Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

& Active Citizenship Curriculum.

At Southroyd, we develop children and young people who are Active Citizens and ready for life outside of school environments, now, and as they develop into adults.  We work with our children and young people to develop their knowledge and understanding of the world and the elements of life they will encounter as they develop and grow.  Through a carefully planned, progressive curriculum we ensure our children and young people are equipped for life in a rapidly changing world.   This approach means we adapt our curriculum regularly and look for new resources and approaches to teaching to ensure we are giving our children the best knowledge, skills and resources to equip them for their lives.  The Southroyd PSHE & Active Citizenship curriculum ensures children become fully involved in their wider school life, are able to achieve well in their personal aspirations and to develop essential life skills. 

Using spoken language as an important tool to share, question and discuss, we have embedded the wider learning of personal, social, cultural and emotional topics, alongside the formal curriculum.   Our curriculum includes using No Outsiders by Andrew Moffat.  This is a picture book based resource to support the teaching and understanding of the Protected Characteristics.   Southroyd children develop, in an age appropriate way, knowledge and understanding of the Protected Characteristics, their importance and how they are protected by law, either through criminal or civil proceedings. 

Our children learn about keeping safe and managing their own risk, explore topics about their mental wellbeing (using the MindMate approach) and investigate the wider aspects of culture and citizenship, through our learning as an International School Award. You can find out more by clicking on any of the links on this page.

Our Intent for PSHE at Southroyd

At Southroyd we believe Personal, Social and Health and Economic Education (PSHE) is a crucial part of a child's education and should be at the heart of everything we do.  The aim of our  PSHE (Personal, Social and Emotional Development in Early Years) and RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) is to give children the knowledge, skills and attitudes that they need to effectively navigate the complexities of life in the 21st Century. The curriculum covers key areas which will support children to make informed choices now and in the future about their health, safety, wellbeing and relationships. We aim to support the children in becoming confident individuals and active members of society. We strive to prepare children with understanding and knowledge, strategies and tools to take care of their mental health and wellbeing, helping them to live life well. 

The overarching aim for PSHE education is to provide pupils with:

• accurate and relevant knowledge
• opportunities to turn that knowledge into personal understanding
• opportunities to explore, clarify and if necessary challenge, their own and others’ values, attitudes, beliefs, rights and responsibilities
• the skills, language and strategies they need in order to live healthy, safe, fulfilling, responsible and balanced lives

PSHE Association 2014

We intend to promote children’s knowledge, self esteem, emotional wellbeing and resilience and to help them to form and maintain worthwhile and positive relationships. Children will be taught to have respect for themselves, and for others, within our local, national and global communities.   We aim to develop key character skills, including decision making, informed risk taking, good communication, and self-regulation strategies. We encourage the exploration of, and respect for, values held by different cultures and groups within our local community, and promote the development of positive attitudes. We encourage honesty and respect in all relationships and nurture sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others.  We promote an understanding and respect for everyone's rights as a person in the United Kingdom.  We ensure knowledge, understanding and respect for all the Protected Characteristics (Equality Act 2010). 

We intend to enable children to develop a deepening knowledge of their health and wellbeing, including their mental and physical health. We aim to equip children and young people with information, skills and values to understand and to be able to cope with, understand and question when needed, the physical and emotional changes that happen during puberty. The information provided will be relevant  and appropriate to the age and maturity  and experiences of pupils.  We equip children to understand the importance of consent in their lives inside and outside of school.  This is delivered alongside our PSHE lessons using a series of age appropriate texts. 

Implementation of PSHE at Southroyd

Children in Early Years follow the Early Years Curriculum and children throughout Year 1 to Year 6 follow our PSHE curriculum which is a bespoke progression.  As a school we have adapted and spiralised our curriculum for the needs, experiences and challenges OUR children face and deal with within their daily lives.  Our teaching is reflective and responsive to ensure it closely meets the needs and experiences of our child in their lives and their world at any one time.  Each year these lessons change to reflect the changing children. 

Throughout this scheme, children will learn about the following themes:

• Relationship and Sex Education (RSE)
• Physical and Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Drug, alcohol and tobacco education (links to the Science curriculum)
• Keeping Safe and Managing Risk
• Identity, Society and Equality
• First Aid
• Internet Safety
• Understanding the Law

Ground rules are put in place and agreed with the children at the start of the year and these ground rules are revisited before each lesson, revised and maintained throughout the year so the children know they are in a safe place to speak and share their knowledge, ideas and experiences. 

Teaching staff across school have engaged in training via the Language Champion Scheme and as a result lessons promote oracy and listening skills which encourages children to share their opinions and ideas in a respectful, considerate manner whilst listening to the opinions of others.  These skills prepare children for life supporting them to advocate for themselves and respectfully listen to others.   

We are working hard at Southroyd to ensure our curriculum reflects the diverse nature of our world.  As a result, we are constantly seeking new high-quality texts and resources to equip our children with skills they require to be active positive citizens in a diverse world.   We use No Outsiders to support the implementation of teaching of the Protected Characteristics. 

We give pupils access to big ideas and conversations, alongside practical experiences. At the heart of this, we encourage respect and understanding of the universal rights of the child, as articulated in the UNCRC.

Lessons are created and planned in different ways to ensure that everyone no matter their ability, needs or attainment level,  are able to meet the objectives of the lessons.   They are creative, fun and exciting so children enjoy them and learn well from them as a result.   We also ensure that real life issues and news events are addressed with the children through the safe spaces of these lessons. 

Impact of PSHE at Southroyd

Throughout their time at Southroyd our children learn the skills and knowledge they need to develop and grow into responsible, active citizens.  They are equipped to be articulate and confident.  Have the ability and knowledge to be 'upstanders'.   They understand that we live in a diverse world, we are all different, all our families are different, we have different cultures, believes and aspirations for our lives.  They know that these differences are respected and valued in society. 

They know that we have a duty to ourselves and to each other to keep ourselves safe, form healthy, happy relationships and to be an active member of school life and of the wider community.  They understand and respect the importance of consent and how this should be sought and granted by personal choice.

 Children at Southroyd have mutual respect and tolerance for others.  They are welcoming and kind to their peers whether they have come through school life alongside them or whether they have recently joined.  They have knowledge, understanding and respect for other people's beliefs, race, gender and life choices and decisions.  They understand that every family is different but still valued and valuable in the same way. 

 Children are given the opportunity to show their learning and knowledge in different ways.  This means that every child is able to successfully achieve the planned outcomes of PSHE lesson whatever their needs or ability.  They are created to ensure success for all, every time.