PSHE

Year 5 using democracy in choosing their class reading book.

Aims

At Abbey Primary School, our aim is to prepare pupils for their future lives by developing the knowledge, understanding, and skills they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. We believe that Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education plays a vital role in helping pupils develop confidence, resilience, and empathy. Our curriculum aims to ensure every child understands how to keep themselves healthy and safe, develop positive relationships, and become responsible members of society. We strive to create confident individuals who understand their rights and responsibilities within our diverse world.

How We Teach PSHE

Our approach to teaching PSHE is sensitive and inclusive, ensuring all pupils feel safe to explore important life issues and personal development. We currently use the curriculum framework from Coram life, called SCARF, which provides the framework for a whole-school approach to improving children’s wellbeing and progress, based on five values:  

• Safety
• Caring
• Achievement
• Resilience
• Friendship

SCARF provides a whole-school teaching framework centred on the ‘Growth Mindset’ approach – promoting positive behaviour, mental health, wellbeing, resilience and achievement.  The SCARF values are brought to life through stories of Harold the giraffe and his friends, songs, films, and thought-provoking and fun activities.  As children get older, while they still cherish Harold, themes about wellbeing and relationships are explored in greater depth and resources are tailored to their age group. 

SCARF provides a strong foundation for children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural education (SMSC) and development; it is at the heart of the SCARF curriculum.  SCARF provides a robust framework for promoting a positive ethos and values cross the school community, contributing significantly to British Values education, both explicitly and implicitly.

The focus across the three themes of:

* Health and Wellbeing
* Relationships
* Living in the Wider World

These themes help foster and develop children’s responsibility for their own actions; respect for the actions and beliefs of others; an understanding of how each individual is protected by the rule of law; and how everyone can make a positive contribution to society through the democratic process.

Throughout the course of the year the PHSE curriculum is enhanced through participation in:

• Incorporating the ‘Daily Mile’ into our day
• Using our sensory woodland area to reflect and find calm
• Weekly trips to St Albans Abbey building empathy and consideration of others
• Yoga workshops
• Year 5 / 6 Growing and Changing Workshop – Summer Term
• First Aid training
• Whole school awareness days/weeks, e.g. Anti-Bullying Week, Children’s Mental Health Week, Feeling Good Week etc.

Teachers deliver PSHE through:

• Dedicated PSHE lessons
• Circle time discussions
• Cross-curricular links
• Assemblies and special events
• Visiting speakers and workshops
• School council activities
• Whole-school initiatives

PSHE is taught in a spiral curriculum, revisiting themes at deeper levels as pupils progress through the school. We create a safe, supportive environment where pupils can discuss sensitive issues and develop their understanding of themselves and others.

Assessment focuses on personal development and understanding rather than formal testing. We encourage pupils to reflect on their learning and set personal goals for development.

What Skills and Knowledge Will Your Child Learn?

Throughout their time at Abbey, pupils develop essential life skills and knowledge. In the early years, children focus on understanding themselves, their feelings, and relationships with others. They begin to learn about keeping safe and healthy.

As they progress, pupils develop understanding across key areas:

Health and Wellbeing:

• Physical and mental health
• Healthy lifestyles
• Growing and changing
• Keeping safe online and offline
• Managing feelings and emotions
• Personal hygiene
• Making healthy choices

Relationships:

• Family and close relationships
• Friendships and peer relationships
• Respect for self and others
• Different types of relationships
• Online relationships
• Bullying and how to respond
• Personal boundaries

Living in the Wider World:

• Rights and responsibilities
• British values
• Communities and belonging
• Money and economic wellbeing
• Environmental responsibility
• Media literacy and digital resilience
• Career-related learning

By Upper Key Stage 2, pupils will have developed:

• Understanding of themselves and others
• Skills for maintaining relationships
• Knowledge of how to stay safe
• Financial awareness
• Health literacy
• Digital citizenship skills
• Emotional intelligence

These skills and knowledge progress systematically through the year groups, building on previous learning. Our approach develops important life competencies including:

• Self-management
• Empathy and respect
• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Resilience
• Decision making

Through our PSHE curriculum, pupils learn to:

• Make informed choices
• Develop healthy relationships
• Stay safe in various contexts
• Manage their emotions
• Respect diversity
• Be responsible citizens
• Prepare for their future lives

We believe these skills and knowledge are essential for pupils to develop as confident, responsible individuals who can navigate the challenges and opportunities of modern life effectively. Our curriculum ensures all pupils receive age-appropriate guidance that helps them understand themselves, others, and their place in the wider world.