PSHE

At Oxclose Primary Academy, personal, social and health education (PSHE) enables our pupils to become healthy, independent and responsible members of a society. It aims to develop their understanding of how they are developing personally and socially, and tackles many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. We provide our pupils with opportunities to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. Our pupils are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community.

At Oxclose Primary Academy we deliver PSHE by utilising first-hand experience to deliver a curriculum that reflects the needs of our pupils. We expect teachers to use PSHE to equip pupils with a sound understanding of risk and with the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe and informed decisions. We believe that the purpose of PSHE education is to build, where appropriate, on the content already outlined in the national curriculum, the basic skills curriculum and in statutory guidance on: drug education, financial education, citizenship, personal safety, relationship and sex education (RSE) and the importance of mental health, physical activity and diet for a healthy lifestyle. We believe that by allowing our pupils to gain these skills and deepen their knowledge it will help them throughout the rest of their lives.

The school PSHE Long Term Plan was adapted from the PSHE Association long-term plan covering 3 core learning themes: Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. It takes into account progression and development of pupils’ understanding of the overarching concepts and development of essential skills.

On a termly basis we will have themed weeks for Anti Bullying, online safety and Health and Happiness to further enhance our PSHE curriculum.  SRE is covered discreetly across each year group following the Growing up with Yasmine and Tom which supports the delivery of high quality health, relationships and sex education. Operation Encompass Domestic Abuse Awareness Programmes are discreetly taught in KS1 and KS2; there are also half termly focussed sessions led by a school safeguarding liaison officer from Northumbria Police. Consent education plays an essential part in preventing and addressing sexual harassment and relationship abuse our curriculum includes essential consent lessons in KS1 and KS2.

PSHE is taught weekly in all year groups across school with learning documented in class PSHE floor books.  The majority of PSHE topics will be covered in a half term block however some longer, more in depth units particularly in upper KS2 will be covered across a term. This enables staff to ensure full coverage of PSHE is taught in their year group. There are always occasions where teachers may feel it necessary to teach PSHE as a result of an issue arisen in their own class. The school PSHE is reflected in school assemblies and collective worship where pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured.

The impact of our PSHE provision is the development of well-rounded pupils with a strong sense of ethics and values. Pupils will develop positive and healthy relationship with their peers both now and in the future. They will understand the physical aspects involved in RSE at an age appropriate level. Pupils will confidently understand how to keep themselves safe physically, mentally and technologically.

To enable us to measure the impact, the subject manager and senior leaders will use lesson visits, work scrutinies and pupil voice activities across the year.