It is our vision that through PSHE, we can enhance children’s education and help them to become caring, respectful and confident individuals with a good understanding of the wider world around them. Alongside our careers curriculum it is our vision children will go onto being the workforce and leaders of the future.
Curriculum Rationale
Our PSHE curriculum is based on the demographics of our local area. Local research shows the top three issues facing our local community are violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. Therefore, our PSHE curriculum has a large focus on respectful relationships and our impact on our local community.
According to online data, the claimant count of 16+ in our local area is double that of the rest of County Durham and over 2% higher than the rest of the North East and England. Our PSHE curriculum alongside our careers curriculum aims to raise the aspirations of our young people to create “independent, life-long learners.”
County Durham Joint Strategic Needs and Assets Assessment (JSNNA) found that in July 2024 the prevalence of depression and serious mental illness put County Durham in the top 20% of local authorities nationally. They found that life expectancy and healthy life expectancy are lower in County Durham. Further to this they found inequality across the County as this is lower again in areas of higher deprivation. JSNA also found in County Durham 39.9% of children are classed as having excess weight when they leave year 6. It found this to be higher in areas of deprivation such as Blackhall. Durham Insight reports figures of under 18 conceptions, in Blackhall, in 2019-2021 as significantly lower than the average for County Durham.
*Up to date information on our local area can be found by clicking here.
PSHE in the EYFS
Through Personal, Social, Emotional Development children are supported to build constructive and respectful relationships that allow them to play, learn and develop alongside both adults and their peers. As children make friendships they learn to manage conflicts and rivalries with the support of adults. Children are empowered to envisage themselves as valuable individuals who are aware of what makes them unique. In the Early Years children are encouraged to express their feelings and adults carefully model the handling of these feelings and emotions to support children in becoming independent in moderating their own feelings. Children are taught to manage their own physical needs and understand the importance of respecting others privacy. A large part of the curriculum in the Early Years supports the developing resilience within young children, children are encouraged to persevere to meet their goals and targets. As a part of the learning journey experienced in the Early Years developing the understanding of rules and routines is an integral part that runs parallel to all.
PSHE in KS1 & KS2
Our PSHE curriculum is designed:
- to enable our children to become respectful and successful adults in terms of being able to find employment in the future, to maintain healthy lifestyles and to be moral citizens
- to provide a relevant, progressive and well-structured PSHE curriculum which enables children to develop and master a broad knowledge and wide range of skills
Our PSHE curriculum is structured providing for each key stage and year group:
- A clear list of end points
- Progressive knowledge and skills which will allow children to lead a healthy lifestyle
- A clear list of vocabulary both appropriate to PSHE and progressive through the key stages
- Provide a variety of enrichment opportunities including visitors into school, visits to different places and residential stays
Documents relating to our PSHCE curriculum can be found below:
Documents outlining what will be covered in each year group can be found below:
Year 6
Click here to read our Progression of Skills document.
