Our approach to PSHCE

Our approach to teaching Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE) at Chesterton is to help develop every child become a well-rounded global citizen who understands how different people around the world live their lives.

This supports the children’s understanding that not everyone is given the same opportunities. UNCRC Article #29 (I have the right to an education which develops my personality, respect for others’ rights and the environment) is at the core of everything we do at Chesterton. We also promote our school values (pride, resilience and kindness) as well as embed our Life Ladder Skills throughout all lessons, meaning by the time children leave Chesterton they have the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy and independent lives, as well as being informed, empathetic, active and responsible citizens who are prepared for the future. Our whole school focus is on good health and well-being to ensure that all pupils understand how to to keep themselves and others healthy and take an active role in their mental and physical health.

How we teach PSHCE

We believe that all children should be given the opportunity to develop in an environment that promotes mutual respect. During PSHCE lessons we promote children’s self-esteem and emotional well-being through open discussions and debates, P4C (Philosophy for Children), role plays, circle time, group work, charity work, community and environmental projects, trips and inviting guest speakers into school. We follow a bespoke curriculum that reflect the needs and interests of our pupils. These are often related to current issues in the local area that may be affecting our children and their families. Our children gain further insight through assemblies and curriculum days. Children in the Early Years are taught Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) following the objectives set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile.

Relationships and Sex education (RSE) is an integral part of our PSHCE curriculum. Our approach at Chesterton to teach Relationships Education is based on The DfE ‘Relationship Education Guidance’ (2020) which recommends that primary schools should ‘put in place the key building blocks of healthy, respectful relationships, focusing on family and friendships, in all contexts, including online. This will sit alongside the essential understanding of how to be healthy’. We ensure our pupils receive an education which supports their physical and emotional wellbeing (UNCRC Article #24). Our broad and balanced curriculum ensures that pupils are provided with the tools to make safe, informed decisions about their lives.

We aim to:

Equip children with accurate knowledge and understanding about healthy relationships that they need, in order to develop their own moral choices.
Create opportunities which enable pupils to be taught about positive emotional and mental wellbeing, including how friendships can support mental wellbeing.
Raise pupils’ understanding of the importance of self-respect and self-worth
Help pupils develop attributes including honesty, integrity, courage, humility, kindness, generosity, trustworthiness and a sense of justice.
Encourage the development and practice of resilience, belief that they can achieve and perseverance.
Ability to set goals, long term rewards and importance of seeing these through despite setbacks.
Develop skills for a healthier, safer lifestyle.
Develop and use communication skills and assertiveness skills to cope with the influences of their peers and the media.
Educate pupils to respect and care for their bodies.
Prepare pupils for puberty and adulthood.

You can read our Chesterton curriculum progression for PSHCE here.

Useful links

KS1 - BBC Teach

Think You Know – Online protection for children (KS1)

KS2 - BBC Teach

Think You Know – Online protection for children (KS2)