PHSE

PSHE Intent

At St James School, the curriculum for PSHE/Citizenship links closely to our policies and practices promoting safeguarding, social, moral, spiritual and citizenship development and British values. It also plays an important role in implementing the protected characteristics of The Equality Act 2010.

The PSHE curriculum helps children to develop the knowledge and skills needed to access the wider curriculum. It encourages them to work collaboratively with others and to make a positive contribution to the life of the school. Ultimately, the curriculum will prepare children to be a global citizen in a diverse society and the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences they can look forward to in later life.

The curriculum will be progressive and will reflect the needs of our children within the core themes of health and wellbeing, relationships and living in the wider world. Each phase builds on the vocabulary, knowledge and skills taught previously to allow children to acquire further knowledge, know more and remember more.

Teachers will use the PSHE programme to equip children with an age-appropriate, sound understanding of risk, developing the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe and informed decisions and to recognise the importance of their own mental health and well-being. The curriculum incorporates an age appropriate understanding of RSE, as set out in the statutory guidance. All children will learn how to keep safe and how to develop healthy relationships both now and in their future lives.

PSHE Implementation

Topics are taught within each year groups and learning takes place through lessons, circle time, special projects and other activities that enrich children’s experiences. There are often occasions where teachers may feel it necessary to teach PSHE as a result of an issue arisen in their own class; this will always be dealt with sensitively. Our school environment reinforces the PSHE curriculum through questioning, vocabulary and discussion topics on display throughout school, for example British Values, School Council etc. The curriculum is further enriched through life skills sessions, links with the local community, fundraising opportunities, visitors and national events. PSHE is an integral part of our school assemblies where children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured.

PSHE Impact

All children learn to understand and appreciate the importance of PSHE, SMSC and British Values and their effects on life in and out of school. This is evidenced through their discussions and their written work. By teaching pupils to stay safe and healthy and by building self-esteem, resilience and empathy, an effective PSHE programme will tackle barriers to learning, raise aspirations, and improve the life chances of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils.

By the time they leave our school, our aim is for children to be healthy, independent and responsible members of society. Their personal and social development will enable them to tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. Our curriculum allows children to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. They will have developed a sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community through a range of roles including school council representatives and Wellbeing Committee members. 

Our learning is enriched through the use of:

• Newsround and PicNews
• Circle time
• Discussions
• Film/videos
• Displays
• Class ‘big books’ – celebration of learning
• Assembly themes
• Visiting speakers, for example, school nurses, PCSOs etc
• Drama – different scenarios

Schemes of Work

KS1 and KS2…

We use the Coram Scarf scheme of work.

• The long-term plan is adapted to have a ‘local influence’ – what is important/relevant for St James pupils

If you want further information about the curriculum content your child is covering please call the school office to arrange an appointment to see the subject leader. 

Relationship and Sex Education at St James 

Although we have chosen to teach PSHE for many years at St James, it is now a compulsory part of children’s education in line with the statutory requirements for Relationship and Health Education. All children will receive a weekly PSHE lesson delivered by either the class teacher or a Higher Level Teaching Assistant. During these lessons, children will learn about a range of concepts, equipping them with the appropriate knowledge and skills to make healthy, safe and responsible choices in their lives. 

PSHE and RSE lessons at St James will not go beyond the requirements of the Science National curriculum currently. There will be an online workshop, at the beginning of Summer 1, offered to parents of pupils in Year 5. This will be led by the school nursing service. This will look at ways of supporting your child through puberty and how to discuss the changes they are going through. The DFE have produced  'Understanding relationships and health education in your child’s primary school: a guide for parents' . Please see the document below for this information: