PSHE Curriculum Statement
At Fairfield Primary School, children’s well-being, happiness and safety are our first priority and PSHE is the key vehicle through which we share this with children. We regard PSHE as an important, integral component of the whole curriculum; it is central to our approach and at the core of our ethos.
PSHE education cannot exist in isolation. At Fairfield Primary School, it is part of a whole school approach and our curriculum provides a range of opportunities for children to make links to other areas of learning, both within school and beyond, and explore a wide range of social, moral, cultural and behavioural issues.
Our personal, social and health education (PSHE) programme promotes children's personal, social and economic development, as well as their health and well-being. It helps to give children the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives and to become informed, active, responsible citizens.
We want children to find enjoyment and fascination in learning more about themselves, others and the world around them. The aims of PSHE education are to provide children with:
- accurate and relevant knowledge;
- opportunities to create personal understanding;
- opportunities to explore and challenge a range of values, attitudes, beliefs, rights and responsibilities;
- a range of skills and strategies to live a healthy, safe, fulfilling, responsible and balanced life.
As a school, we believe that children are all individuals and we aim to encourage mutual respect, responsibility and foster self-esteem in a happy and caring atmosphere. The teaching and learning of PSHE supports and upholds this vision.
Through a variety of learning opportunities and experiences, we aim help each child:
- to develop and demonstrate a considerate style of life;
- to know themselves, their own needs and emotions and think well of themselves;
- to develop and demonstrate personal qualities and values;
- to develop confidence, independence and resilience;
- to understand and maintain positive, healthy relationships with those around them;
- to understand how to manage and respond to a range of emotions, giving them the skills and resilience to deal with challenging issues, as well as knowing when and how to seek support when needed;
- to value and respect themselves and value others;
- to value and respect belongings, living things and the environment;
- to have a sound understanding of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and self-care that supports their physical and mental well-being;
- to have an up-to-date understanding of essential safeguarding issues, developing their knowledge of when and how they can ask for help;
- to understand their role as a citizen and how their actions can have an impact on others close to them and further afield.
PSHE helps children to acquire British Values and attitudes, which are necessary if they are to make sense of their experiences within school and life itself; to value themselves, respect others, appreciate differences and diversity: and feel confident and informed as a British citizen. We develop the children’s awareness of their personal safety and the process by which they can seek help and information, as well as learning the attitudes and behaviour expected of them as responsible citizen.
As a school, we feel that by increasing their awareness and knowledge of the world around them and providing opportunities for our children to develop their understanding, empathy, respect, fairness and acceptance of themselves and others, as well as providing them with a forum and confidence to ask questions, our children will be able to navigate their lives in a way that allows them to thrive and succeed.
PSHE Curriculum Overview
RSE Parent Letters
Subject Enrichment
Anti-Bullying Week
Each year, we celebrate Anti-Bullying Week in style with 'Odd Socks Day!' Our school is full of individuality and expression accompanied by a sense of colour and fun celebrating the fact that we are unique but all equal. The children enjoy an informative assembly about the significance of the week and the importance of the motto. In 2021 the motto was 'One Kind Word'. Linked to this ethos, we constructed our very own 'Wall of Kindness' in our school hall. Every child, across the whole school, thought of their own kindness pledge and placed it on the display. In 2022, the motto was 'Reach Out' and each child participated in a special PSHE lesson where they each made their handprint and wrote inside the names of the people they could reach out to for support (trusted adults). Each child then placed their handprint on our 'Reach Out' display in our school hall. In addition, each pupil also participated in a 'Book with a Buddy' initiative where each pupil read with children of different ages thus showing kindness and building friendships, whilst celebrating a love of reading.
Civil Rights Demonstration
Year 5 have been studying the book, "Hidden Figures" about the incredible African- American women who worked at NASA, in the 1950s and 60,s and the racism they came up against. This led us to discuss the Civil Rights Movement and how sometimes it is important to stand up for what you believe in and exercise your rights of peaceful, non-violent protest. The children began to think about issues that are current in today's world and changes they would like to see. They then made placards and banners and we had our own demonstration making sure that our thoughts were heard.
Prison and Police Service Visit
Fairfield Primary School children were gripped with interest as a visit by police and the prison service made learning about hard-hitting issues fun.
The joint initiative is part of the Greater Manchester prison, police and school engagement programme, working with Cumbria Police, to inform Key Stage two children about issues such as e-safety, social media, substance abuse and knives and to raise their awareness before starting secondary school. The children also had the chance to meet police dogs and to see them in action.
Paul McGovern MBE, children’s police officer PC Lindsey Irving and police volunteer David Keevil showed the children how important it is to give accurate descriptions and reiterated the dangers of taking sweets or substances from strangers. The initiative has been pioneered in and around Greater Manchester and then rolled out across the North West. The children (and staff) learnt lots of important information in an engaging and thrilling workshop. You can read more here: https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/17963473.arresting-sights-pupils/
Remembrance Assembly
On Monday at 10.30am, pupils, staff and volunteers gathered together to pay our respects to our armed forces. The assembly began with each child adding their poppy to our wall of remembrance in the hall. Each child did this respectfully and with maturity. This year, children noted on the back of their poppy the name and details of a local soldier, who lost their life in conflict. After that, Year 6 led the assembly and began by singing ‘We’ll Meet Again’, which included a full salute at the end. Then, some Year 6 pupils reminded us of the importance of remembrance before our poets delivered ‘For the Fallen’. Just before 11am, our special visitor Sergeant Murphy spoke to the children about the significance of the poppy and the work he and his comrades do, not only overseas but in our local area too. Mrs. Kenyon then played ‘The Last Post’ as the school fell silent in remembrance.
We were extremely proud of all the children in school for the respect they demonstrated throughout this special, pupil led assembly.
Police Crime Commissioner Visit
Our Mini Police had a visit from Mr Peter McCall,Police Crime Commissioner for Cumbria, and PCSO Parker. The children presented a PowerPoint showing what a busy year we have had. Mr McCall praised the way they delivered the presentation. He was impressed to see our Mini Police in action and to hear about all that they have done, both in school and out in the community.He was pleased that they have been passing on all that they are learning to their friends and families, We had a short Q & A, Mr McCall was happy to answer all the children's questions - which he thought were relevant and worthwhile. Mr McCall also had a short tour of the school. He admired the Y6 display and had a chat with some of the Y6 pupils about their recent visit to the Magistrates Court.
