Personal Development Curriculum 2024-2025

At Sir Alexander Fleming Nursery and Primary School, we work to develop not only children’s academic knowledge, but rather the child as a whole. It is within our ethos to develop our pupil’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural being.

PSHE Whole School Coverage

As part of the National Curriculum, children are expected to learn about a range of different faiths, cultures, morals and values to prepare them for “life in modern Britain”. As well as teaching standalone Life Learning lessons (see overview below), we have embedded RSHE/SMSC objectives, as well as the core British Values, across the curriculum, which are taught in a cross- curricular way, with the aim to help children become well-rounded British citizens and build on their ‘Cultural Capital’.

SMSC

Spiritual Development: We teach children about themselves, others and the world around them in order to inspire and develop a sense of awe and wonder. We explore values and beliefs in which to inform their perspective on life and respect for other people. Creativity is at the heart of our curriculum and we encourage a willingness to reflect on their own experiences.

Moral Development: We provide opportunities for children to investigate moral and ethical issues in order to develop their ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong, with a readiness to apply this understanding in their own lives. We develop their understanding of consequences of their actions.

Social Development: We develop social skills through working and socialising with and alongside others from a variety of different backgrounds. We learn to cooperate well with others and resolve conflicts effectively. We teach children about the way their own community as well as wider society and other communities function.

Cultural Development: We explore and develop an understanding and respect for cultural diversity. We celebrate diversity within our school and share knowledge and experience within the community. We provide opportunities to explore a variety of art, music, sport, science and festivals. We also develop an appreciation of cultural influences that have shaped the children’s own heritage.

Protected Characteristics

We hard work to ensure that our children understand that:

There are no outsiders at SAF
Everyone is different
We celebrate our differences
We are all equal in our differences

The Equality Act became law in 2010. It covers everyone in Britain and protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Everyone in Britain is protected. This is because the Equality Act protects people against discrimination because of the protected characteristics that we all have. Under the Equality Act, there are nine Protected Characteristics in order:

Age
Disability
Gender reassignment
Marriage or civil partnership
Race
Religion or belief
Sex/gender
Sexual orientation
Pregnancy and maternity

At Sir Alexander Fleming Nursery and Primary School, we actively promote these in our curriculum and work to embed them into our ethos.

Protected Characteristics

Our PSHE, PE and RE curriculums and assemblies are designed so that all children are aware of discrimination and, as a result, we all work hard to ensure everyone at SAF or in our community is included and accepted.

Life In Modern Britain

Here at SAF, we equip children with the skills and knowledge to prepare them for life in modern Britain. In order to do this, children are taught the importance of British Values, different religious beliefs, relationships (RSE), making healthy life style choices and SMSC in their community and in the wider world. In addition to these, children receive regular PSHE which covers topics such as looking after your own money, taking care of your body and being respectful members of the community to name but a few. We know that by providing all children with these skills, it will successfully enable them to be positive British Citizens.

Life-in-Modern-Britain

Fundamental British Values

The Department of Education has recently reinforced that all schools are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught to pupils. The Government set out its definition of British values in the ‘Prevent Strategy.’ These values are democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. At Sir Alexander Fleming Nursery and Primary school, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy: Children have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our active School Council and through regular pupil questionnaires. The elections of school council members for each class are based solely on pupil choice. Other opportunities include visits from local Members of Parliament.

The Rule Of Law: Throughout the school day, the importance of laws, are consistently reinforced. These may, for example, be using our behaviour curriculum to deal with behaviour or as part of an assembly theme. Our children are taught the value and reasons behind laws that govern and protect us, the responsibility that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

Individual Liberty: When in school, our pupils are encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. We encourage our children to know, understand and exercise their rights as children and when they enter adulthood.

Mutual Respect: Our school ethos, Behaviour Policy and Behaviour Curriculum revolves around our core values such as ‘respect’ and children have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths & Beliefs: This is achieved through enhancing our children’s understanding of their place in a culturally diverse country and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity such as through assemblies and visits to places of worship. Pupils and their families of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.

*See our SMSC and Protected Characteristics section for more information.

We recognise the importance of PSHE and encouraging our pupils to become healthy, responsible, sociable citizens. Wellbeing, including emotional health, is one of our curriculum drivers at SAF and our approach to teaching PSHE holds this at the fore.

Please click on the links below to view Sir Alexander Fleming’s Curriculum Documents for Personal, Social, Health Education:

Curriculum Statement for PSHE

PSHE and RSE Policy 2024-2025

PSHE in the EYFS

PSHE Long Term Overview 2024-2025- KAPOW

PSHE overview

PSHE Progression document 2024-2025- KAPOW

PSHE adaptive teaching at SAF

Our approach to PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) is a teaching and learning programme which includes the statutory RHE (Relationships and Health Education) curriculum and has a strong focus on emotional and mental health and wellbeing.

Our principle aims for Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) are for pupils to:

learn the key building blocks of healthy, respectful relationships, focusing on family and friendships, in all contexts including online
learn how to be safe and healthy and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way
understand the importance of wellbeing and develop resilience and character that are fundamental to them being happy, successful, and productive members of society
know facts about puberty including physical and emotional changes

The core of our PSHE lessons is the statutory RHE curriculum, which is supported by the KAPOW guidance. The PSHE curriculum has been carefully planned and adapted in a logical progression to ensure that new knowledge and values build on what has been taught before: Early Years to Year 6. This enables our pupils to know more and remember more. End points are identified for each year group through a whole school PSHE progression plan. The sequence develops pupils’ understanding of relationships and health skills over time.

We use the Kapow programme from Year 1 to Year 6, which consists of five half term units of work, each containing six lessons, covering each academic year. Each term, pupils have a weekly PSHE lesson focussing on one of the key strands.

Teaching will include sufficient well-chosen opportunities and contexts for pupils to embed new knowledge so that it can be used confidently in real life situations.

Every year group has a yearly curriculum map that outlines the units of PSHE which will be taught throughout the year. This ensures that an adequate amount of time and coverage is allocated to each key area.

Medium Term planning supports teachers to plan a sequence of progressive weekly lessons and over time, giving the children opportunities to understand how to build healthy, respectful relationships, including those online to support. Teaching pupils about mental wellbeing gives them skills required to take care of themselves and access help if problems occur. Learning about the physical and emotional changes equips them to approach puberty in a positive way. Within this document, key objectives and vocabulary are outlined, key questions are provided and lesson content outline. Progression documents are used to support the medium-term plans. Detailed and well-resourced lessons for weekly lessons are accessed through Kapow.

Within this document key objectives (from Kapow) and vocabulary are outlined along with suggested resources and web links. Progression documents, used to support the Medium-term plan, ensure that staff are delivering a consistent curriculum that increases in complexity.

In order for us to be able to deliver the best and most up to date curriculum, the subject leader attends relevant training to be able to provide staff with high quality CPD.

At appropriate times in the year, there are themed weeks or days such as: Anti-Bullying week, Safer Internet Day, Global Awareness Days and World Mental Health Day. Weekly assemblies around the protected characteristics and British Values enable pupils to gain an understanding of the world they are growing up in, and learn how to live alongside, and show respect for, a diverse range of people.

Relationships (RSHE

At Sir Alexander Fleming, we have high aspirations for all of our pupils to be safe and recognise how important it is for them to be independent, resilient, healthy and responsible members of the community.

For many years now at Sir Alexander Fleming, we have believed in the importance of equipping children with age-appropriate knowledge about relationships and health education to prepare them for future life. From September 2020, all primary schools in England were required to teach Relationship Education and Health Education, as it is now becoming a statutory subject.

With your support, we are committed to a home school partnership, which supports and is consistent with our duties under the Equalities Act and Safeguarding. We feel it is important for teachers to convey this information factually and sensitively in a supportive environment, rather than risk your child learning about it incorrectly through their peers during unstructured time.

Our Relationships and Sex Education (RSHE) is taught through our Personal Development Curriculum and using the Kapow scheme of work. Through our RSHE lessons, we aim to

Provide a framework in which sensitive discussions can take place
Help pupils understand the value of family life, the implications of parenthood and the need for the proper care of all young things.
Prepare pupils for puberty, and give them an understanding of sexual development and the importance of health and hygiene in an age appropriate way.
Help pupils develop feelings of self-respect, confidence and empathy
Create a positive culture around issues of sexuality and relationships
Teach pupils the correct vocabulary to describe themselves and their bodies
Raise and promote positive self esteem
Help pupils develop their skills and confidence in making decisions, communication, assertiveness, self-expression, respect for self and others
Help pupils communicate and understand their feelings and emotions
Provide pupils with skills necessary to keep themselves happy and safe
Challenge media stereotypes, oppression and prejudice and promote equal opportunities
Explain the meaning of words in a sensible and factual way, using correct names for body parts and functions
Develop the confidence to seek help, support and advice

Our RSHE curriculum is about the emotional, social and cultural development of pupils, and involves learning about relationships, sexual health, sexuality, healthy lifestyles, diversity and personal identity, as pupils progress from the primary to secondary phase of school. It involves a combination of sharing information, and exploring issues and values, which our pupils understand through accessible education.

Whole School approach

It is our belief that RSHE is the responsibility of all staff and is integral to teaching a board and balanced curriculum, educating the whole child and is the taught component of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024′. Pupils’ questions will be responded to by staff (teaching and non-teaching staff) in a straightforward manner. Factual, simple information will be provided, using correct terminology for body parts and functions, appropriate to the age and maturity of the child.

School staff recognise the importance of responding to pupils’ questions as part of the taught RSHE curriculum and as they arise.

Parent Consultation:

Parents have the right to withdraw their child from the ‘sex education’ element of the curriculum, apart from objectives which fall in your child’s Science curriculum, which are statutory. The DfE have produced a leaflet for parents “understanding relationship and health education in your child’s school: primary” www.gov.uk

Parent Information

KAPOW parents guide to RSHE

RSE guide for Primary parents

RSHE-a-guide-for-parents-and-carers-leaflet-2020