PSHE
Intent
At Clanfield Junior School, we believe that PSHE education is a fundamental part of every child’s education in order for them to become confident, happy citizens. We aim to promote personal development in a structured and developmentally appropriate way in order to give children the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to improve their life chances. We enable children to develop their sense of self-worth by encouraging them to play a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community. Our curriculum covers a wide range of topics relating to physical and mental health, wellbeing, safeguarding and healthy relationships. We feel that learning about the emotional and social aspects of growing up will give children and young people the information, skills and positive values to empower them to have safe and fulfilling relationships and to become independent, responsible members of society. Having introduced children to a wide range of concepts and having exposed them to a variety of experiences, we hope that they will have a strong understanding of the diverse world around them; be well equipped to take responsibility for their own wellbeing and to stay safe in our ever-changing society.
Implementation
At Clanfield Junior School we follow the SCARF PSHE program, which is a whole school approach that provides a scheme of learning from Year 3 to Year 6.
SCARF (standing for Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience and Friendship) is mapped to the PSHE Association programmes of study. It is centred on a values based, ‘Growth Mindset’ approach and is divided into six half-termly units. The units are tailored to each year group under the following themes:
- Being my Best,
- Me and my Relationships,
- Keeping Myself Safe,
- Valuing Difference,
- Growing and Changing,
- Rights and Responsibilities.
The units are taught through a spiral curriculum, being explored in greater depth and resources being tailored to each age group.
Every teacher has access to SCARF online resources, which include lesson plans and additional resources for use/amendment. This includes additional issues that may arise in classrooms regarding certain topics, e.g. LGBTQ.
Children in some year groups have the opportunity to attend a SCARF workshop to motivate the children’s learning and enjoyment of PSHE, a Buzz Point of the curriculum.
We embed our school values of kindness, curiosity, respect and resilience (Be Kind, Be Curious, Be Respectful and Be Resilient) and promote these throughout the curriculum wherever possible. The British Values are also embedded throughout the curriculum where possible. The values play a key part within our assembly focuses each term.
As well as using the SCARF scheme, we also use assemblies (both whole school and within classes) to discuss matters such as ‘random acts of kindness’, anti-bullying, e-safety, wellbeing etc.
Each child has a PSHE book, used to record any significant learning. PSHE books are used to collect the thoughts and ideas the children have explored through PSHE and other SMSC aspects that they explore through lessons and assemblies.
Weekly class reflections are used to discuss and explore issues such as friendship, feelings etc.
Impact
A meaningful PSHE curriculum supports children to become happier, more positive individuals who have a clear understanding of rules and responsibilities and are able to handle setbacks and disagreements.
PSHE is evidenced using the PSHE books. Teachers use informal assessment tools to review how the children are progressing within each area of PSHE learning, including circle times, discussions, focus questions, independent tasks. Teachers use pre and post unit assessments to evidence children’s learning and progress in each unit.
Children have a safe space in which to discuss their feelings, opinions and develop their emotional intelligence. Worry boxes are used in classrooms to support this.
Children recognise and understand the school values and the fundamental British values. Children demonstrate a healthy outlook towards school, and demonstrate positive behaviour because they understand that they have a responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others.