PSHE
Intent
At Southwark Park School we support all our children to develop socially and emotionally by teaching them the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe, both mentally and physically. Our goal is to develop qualities such as resilience, self-esteem, risk-management and teamwork through a variety of high quality PSHE programmes. The mental well-being of our children is a priority, as is the aim to enable them to understand and reflect on their feelings and those of others, ultimately developing a deep sense of empathy. It’s this ethos that forms the basis for the excellent relationships and behaviour for learning at our school. At Southwark Park School, we understand how teaching Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Relationship, Sex and Health Education can prepare our children for the wider world, through instilling the values, knowledge and mindset needed to navigate a variety of challenges they are likely to face. Our curriculum has been adapted to ensure opportunities for all learning are equal, irrespective of SEN, gender, ethnicity, background or beliefs.
Implementation
At Southwark Park we use the Southwark scheme of work for PSHE, alongside the Christopher Winter project for Sex Education and Drugs and Alcohol to guide our teaching. These programmes have been combined together and adapted to meet the specific needs of our children. Weaved throughout the entire curriculum is the knowledge of their rights and the work of the global charity UNICEF.
In the first week of the school year, children work together in their classes to produce a Class Charter linked to the Rights of the Child. Children take ownership of this by discussing and deciding on the expectations in their learning environment and the school as a whole. Every child in the class signs up to this agreement and as it is prominently displayed in each classroom, it can be referred back to as and when necessary. During the year, all classes have two half-hour sessions of PSHE following a programme called PATHS Plus (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies). It develops children’s social and emotional learning, resilience and skills development. Children’s charity Barnardo’s supports our staff with a wealth of valuable resources and training, enabling the delivery of carefully tailored lessons that cover five key areas:
- self-control
- emotional understanding
- positive self-esteem
- relationships
- interpersonal problem-solving skills.
Children learn to recognise and understand a range of feelings (and their potential causes) and emotions in both themselves and others. Empathy and understanding being vital tools for conflict resolution, communication and managing their own behaviour. This is conducted in a space where children feel accepted and safe to share not only their worries and concerns, but also their triumphs, and crucially, be celebrated and valued. This is enhanced further by the Roots of Empathy programme in KS2, which is an evidence-based program that teaches children about their own feelings and the feelings of others. In Sex and Relationships Education, certain themes are taught which aim to build upon previous knowledge, always ensuring it is age appropriate and relevant.
Throughout the year, we actively seek opportunities to enrich our curriculum. Year groups have had visits from the Fire Service, the opportunity to complete cycle training and road safety, internet safety workshops, and have heard guest speakers from UNICEF and the inspirational stories of Paralympians. We also come together as a whole school community in Anti – Bullying Week.
Our varied and well-developed curriculum is delivered through whole class, small groups (e.g. Friendship groups where children have been identified to need support) and 1:1 learning and support. Whilst many themes are covered explicitly in PSHE and SRE lessons, these are always reinforced where possible throughout the wider curriculum with links made to Science, History, Geography and English. This means children view PSHE and SRE less in isolation and more as a part of a wider scheme of learning, encouraging a deepening understanding through context.
Impact
PSHE at Southwark Park enables our children to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society, with the awareness that they are also global citizens who have an important role to play. Children are supported in tackling the moral, social and cultural issues that define the world they live in, enabling them to be more than silent spectators, but to actually drive these conversations and ultimately shape their world.
In delivering a variety of well-developed PSHE programmes, our children cultivate a deep understanding of the rights of a child, of British values such as tolerance and respect, and of healthy lifestyles and relationships. Relationships in particular underpin our approach to creating a nurturing environment and is key to the success of restorative approaches that we use wherever possible to resolve conflict.
Within this nurturing environment, our children acquire the knowledge to be able to make good decisions that will have a positive impact on both themselves and others. Resilience and a strong sense of self in an ever-changing world are key attributes that we at Southwark Park School work tirelessly to instil. We understand that if the well-being of children is supported, they are able to achieve their full potential, as issues that might affect their ability to learn are identified and addressed. Themes and topics covered in PSHE will inevitably have a positive impact on children’s academic and non-academic output alike. Personal and social development is at the core of our curriculum, as are our school values. Children are supported and equipped with the skills required to ensure a smooth transition to secondary school, and adult life as a whole. Ultimately, the principles we hold are simple. Having respect for themselves and others, responsibility for their choices and actions, and constantly striving for excellence, regardless of the circumstances.
