How do we approach teaching PSHE at Hillcross?

 

To ensure that children take risks and meet their potential,  we create a safe and supportive learning environment. We do this by having clear school and class rules (the charters are drawn up by each class at the beginning of the school year with the class teacher, and are regularly reviewed). Our curriculum is lead by an enquiry approach, whereby children work towards answering an overarching question by the end of each half term. In order to do this successfully, each lesson will focus on a given question, which will ultimately help them to answer the  'big question' posed. For example, in Year 2, during the Autumn term, their 'big question' is:

Which behaviours cause harm and how can we get help?  

To support the children in answering the above question, each PSHE lesson will focus on the one of the following lines of enquiry:

  1. What  is  hurtful behaviour, including online? What do I do  and whom do I tell if I see or experience hurtful behaviour, including online?

  2. What is bullying What different types of bullying are there? How may it feel to be bullied?

  3. What is the difference between happy surprises and secrets?  Which secrets could make you feel uncomfortable or worried?  How and where can I get help if I feel this way?

  4. How can I resist pressure to do something that feels uncomfortable or unsafe?  Who could I ask for help if I felt  unsafe or worried and what vocabulary should I use?

  5. Why do we celebrate  Black History Month? What would the consequences be, if we didn’t celebrate this month? 

Our PSHE curriculum covers these three core themes, which are then each sub-divided into three further topics.

Through its three core themes, our PSHE Curriculum covers many important topics such as relationships and sex education (RSE) and health, to economic wellbeing and careers, setting out suggested content for each key stage.

The core themes and topics are:

  • Health and Wellbeing
  1. Families and Friendship
  2. Safe relationships
  3. Respecting Ourselves and Others
  • Relationships
  1. Belonging to a Community
  2. Media Literacy and Digital Resilience
  3. Money and Wor
  • Living in the Wider World 
  1. Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing
  2. Growing and Changing
  3. Keeping Safe

Our curriculum therefore provides a comprehensive programme for each key stage, that fully covers, but is not limited to the statutory requirements. This is because we respond to the needs of our children and incorporate and link to important areas such as: British Values, Equalities, Rights Respecting Schools (RRS), Nurturing Positive Attachments and Emotional Intelligence.

Teachers and leaders will use a variety of teaching methods including the use of circle time, emotional check-ins, designated PSHE lessons, collective worship, P4C enquires and active engagement sessions to enable children to develop self-awareness, positive self esteem and the confidence to: 

  • Feel positive about themselves by having opportunities to show what they can do and how much responsibility they can take. They should be taught that it is ok to make mistakes, as this provides an opportunity for new learning.
  • Participate in the school’s decision-making process, relating it to democratic structures and processes such as councils, parliament, government and voting. At Hillcross, this is supported by democratically voting for the school councillors in each class, eco warriors, Head Teacher Award children half termly etc.
  • Make decisions about their own lifestyle and well-being, such as food, smoking, use of scarce resources, spending money and contributing to charities.
  • Understand different relationships and the different roles within these relationships.
  • Develop relationships through work and play.
  • Consider the social and moral dilemmas that they come across in life, including online safety. Children should understand the impact of fake news, trolling and how permanent and destructive comments they (or others) make online.
  • Take responsibility for looking after the school environment and local community. Children should consider the needs of others, acting as a peer supporter, identifying safe, healthy and sustainable means of travel planning their journey to school. They should also protect the environment by picking litter up, switching lights and electrical equipment off to save energy, raising money for charirites amongst other important  initiatives.
  • Find information and advice.
  • Prepare for change now and in their future lives

 

Hillcross Primary School, Ashridge Way, Morden, Surrey, SM4 4EE

020 8542 6936

info@hillcross.merton.sch.uk