Victoria School

PSHE/SMSC/Relationship Education

The Intent, Implementation and Impact of PSHE/SMSC/Relationship Education at Victoria School

“Teachers help us feel comfortable talking about our emotions and feelings with them." “PSHE lessons help me to talk about my feelings and understand other people around me.”

- Pupil voice

Intent

At Victoria School, Personal Social and Health Education is central to the education of the whole child through a broad and balanced curriculum. PHSE/SMSC is the overarching umbrella that encompasses personal development across the curriculum.

Personal, social and health education (PSHE) helps to give children and young people the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy and independent lives.  It aims to help them understand how they are developing personally and socially, tackling many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up.  It offers learning opportunities across and beyond the curriculum, in specific lessons as well as in assemblies, circle time, special school projects and other activities that enrich pupils' experiences.

Our Intent is that pupils

• should be safe, secure and happy in school.
• have equal access to the curriculum, regardless of ability, gender, race or religion.
• develop an appreciation of the importance of responsible behaviour and consideration of others.
• spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is promoted in order to prepare them to become valued members of an ever-changing, multi-cultural society.

SMSC promotes the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school and of society.  It prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life and of how to be educated citizens.

Spiritual

Explore beliefs and experience; respect faiths, feelings and values; enjoy learning about oneself, others and the surrounding world; use imagination and creativity; reflect.

Moral

Recognise right and wrong; respect the law; understand consequences; investigate moral and ethical issues; offer reasoned views.

Social

Use a range of social skills; participate in the local community; appreciate diverse viewpoints; participate, volunteer and cooperate; resolve conflict; engage with the 'British values' of democracy, the rule of law, liberty, respect and tolerance.

Cultural

Appreciate cultural influences; appreciate the role of Britain's parliamentary system; participate in culture opportunities; understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity.

Our curriculum is accessible to all and will maximise the outcomes for every child enabling them to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society. The main focus is to help pupils understand how they are developing personally and socially, and tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up.

Sex and Relationships Education

This is compulsory from September 2020.  It provides information (in conjunction with the science curriculum) about relationships, puberty and human reproduction, appropriate to their ages and stages of development.

There is a strong safeguarding element to the “Changing Me” unit of study. This is further backed up through the Kidsafe programme. Relationship Education is an important aspect of life-long learning with our intent to ensure that this is taught throughout each year group.

The more explicit aspect of Sex education, where visual and key vocabulary is presented to the pupils will be taught no sooner that the final term of Y5 or Y6. The module will not be taught without parents being informed that this module is about to be taught and permission MUST be granted. We will not assume that the parents have granted permission if we receive no response and teachers must ensure that they have had a response from all parents/carers.

Implementation

At Victoria School, we use the Jigsaw programme to deliver our PHSE/SMSC curriculum which is linked to British Values It is a mindful, detailed and comprehensive scheme of learning for ages 3 – 16.  It is a spiral, progressive and effective scheme of work aiming to prepare children for life. 

In addition we annually deliver a full Kidsafe programme to every child.  This programme equips children with effective skills to keep themselves safe from various forms of child abuse without shattering their innocence.  In addition, we offer enriching opportunities outside of these schemes.

Examples include:

Spiritual

Thought provoking assemblies.

Annual services at Harvest, Easter and Christmas

Awareness of other religions and their festivals.

Charity events to raise awareness, for example, Random Acts of Kindness Day.

Mental Health and mindfulness lessons

 Moral

Charity events to support others

Gripping Yarns – annual drama presentation on themes of Anti Bullying (Y4) and Internet Safety (Y5)

Play in a Day - Parliament and British Values

Safer Internet Day

Mini Police

Art project on Women’s Right to Vote

 Social

Taking part in community activities: Workington and Whitehaven Festival (choir), Young Voices (choir)

Bike-ability training

Whole school arts projects.

First Aid training for pupils and staff

Breakfast Weeks

 Cultural

Osiligi Warriors

Zulu Nation

German Residential and Exchange programme

Impact

Our PSHE/SMSC curriculum aims to:

• Help pupils know and value who they truly are and understand how they relate to other people in this ever changing world. 

• Help promote pupil voice and encourage children to speak up, to be able to debate issues that affect themselves and others and the tools to seek help if needed. 

• Supports pupils as they become aware of their rights and responsibilities within their homes, school and in the wider community. 

• Open their eyes to the wider world, diversity and the possibilities that are available. 

• Promotes self-esteem and confidence within our school through, not only the SMSC framework but throughout the wider curriculum.