSHE) enables children to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society. It supports pupils’ spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.

At Chiddingstone Church of England School we encourage our pupils to play a positive role in contributing to the life of the school and the wider community. In so doing, we help develop their sense of self worth. We teach them how society is organised and governed. We ensure that they experience the process of democracy in school through Pupil Voice. We teach them about rights and responsibilities. They learn to appreciate what it means to be a positive member of a diverse, multicultural society.

Our programme of study for PSHE has been developed in conjunction with advice from the PSHE Association and is based on three core themes, within which there will be broad overlap and flexibility. The core themes are as follows:

• Health and Wellbeing;
• Relationships; and
• Living in the Wider World.

The core themes are taught in accordance with pupils’ readiness, are appropriate across all Key Stages and build upon Early Years Foundation Stage learning. A variety of teaching and learning strategies are used to deliver PSHE which take into account pupils’ age, development, understanding and needs.

Effective PSHE lessons involve a high level of interaction where each pupil has planned opportunities for learning through:

• the development of a trusting relationship between the teacher and the pupils enabling the consideration of sensitive issues to take place;
• collaborative work;
• circle time activities;
• opportunities for reflection;
• challenge within a safe environment;
• respect for each genuinely made contribution;
• negotiation;
• accommodating new information and skills; and
• building on current experience and use first-hand learning to achieve positive ends.

PSHE is timetabled weekly in each class. Lessons follow the whole school programme of study for PSHE. Lessons are therefore progressive ensuring that, over the years, children develop both skills and knowledge.

As well as a regular timetable slot PSHE is embedded in our learning at Chiddingstone School through the following:

• Religious Education (RE)
• Acts of Worship
• ICT
• Creative Curriculum
• Outside Speakers
• Pupil Voice
• Residential Trips and Visits
• Charity Fundraising
• Extra Curricular Activities

Currently, PSHE is non-statutory in schools. From 2020, Health Education and Relationship Education will become compulsory meaning that the majority of PSHE education will become compulsory. In 2019/20 our PSHE curriculum will be reviewed and updated to take on board new Government guidance and, as a consequence, an updated PSHE policy and Health and Relationship policy will be developed.