Intent                                                                                                                                                                 

Our intention is that when children leave Boxmoor Primary School, they will do so with the knowledge, understanding and emotions to be able to play an active, positive and successful role in today’s diverse society. We want our children to have high aspirations, a belief in themselves and realise that anything is possible if they put their mind to it. In an ever–changing world, it is important that they are aware, to an appropriate level, of different factors which will affect their world and that they learn how to deal with these so that they have good mental health and well-being.

Our PSHE curriculum develops learning and results in the acquisition of knowledge and skills which will enable children to access the wider curriculum and prepare them to be a global citizen now and in their future roles within a global community. It promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils, preparing them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences for later life. Our Relationships and Sex Education enables our children to learn how to be safe, and to understand and develop healthy relationships, both now and in their future lives.

Implementation       

EYFS - In the Foundation Stage, PSHE and citizenship is taught as an integral part of topic work and is embedded throughout the curriculum. The objectives taught are the Personal, Social and Emotional Development statements from ‘Development Matters in the EYFS’ and the PSED Early Learning Goals.

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 - At Key Stage 1 and 2, PSHE is taught through a clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum. We ensure we cover the Health and Well-Being, Relationships and Living in the Wider World Learning Opportunities set out in the PSHE Association’s Programme of Study, which comprehensively cover the statutory Health Education and Relationships Education guidance. 

There is a strong emphasis on emotional Literacy, building resilience and nurturing mental and physical health. It includes mindfulness to allow children to advance their emotional awareness, concentration and focus. We use the learning pit to help teach resilience and look at a positive growth mind set and the power of Yet!

SRE is taught within science lessons, PSHE lessons and also discretely.  From the help of the PSHE Association and the Nation children’s Bureau – sex education forum, a good SRE coverage has been designed which is age appropriate. Alongside this, we teach about different kinds of relationships, including same sex relationships, and gender identity because it is important that our children should have an understanding of the full diversity of the world they live in and be prepared for life in modern Britain.

PSHE Coverage:

Autumn: Relationships

Spring: Mental Health and Wellbeing

Summer: Living in the wider world.

SRE is taught within these areas and discretely throughout the academic year.

Our curriculum also identifies links to British Values (BV) to reflect the overall aims, values, and ethos of the school.

Throughout the academic year, Boxmoor Primary School will provide workshops and theatre groups to help deliver important and positive messages about Mental Health and Wellbeing, being a good friend and internet safety.  We have also pushed children outside of their comfort zone and taught them about resilience and the importance of growth mindset.

Boxmoor Primary School also provides an annual Feeling Good Week in February.  Here the week used to teach children about their mental health and ways they can reflect, be positive and learn to strategies to help with their mental health. 

Wider Curriculum  

• We believe that focusing on developing a 'Growth Mindset' in our children will help them to build resilience, independence and confidence; embrace challenge; foster a love of learning; and increase their level of happiness. We do this through the language we use in class, praising children for their efforts, and using language to encourage children to change their way of thinking. This supports both our school and PSHE aims and values, and we focus on Growth Mindsets in all aspects of school life.
• PSHE, including MHW and BV, is an integral part of the whole school curriculum, and is therefore often taught within another subject area.
• Assemblies are linked to PSHE, British Values and MHW and cover any additional sessions that would benefit the whole school.                                                        
• PSHE, BV and MHW displays throughout school reinforce the PSHE curriculum enabling children to make links.

Impact

By the time our children leave our school they will:

• be able to approach a range of real life situations and apply their skills and attributes to help navigate themselves through modern life
• be on their way to becoming healthy, open minded, respectful, socially and morally responsible, active members of society
• appreciate difference and diversity
• recognise and apply the British Values of Democracy, Tolerance, Mutual respect, Rule of law and Liberty
• be  able to understand and manage their emotions
• be able to look after their mental health and well-being
• be able to develop positive, healthy relationship with their peers both now and in the future.
•  understand the physical aspects involved in SRE at an age appropriate level
•  have respect for themselves and others.
•  have a positive self esteem

BV: British Values

EYFS: Early Years Foundation Stage

MHW: Mental Health and Wellbeing

PSED: personal Social Emotional Development

PSHE: Personal Social Health Education

SRE: Sex and Relationship Education

At Boxmoor Primary School we use guidance from the PSHE Association.  The school uses a thematic approach covering all three core themes of the Programme of Study: Relationships, Health and Wellbeing and Living in the Wider World.  

Year 5 and 6 Mini Medics

In January 2023, year 5 and 6 will have training on how to become mini medics.  They will learn:

What is first aid?

The recovery position

Resuscitation (CPR)

Communicating and contacting the emergency services. 

Anti Bullying Week

For part of anti bullying week (which we like to call Friendship Week), OpenView Education came in and performed a short show to Years 1,2,3 and 4.  The message was about the importance of reaching out with kindness and showing respect to others. The show taught the children how to be a good friend and how we can use kindness to make our school an even better place.  

For Year 5 and 6, they had individual workshops on social media, in particular looking at Whats App.  The upper KS2 anti-bullying workshop included a scenario in which bullying starts and then progresses into unkind messages being sent via Whats App.  Children were taught what to do in this situation, how to be assertive, how to resist peer pressure and how to stand up for someone .  They were also taught the child line number - 0800 1111