At Wellow Primary, we believe the role of PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education) is significant to individual pupil motivation and achievement; it teaches children to make independent, healthy, confident and respectful choices in order to develop into active citizens with a strong, positive disposition and self-worth. PSHE enables children to acquire the knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes they need to manage their lives. As a subject, it develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of the local and global society in which they live. Through the PSHE curriculum, the pupils of Wellow Primary School are provided with opportunities to enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development through: cooperation, communication, evaluation, reflection, decision making and managing their emotions. The children learn about their human rights and engage with issues of diversity, identity and equality through exploration of similarities and differences between people and their experiences, and the discussion of social and moral dilemmas. The causes and consequences of economic inequalities are explored and children consider how use, abuse and inequalities of power from local to global levels can affect the well-being of individuals and communities.

At Wellow Primary School, delivery of the PSHE curriculum is taught following the guidelines provided by Hampshire County Council as well as the PSHE Association (see whole school overview for thematic plan). Teachers use a wide range of teaching strategies, including role play, discussion, group work and circle time as a vehicle for delivering, discussing and reflecting on life skills.

Through regular assemblies led by members of staff and visits from outside experts and agencies, including representatives from a variety of charities, PHSE is embedded into the daily life of the school. These activities, combined with teacher-led discussion, circle time and informal talks about issues as they arise, mean that learning in this vitally important curriculum area is always relevant to what is happening in class, school or the wider world.

Teaching safeguarding through PHSE

At Wellow, through our curriculum we support children to…

• manage friendships including how to manage social situations like playtime, conflict, difference of opinion
• develop respect and trust through their behaviour and responses
• resist negative pressure from peers
• know how to keep themselves safe online and in the real world
• regulate their own behaviour and emotional responses
• know how to call the emergency services and the importance of doing so wisely and safely
• recognise who are trusted adults in times of need
• how to maintain positive emotional and physical health and hygiene
• become supportive peers and citizens who listen to others with respect and live comfortably with difference
• be respectful of money and recognise the value of a resource
• know when not to share personal information and how to respect the physical space of others
• understand how certain drugs can be dangerous and the difference with those that are prescribed but always acting with safety in this area
• understand that sex is an activity which takes place between consenting adults which may lead to reproduction
• recognise that families take many different forms