PSHE

Personal, health and social education

We are Philosophers.

Intent

At Amesbury CE Primary School we believe that PSHE should enable children to become healthier, more independent and more responsible members of society. We encourage our pupils to play a positive role in contributing to the life of the school, the church and the wider community. This enables the children to develop their own self-worth. We ensure that the children experience the process of democracy through participation in the school council, through their work with local charities or via our well- established ambassador roles . Children are taught about their rights and responsibilities. They learn to appreciate what it means to be a positive member of a diverse and multicultural society. Alongside everything we do, we continually embed our values of: kindness, dignity and endurance into the teaching of PSHE.

What is the point in being a Philosopher in PSHE?

PSHE Education (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) is a planned programme of learning through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to successfully manage their lives – now and in the future. As part of a whole-school approach, PSHE Education develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.

The aims of being a Philosopher in PSHE are:

Develop the knowledge and skills to enable them to become confident, healthy individuals
Develop a safe and healthy lifestyle
Understand what makes a good relationship for others
Have respect for others in school and in the outside world
Develop own sense of self-esteem and emotional well-being and encourage others to do so
To make the most of their own abilities
Be independent and responsible members of a community, such as school
Develop knowledge of ways in which individuals can contribute to society
Develop self-confidence and self-esteem, and make informed choices regarding personal and social issues
Develop good relationships with other members of the community
Acquire enduring values and aspirations

Implementation

When we are being Philosophers (in our PSHE lessons), we learn through the Jigsaw programme. It’s a mindful approach, allowing the children in our school to grow up with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to succeed, both now and in the future. It embodies a positive philosophy and creative teaching to nurture children’s development as compassionate and well-rounded human beings. Jigsaw comprises of six ‘pieces’ (or six topics of learning). The pieces are: Being Me in My World, Celebrating Difference, Dreams and Goals, Healthy Me, Relationships and Changing Me. One ‘piece’ of the Jigsaw is taught each term. Jigsaw provides an assessment framework at the end of each unit to allow children to assess their own knowledge and understanding and to support teachers in their planning.

Sex And Relationship Education

The idea of teaching sex and relationships education (SRE) to children as young as those in Key Stage 1 (5 – 7 year olds) may seem inappropriate and alarming to some parents. However, a deeper understanding of SRE can reduce concerns.

Why is this work so important?

Our ability to make, maintain and perhaps even end healthy, positive and productive relationships is part of what makes us human and is fundamental to a caring and supportive society. Our relationships come in a wide variety of forms: colleagues, family, casual acquaintances, close friendships and eventually, sexual.

Our children learn by looking at and listening to all the messages they experience. They are constantly trying to make sense of the world around them.
In our society, children are confronted with sexual images in advertising and stories and messages about celebrity lifestyles and relationships in the media. Pornography is readily available on the internet.
How many parents have found themselves saying, ‘I can’t believe my child asked/knew/thought that!’
Using their natural curiosity combined with wonderful ‘child logic’, our young children often put together their own complex ideas about where babies come from. This understanding can be a mixture of correct, almost correct and completely incorrect ideas.
Many children will also enter puberty whilst still at primary school and without suitable preparation from parents at home. This can be a confusing, embarrassing and even distressing time.
So what is the purpose of SRE in primary schools?

A planned, progressive programme of SRE gradually and appropriately begins to prepare our children for adult life. It teaches the skills they need to fully manage the natural physical and emotional changes that will happen to them as they grow and mature into healthy, confident and responsible adults.

SRE teaches the skills children need to develop positive healthy relationships. It supports their moral development, helping them to understand themselves
and to respect and care for others.

Parents do have the right to withdraw their children from sex education lessons (but not from sex education that is part of the science curriculum) but few take this option.

But what exactly do children learn?

In reception and Key Stage 1 (4 - 7 years old)

Children learn about their special people; friends and friendship; learning to recognise and react to different feelings and how to keep safe.
They explore how we show love and express feelings in our relationships.
They learn how we are all special and what makes us the same, what feelings we all share and what makes us different. They explore how we feel when our special people go away or even die.
They learn about good and not so good promises and secrets and how to say “No!”, “Don’t”, “I’ll ask” and “I’ll tell”.
They explore growing and changing in animals, plants and people and understand that growing and changing is a natural part of living.
In year 2 and 3 (6 - 7 years old)
Children continue to explore growing and changing. Children learn to recognise and name main body parts. This helps children understand the differences
between males and females and how they change as they get older.
They bring in photographs of themselves as a baby, toddler and child and explore how they have grown and changed and what they can do now that they couldn’t do before.
They explore the different stages of human development, understanding how some people’s needs and responsibilities stay the same whilst some change as they get older.

During Key Stage 2 (8 -11 years old)

Children explore emotional changes and how to manage feelings towards themselves, their families and others in a positive way.

They learn that we all go through physical and emotional changes but the age at which changes happen will depend on their own personal ‘body clock’.

They learn that although people’s bodies may be ready to have/make babies, they as people are not ready in many other ways (emotionally, financially, and
educationally) for a long time.

Towards the end of their time in primary school children learn the process of conception and understand the importance of loving, stable relationships.

Revisiting differences in reproductive system between boys and girls, they learn how they change during puberty.

They learn that being able to talk sensibly and learn about this is an important part of growing up.

Name
Further-infor-for-parents-of-Jigsaw.pdf	Download
Jigsaw-LGBT-Parent-Leaflet-A4 (2).pdf	Download
PSHE LTP.pdf	Download
RSHE-A-Guide-for-Parents-and-Carers-leaflet-2020.pdf	Download