PSHCE

What is PSHCE and why do we teach it at the ICS?

At the ICS Primary School we see Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE) as being at the centre of all that we do. Through our curriculum, our school environment and our school ethos, we promote pupils’ self-esteem and emotional well-being and help them to form and maintain worthwhile and satisfying relationships, based on respect for themselves and for others, at home, at school and in the community.

PSHCE enables our children to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society. We encourage our pupils to play a positive role in contributing to the life of the school and the wider community. In so doing we help develop their sense of self worth. We ensure that they experience the process of democracy in school through the school council. We teach them about rights and responsibilities. They learn to appreciate what it means to be a positive member of a diverse multicultural society.

The aims of personal, social and health education and citizenship are to enable the children to:
• develop self-confidence and self-esteem, and make informed choices regarding personal and social issues;
• understand what makes for good relationships with others;
• have respect for others;
• develop good relationships with other members of the school and the wider community.
• be positive and active members of a democratic society;
• be independent and responsible members of the school community;
• know and understand what constitutes a healthy lifestyle;
• be aware of safety issues;

Teaching and learning style
At ICS, our Year 6 students are given the role as ‘leaders’ for one lesson per week in a peer support program covering various PSHCE topics. During this time, the ‘leaders’ (groups of 2 or 3) meet with their small groups of children from Years 3, 4 and 5 and deliver specific topics that encourage co-operative participation and enable younger students to develop things such as responsibility, leadership and confidence. The ‘leaders’ are taught their lessons by the Year 6 teachers the day before and they then take away what they have learnt and organise each session amongst themselves to teach the following day. Peer support is an encouraging program, as it allows younger students to talk to and develop trust and friendships with their older peers and it provides them with a person of a similar age to speak to and voice their concerns if they do not feel confident speaking to an adult. Examples of specific PSHCE topics covered through the peer support program are: working together; respecting ourselves and other people; helping/co-operating; making decisions/choices; feelings; self-confidence; relationships; peer pressure; appreciation.

In addition to this, class teachers use a range of teaching and learning styles. We place an emphasis on active learning by including the children in discussions, investigations and problem-solving activities. We encourage the children to take part in a range of practical activities that promote active citizenship, e.g. charity fundraising, the planning of school special events such as an assembly or open evening, or involvement in an activity to help other individuals or groups less fortunate than themselves. We organise classes in such a way that pupils are able to participate in discussion to resolve conflicts or set agreed classroom rules of behaviour. Below is an outline of the PSHCE work covered in the different units.

Current educational thinking suggests that the development of good social behaviours and emotional maturity is essential for success in all areas of life and learning, which is why we place such a great emphasis on this at the ICS.

How is PSHCE taught in each Unit?

Unit	PSHCE
Foundation Stage	We teach PSHE and citizenship in our Nursery and Reception classes as an integral part of the topic work covered during the year. As the reception class is part of the Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum, we relate the PSHE and citizenship aspects of the children’s work to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals (ELGs). Our teaching in PSHE and citizenship matches the aim of developing a child’s personal, emotional and social development as set out in the ELGs. We also support citizenship education in reception classes when we teach ‘how to develop a child’s knowledge and understanding of the world’
Unit 1 (Years 1 & 2)	In Unit 1 we offer opportunities to develop turn taking and sharing through fun team games. The practise of ‘Show and Tell’ also enables the children to develop self esteem and confidence by becoming the central speaker regarding a favourite possession of theirs. Regular class sessions of ‘Circle Time’ motivates our children to become open about their feelings and to empathise with others.
Unit 2 (Years 3 & 4)	In Year 3 and 4 we teach PSHCE daily, during social times for example snack time and play time and through curricular lessons, for example circle time and group activities. It is part of our daily routine. Through modelling, class discussions and games children are encouraged to have a positive attitude, display appropriate behaviour and be a good friend and as teachers we aim to promote self esteem, self discipline and responsibility towards others within our unit and the whole school.
Unit 3 (Years 5 & 6)	In unit 3 PSHCE is integrated into each and every school day. Children are encouraged to think about how their actions affect the lives of other people. The children are taught that ICS is very much a community that they belong to, have ownership of and are responsible for. In year 5 and year 6 children are seen as role models by younger children. In their roles as playtime supervisors and PSHCE deliverers the children gain a sense pride in their school.