“I can be changed by what happens to me but I refuse to be reduced by it”
Maya Angelou
Intent:
To make learning as interesting, meaningful and engaging as possible, we have a Curious Curriculum. This is a knowledge based curriculum with each theme and subsequent lesson starting with an enquiry question. Children are active participants in their learning journey; we promote skills in creativity and develop critical thinking by following a line of enquiry.
At Warbstow our teaching of Personal, Social, Health and Emotional development is intended to provide children with opportunities to focus on their emotional health and well-being through a cross-curricular approach. Lessons are practical and thought-provoking whilst encouraging the children to share their own thoughts and views, as well as listening to their peers, about a wide range of topics as they link their own experiences to the world around them.
Our PSHE curriculum provides for pupils’ broader development. As a school we promote equality of opportunity and diversity, we seek to prepare our pupils for life in modern Britain. Children develop their understanding of fundamental British values. As a result, our pupils understand, respect and appreciate difference in the world round them and its people. The curriculum involves high-quality pastoral support. Our pupils are taught how to eat healthily, maintain an active lifestyle and keep physically and mentally healthy. They will have an age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships and of the protected characteristics.
Our school’s values of curiosity, courage, kindness, teamwork, respect and resilience are taught and demonstrated by all within our school community as a way of life.
As a school community, we promote Trauma Informed practices and have a Trauma Informed Practitioner to support children, their families, and colleagues.
Our curriculum is ambitious and designed to give all pupils, particularly children with SEND the knowledge they need to succeed in life. Learning is adapted to be ambitious yet allows children to develop their knowledge, skills and abilities to apply what they know and can do with increasing fluency and independence. Universal Provision strategies are implemented to scaffold and support learning
Implementation:
Our PSHE curriculum is delivered through Coram’s SCARF programme on a rolling programme which is designed to enhance pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural (SMSC) development as well as their knowledge and understanding of British Values; democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. The over-arching themes of Being my Best, Me and My Relationships, Keeping Myself Safe, Valuing Difference, Rights and Responsibilities and Growing and Changing, including statutory Relationships Education, are revisited each year which ensures children build on previous learning as they explore further in age-appropriate contexts.
In addition to SCARF, Growth Mindset lessons are taught to develop and reinforce skills where children embrace challenges, build resilience, put effort into all they do and learn from constructive feedback.
Floor books have created excitement as children work together to achieve lesson outcomes through a shared effort and goal; demonstrated through written discussion responses, artistic and photographic evidence, and verbal recall of practical learning.
A variety of assessment approaches are used from observations, marking, white board ‘show me’ and informal assessments. This informs future planning, ensures any misconceptions are responded to and sets the pace of learning appropriately.
Early Years:
In the EYFS, Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) is one of three Prime Areas of Learning which demonstrates the importance of knowing who you are, where you fit in and feeling good about yourself. The children’s sense of well-being runs throughout every interaction and activity within the EYFS whether adult-led or child-initiated providing children with the tools to build resilience when faced with challenges, to create and maintain healthy relationships, and to celebrate the effort they have demonstrated.
Key Stage One and Two:
Warbstow’s Curious Curriculum will support children to open their minds to the views and opinions of others and accept that individuals may think differently to themselves. Learning how to keep themselves safe, emotionally and physically, online and offline, in an ever-changing world will help to prepare the children for the present and their future. Supporting all children to make and maintain healthy friendships and relationships is essential for their positive mental and emotional well-being.
Impact:
- The teaching of PSHE enables pupils to:
- Develop personally, socially, healthily, and emotionally in order to succeed in their personal and future work life
- Know how to stay safe both online and offline
- Speak openly about their feelings, thoughts and opinions in a safe, nurturing environment
- Recognise, understand and demonstrate our school’s values as well as British Values ensuring they grow as outward-looking individuals
- Accept that others may have different beliefs, views and opinions to themselves
- To learn about, and appreciate that, relationships, and families maybe different to our own e.g. LGBTQ+
- Receive, and respond to, verbal rather than written feedback given due to PSHE lessons’ nature of personal thoughts and opinions
- Become resilient when faced with difficult situations and courageous enough to find a solution
- Develop a healthy attitude towards school and to demonstrate positive behaviour because they understand that they are responsible for their own actions and choices they make affect others