Personal, Health, Social and Economic Education (PHSE) at Bolton

Subject Leader: Ruth Elstone 

Monitoring Governor: Hayley Jones (Since January 2023)

Intent:

Bolton’s PHSE and Citizenship scheme of work aims to equip children with essential skills for life; the medium-term plans intend to develop the whole child through carefully planned and resourced lessons that develop the knowledge, skills and attributes children need to protect and enhance their wellbeing. Through these lessons, children will learn how to stay safe and healthy, build and maintain successful relationships and become active citizens, responsibly participating in society around them. We believe that successful PHSE coverage is a vital tool in preparing children for life in society now and in the future. Lessons in this scheme of work have their foundations in seeing each and everybody’s value in society, from appreciation of others in units such as British Values and One World, to promoting strong and positive views of self in VIPS and Team Relationships. The units aim to cover a wide range of the social and emotional aspects of learning, enabling children to develop their identity and self-esteem as active, confident members of their community.

The themes and topics support social, moral, spiritual, and cultural development and provide children with protective teaching on essential safeguarding issues, developing their knowledge of when and how they can ask for help. The units work alongside the R&WV curriculum, our assembly programme, P4C and RHSE programme. The learning resources are fully in line with the Learning Outcomes and Core Themes provided by the PHSE Association Programme of Study which is widely used by schools in England and is recommended and referred to by the DfE in all key documentation relating to PHSE provision in schools. This scheme of work covers all of the required objectives and follows the three core areas of Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. Our curriculum fulfils the requirements of 2020 Statutory Relationships and Health Education, setting these learning intentions in the context of a broad and balanced PHSE curriculum. Bolton Primary also employs a RHSE specialist to plan and deliver some specific aspects of the curriculum.

Implementation:

The PHSE scheme of work is designed to be taught in three thematic units each year, which consist of usually six sequenced lessons. These units are taught every two years. This enables children to recall and build upon previous learning, exploring the underlying principles of PHSE education regularly at a depth that is appropriate for the age and stage of the child.

Lessons also signpost key words, building a rich vocabulary to develop understanding. The PHSE units are designed to be delivered in a creative manner, using many approaches such as role play, discussion, and games with groups of various sizes. These activities enable children to build confidence and resilience. Through the Learning Overviews we communicate with parents and carers about each theme and suggest activities for extending the learning at home. Assessment for learning opportunities are built into each lesson and included in each unit, which enable self-evaluation and reflective learning and allow teachers to evaluate and assess progress. Lessons begins with a discussion of children’s existing knowledge and experience, providing an opportunity for baseline assessment. Each lesson ends with an opportunity to consolidate and reflect upon learning.  There is sometimes a pre assessment, if it is felt that this is useful and an appropriate post assessment and after a unit of learning which can be a quiz or completing some questions (this can be either written or verbal). Children in both key stages are given ‘Google Classroom’ homework tasks on the theme of well-being and citizenship so that parents are informed about current learning and appreciate the work that is our focus in the wider curriculum.

Impact:

The PHSE scheme of work provides schools with an effective curriculum for wellbeing that impacts on the children. Children are enabled to develop the vocabulary and confidence needed to clearly articulate their thoughts and feelings in a climate of openness, trust, and respect, and know when and how they can seek the support of others. They apply their understanding of society to their everyday interactions, from the classroom to the wider community of which they are a part.

The PHSE scheme of work supports the active development of a school culture that prioritises physical and mental health and wellbeing, providing children with skills to evaluate and understand their own wellbeing needs, practise self-care and contribute positively to the wellbeing of those around them.

Successful PHSE education has a positive impact on the whole child, including their academic development and progress, by helping to mitigate any social and emotional barriers to learning and building confidence and self-esteem. Evidence suggests that successful PHSE education also helps disadvantaged and vulnerable children achieve to a greater extent by raising aspirations and empowering them with skills to overcome barriers they face. The PHSE and Citizenship scheme of work positively impacts on wellbeing, safeguarding and SMSC outcomes. This ensures that all our children are able to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to succeed at school and in the wider world.

Please see our PHSE at Bolton document below for more information, including our policy, progression of skills and long term plans.