Personal, Social and Health Education
Our PSHE curriculum (Personal Social and Health Education) aims to develop the whole child is embedded in all that we do at Hawthorns and is accessible to all pupils. Through the curriculum we aim to maximize the outcomes for every child so that they are equipped to lead a successful life within, and beyond Hawthorns School.
We support our pupils to develop the qualities, skills and attributes needed to manage their lives, fulfil their academic potential and thrive as individuals, family members and members of society, both now and in the future. Children learn to respond to challenges, solve problems, handle risks and to develop self-confidence. As they become more confident they develop a growing self-awareness and a commitment to self-improvement so they can make informed decisions that lead to happy and healthy lives. They learn about their responsibilities both as individuals and as members of groups and teams and the relationships they form with others.
PSHE lays the foundations for long term well-being and contributes to children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development (SMSC). We provide our children with opportunities to learn about British Values and rights and responsibilities and also to appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. Some children will experience being part of a school council using their pupil voice to influence decisions. This gives opportunities for children to experience aspects of British Values for example, the rule of law and democracy.
Children have numerous opportunities to develop vital life and independence skills at a level appropriate to their needs and learning styles through everyday experiences which may be planned but also often arise incidentally. Some knowledge and skills will need specific teaching through subject lessons to ensure breadth and depth of learning experience at an appropriate level.
Our statutory Relationships and Sex Education curriculum (RSE) sits within our PSHE curriculum and supports children to learn about their changing bodies, relationships, their place in society both in school and beyond, caring for and looking after their bodies and awareness of acceptable and unacceptable behaviours towards their peers within social situations.
Enrichment opportunities form a large part of the curriculum for all classes and are key to developing life and social skills ,communication and independence – these include
• Visits from people in the community who help us e.g. Fire Service, Police Service, Nurses etc.
• Educational visits related to extending pupils’ interests, – museums, zoo, farm,
• Short, regular visits to places in our local community including trips to the local shops, parks, activity centres, local walks and outdoor activities to develop safety, communication and social skills
• Participating in national appeals including Sport Relief, Children in Need, Red Nose Day etc.
Pupils work on cross curricular priority areas of learning often including those set in the outcomes of the EHCP. The modules enable pupils to access a wide range of creative and exciting planned activities to extend and build on known interests and motivations. There is an intensive focus on all aspects of communication and personal outcomes and engagement through the themes.
PSHE Core themes
Health and Wellbeing (Includes statutory RSE)
Physical health and mental wellbeing are interlinked, and it is important that pupils understand that good physical health contributes to good mental wellbeing, and vice versa
• What is meant by a healthy lifestyle?
• How to maintain physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing- diet, sleep, exercise, oral hygiene, sun safety, safe use of medicines
• How to manage risks to physical and emotional health and well being
• Ways of keeping physically and emotionally safe- support safety and emotions
• About managing change, such as puberty, transition and loss
• How to make informed choices about health and wellbeing and to recognise sources of help with this
• How to respond in an emergency
• To identify different influences on health and wellbeing
Relationships ( Includes statutory RSE)
• How to develop and maintain a variety of healthy relationships within a range of social/cultural contexts
• How to recognise and manage emotions within a range of relationships
• How to recognise risky or negative relationships including all forms of bullying and abuse
• How to respond to risky or negative relationships and ask for help
• How to respect equality and diversity in relationships
Living in the Wider World (Includes British Values and SMSC)
• Respect for the self and others and the importance of responsible behaviours and actions
• Rights and responsibilities as members of families, other groups and ultimately as citizens
• About different groups and communities
• To respect equality and to be a productive member of a diverse community
• About the importance of respecting and protecting the environment
• About where money comes from, keeping it safe and the importance of managing it effectively
• How money plays an important part in people’s lives
• A basic understanding of enterprise