PSHCE

At Sedbergh Primary School, PSHE education is designed to equip all pupils with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to lead healthy, safe and fulfilling lives, both now and in the future. Our intent is to deliver an age-appropriate, inclusive and progressive PSHE curriculum that enables every child to know more, remember more and understand more as they move through school.

We aim to develop pupils’ personal, social, health and emotional understanding in meaningful ways that build on prior learning and reflect real-life experiences, from local to global contexts. Through high-quality PSHE teaching, children are supported to understand risk, develop resilience, and acquire the skills needed to make informed, responsible and safe decisions.

We are committed to helping our pupils develop the skills needed to become strong, resilient individuals who are able to face challenges with confidence and perseverance. Through PSHE and the SCARF curriculum, children learn how to recognise and manage their emotions, develop positive coping strategies, seek help when needed and recover from setbacks. As a school, we are also enhancing our play provision through the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) programme, which provides rich opportunities for children to take managed risks, solve problems collaboratively and develop independence. These experiences support children in building resilience, self-belief and adaptability — essential life skills that underpin positive mental wellbeing and prepare pupils to approach new experiences and transitions with confidence.

Our PSHE curriculum has a strong focus on rights, responsibilities and respect within a diverse society. Pupils are encouraged to develop self-worth, confidence and empathy, while recognising the importance of positive relationships and active participation in school life and the wider community. Learning promotes equality, challenges discrimination and helps pupils understand what healthy relationships look like.

PSHE education at Sedbergh Primary School builds upon statutory National Curriculum requirements and guidance, covering key areas such as health and wellbeing, relationships and sex education, personal safety, citizenship, financial awareness, substance education, children’s rights, environmental responsibility, British Values, and the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.

By the time children leave Sedbergh Primary School, we aim for them to have the confidence, knowledge and skills to move successfully from childhood into adolescence, equipped to form positive relationships, contribute positively to society and make choices that support their wellbeing and that of others.

We believe that PSHE plays a vital part of primary education and it is therefore timetabled weekly to ensure that quality time is dedicated to it. There are always occasions where teachers may feel it necessary to teach PSHE because of an issue that has arisen in their own class. Many objectives from the curriculum will feature as an important part of school assemblies, where children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured. The distribution of the lessons complements key campaigns throughout the year, such as National Anti-bullying Week and E-safety Week, as well as local initiatives, such as tree planting in the community.

At Sedbergh Primary we follow the SCARF PSHE programme, which is a whole school approach that provides a scheme of learning from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to, and including, Year 6.  SCARF standing for Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience and Friendship and is mapped to the PSHE Association programmes of study.  It is centred on a values based, ‘Growth Mindset’ approach and is divided into six half-termly units.  The units are tailored to each year group under the following themes:

• Being my Best
• Me and my Relationships
• Keeping Myself Safe
• Valuing Difference
• Growing and Changing
• Rights and Responsibilities

The units are delivered through a spiral curriculum, being explored in greater depth and appropriately differentiated within each age group.

There is now a proven link between pupils’ health and wellbeing, and their academic progress. Crucial skills and positive attitudes developed through comprehensive Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) are critical to ensuring children are effective learners and SCARF provides a whole-school approach to building these essential foundations – crucial for children to achieve their best, academically and socially.

Every teacher has access to SCARF online resources.  Children have the opportunity to attend the Life Education Bus to motivate and enhance their learning and enjoyment of PSHE.

• Children will demonstrate and apply the British Values of Democracy, Tolerance, Mutual respect, Rule of law and Liberty.
• Children will demonstrate a healthy outlook towards school – attendance will be in-line with national and behaviour will be good.
• Participation in extra-curricular activity both in school and beyond is encouraged and celebrated.
• Pupil Voice Surveys are used to assess knowledge of how to stay safe and emotionally confident within the school.
• Children will become healthy and responsible members of society.
• Levels of volunteering both within the school through school council, gardening club, wildlife club and within the community through supporting the local foodbank, shoebox charity, tree planting and others initiatives.
• Children will achieve age related expectations across the wider curriculum.
• Children will be well prepared for their journey preparing them for life and work in modern Britain.