Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE)
Intent
At Wheelock Primary School, we believe that every child has the right to be safe, healthy, respected and heard. Our PSHE curriculum is rooted in our school values of Believe, Belong and Be Kind and underpinned by the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
As a UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting School, children's rights are a golden thread running through our PSHE curriculum and wider school life. We aim to develop confident, resilient and compassionate children who understand themselves, their relationships and their responsibilities, and who are empowered to make positive choices.
Our PSHE curriculum develops the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values children need to thrive. Pupils learn about emotional wellbeing, healthy lifestyles, relationships, personal and online safety, diversity, equality, equity and respectful behaviour. They are encouraged to recognise and challenge discrimination, understand their rights and responsibilities, and appreciate that while everyone has the same rights, some people may need different support to access those rights fully.
We want children to develop a strong sense of belonging and understand that their voice matters.
Implementation
PSHE is taught through dedicated weekly curriculum time using Jigsaw as the foundation of our progressive programme from EYFS to Year 6. The six themes of Being Me in My World, Celebrating Difference, Dreams and Goals, Healthy Me, Relationships and Changing Me enable children to revisit and deepen their understanding as they mature.
Teaching is adapted to meet the needs of our pupils and is inclusive and accessible through appropriate scaffolding, vocabulary, discussion, visual resources and adaptations.
As a Gold Rights Respecting School, the UNCRC is woven throughout our PSHE learning. Children explore key rights, including:
Article 2 (non-discrimination)
Article 3 (best interests)
Article 12 (children's views)
Article 19 (protection from harm)
Article 24 (health)
Article 29 (the aims of education).
Pupils learn about the relationship between rights and responsibilities and are given genuine opportunities to use their voice through our Article 12 Squad, School Council, pupil surveys and leadership opportunities.
Our No Outsiders programme complements PSHE by developing children's understanding of diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging through high-quality children's literature. PSHE learning is further reinforced through assemblies, safeguarding and online safety education, visitors, educational visits, cross-curricular learning and everyday relationships within our school community.
Impact
At Wheelock, we aim for PSHE to have a lasting impact on children's confidence, wellbeing and relationships. We want pupils to be able to make informed and responsible choices, understand how to keep themselves safe, communicate their feelings and know how to seek help when needed.
By the end of their time at Wheelock Primary School, we hope that children have:
- Developed confidence, resilience and a positive sense of self.
- Developed healthy, respectful relationships with others.
- Increased their understanding of physical health, mental wellbeing and personal safety.
- Developed an understanding of equality, equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Understood their rights and responsibilities and how their actions can affect the rights of others.
- Developed the confidence to recognise and challenge discrimination, bullying and harmful behaviour.
- Used their voice to contribute positively to school life and understand that their views matter.
- Developed the knowledge, skills and confidence to make positive choices and navigate the opportunities and challenges of life beyond primary school.
We assess the impact of PSHE through pupil voice, learning observations, work scrutiny, assessment information, staff feedback, behaviour and wellbeing indicators and parent feedback, using this information to continually develop our provision.
Ultimately, we want every child to leave Wheelock knowing:
I believe in myself.
I belong.
I can be kind.
My voice matters.
My rights matter - and so do the rights of others.
