The learning and promotion of PSHE & Relationships Education and SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development) is embedded across the whole school. Children are in classes with a dedicated form tutor who is responsible for their pastoral care and will address any issues as they arise such as supporting pupils to develop feelings of self respect, self-esteem and general well-being; and also to help them take responsibility for their actions and understand the consequences of their actions and the world around them. The Fundamental British Values are also actively promoted in the school.
In Reception to Year Six the children have a dedicated weekly timetable PSHE & Relationships lesson. However, the teaching of PSHE and Relationships Education is not in isolation. There are cross-curricular links with other subjects e.g PE, Science (STEM), Religious Education (Humanities), ICT and Maths.
All staff working at Sherborne House School are aware that they help support the learning and teaching of PSHE & Relationships Education whether directly or indirectly - this includes the Learning Support Assistants, Teachers and other support staff. Staff must be good role-models to our pupils. Learning and the development of self-esteem, health and relationships do not just take place through the taught curriculum, but through all aspects of school life including playtimes, assemblies, visits, art and music events and sporting activities.
The progressive nature of PSHE and Citizenship means that topics are revisited regularly and are built upon each year as the child advances through the school. We use many resources and relevant safe sites on the internet such as Newsround but predominantly the SCARF Coram Life Education scheme www.coramlifeeducation.org.uk (Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience and Friendship) is used. This provides a whole-school approach which includes mental health and well being and is mapped to the PSHE Association programme of study. The programme follows a spiral curriculum of half-termly topics (Me and My Relationships, Valuing Difference, Keeping Myself Safe, Rights and Responsibilities, Being My Best, Growing and Changing) which are built upon each year as the child progresses through the school.
Planning will change depending on the current needs of the children, in response to major world or country events and will also reflect the whole-school half-termly topics such as The World Is Your Oyster, charity events and national events such as Internet Safety, Children’s Mental Health Week and Anti-bullying. There are also links to whole-school activities such as class input into designing the new school ‘Wellbeing Garden’ and our many ‘unplugged’ activities. We welcome visits or ‘virtual meets’ from our parents sharing their expertise whether it is through their job or hobby and have built up a bank of contacts.
Curriculum information for each Year Group continues to be on the parent portal and also the progression of skills and learning focuses in PSHE and Relationships Education are mapped out for your perusal on the main website.
Pamela Holmes
Personal Social Health Education and Citizenship Leader