PSHE
What is PSHE?
PSHE stands for personal, social, health and economic education. The ‘E’ in PSHE covers economic wellbeing and careers – vital parts of the subject that mustn’t be forgotten.
What do we aim to achieve through our PSHE curriculum?
At Boston Pioneers Academy we have a set of values that are both taught and promoted throughout all aspects of Academy life. These are known as our ‘REACH’ values.
Our REACH values and PSHE curriculum have been devised with the aim of supporting the development of the ‘whole child’; assisting our learners to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attributes they need to become healthy, independent, and responsible global citizens of the future.
Essentially, our aim is to prepare our pupils to manage many of the most critical opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities they will face whilst growing up in rapidly changing and challenging times.
How do we teach PSHE at Boston Pioneers Academy?
At Boston Pioneers our PSHE and RSE curriculum is largely centred around the 1Decision Primary scheme of work. This is based on the PSHE Association’s Programme of Study with emotional health and wellbeing woven within it. It covers all of the statutory elements of both Health Education (including puberty) and Relationships Education.
This programme has a range of unique resources, which include a series of documentaries and real-life videos with alternative endings, that enable our learners to explore a variety of PSHE related situations in a safe environment and in an age-appropriate manner.
The programme covers 8 key areas:
•Keeping and staying safe
•Keeping and staying healthy
•Relationships
•Being responsible
•Feelings and emotions
•Computer safety
•Money matters
•A world without judgement
Each area is revisited every year to allow children to build on prior learning. The lessons also provide a progressive programme. The lessons are based upon the statutory requirements for Relationships and Health education, but where our lessons go beyond these requirements (primarily in the Citizenship and Economic wellbeing areas) they refer to the PSHE Association’s Programme of Study which is recommended by the DfE. Sex education has been included in line with the DfE recommendations and is covered in Year 6 of our scheme.
Our scheme also supports the requirements of the Equality Act through direct teaching, for example learning about different families, the negative effect of stereotypes and celebrating differences, in addition to the inclusion of diverse teaching resources throughout the lessons.
In addition to the 1Decision scheme of work, from January 2025, our PSHE curriculum will be further refined as we move to include materials from:
The Linking Network's 'British Values Programme' - A resource designed to support learners to develop an age-appropriate, meaningful understanding of the themes of democracy, individual liberty, rule of law and mutual respect.
The 'Zones of Regulation' Curriculum - Known as a 'Social and Emotional Curriculum' designed to help learners understand and manage their emotions.
in addition to...
The 'No Outsiders' programme - This promotes inclusivity and diversity in schools by teaching children about different cultures, identities, and social backgrounds. It emphasises respect, understanding, and acceptance of all individuals, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and included.
By the end of Y6 we aim for our learners to:
- Have the confidence to share their own thoughts and opinions with others
- Have the skills and attributes necessary to keep themselves healthy and safe
- Develop the attitude of a responsible, global citizen
- Show tolerance of others’ beliefs, religions, and life choices
- Build positive, respectful relationships with other people
What about in the Early Years Foundation Stage?
Personal, Social & Emotional Development is one of the prime areas of learning in EYFS and sits at the heart of our curriculum; encapsulated in our saying, ‘Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care!’
Learners develop a range of personal, social and emotional skills during their time in EYFS, which act as building blocks for later learning in PSHE. In addition to PSED, Personal, Social and emotional skills are also incorporated in the EYFS through the following areas of learning: ‘Communication & Language’, ‘Physical development’ and ‘Understanding the World’.
All learners are encouraged to listen, be kind to each other and share. They are supported in understanding their own feelings and in beginning to regulate their behaviours accordingly. They set and work towards simple goals and build their resilience, perseverance and independence. They learn to work and play cooperatively and show sensitivity to their own and others’ needs.
Our learners are given both structured and independent opportunities to develop and apply these skills, with guided sessions including circle times, PSED sessions and our assemblies. We use the online platform ‘One Decision’ to guide our themes for PSED learning each half-term whilst also addressing the needs of the children as they occur.
By the end of EYFS, we aim for our learners to be able to:
