PSHCE Subject Leader: Mrs Steadman

Curriculum Aims:

At Gade Valley School, PSHCE is embedded across all year groups. Within this curriculum the pupils learn PSHCE through the 'Jigsaw' scheme. The curriculum is adapted to needs of classes and the needs of our pupils. We endeavour to equip our pupils with life-long skills and to thrive in any situation.

Gade Valley strives to:

• Ensure all pupils are provided with the knowledge, understanding, attitudes, values and skills they need to reach their potential as individuals and within the community.
• Ensure all pupils value themselves, have sense of purpose, form positive relationships and be an active participant in their own learning.
• Ensure all pupils are provided with opportunities to talk about how they feel and understand their feelings, within a safe and secure environment and without judgement. 

How we teach PSHCE:

At Gade Valley, PSHCE is taught using the Jigsaw approach. As a school, we chose to use the scheme as a framework for delivering high quality learning opportunities. The framework is broken down into half-termly puzzles which ensure all areas of PSHCE for the primary phase are covered. Our PSHCE Curriculum is carefully sequenced to demonstrate progression through all year groups. Each puzzle has clear assessment criteria, which all teachers follow. This enables teachers to ensure the majority of their class are achieving age-related expectations. 

All PSHCE lessons include the Gade Valley Principles of Teaching and Learning. This ensures all teachers are mindful of pupils learning styles, provide effective challenge for all pupils (ensuring all their individual needs are being met) and good learning behaviours are displayed. Each Key Stage work on the same Jigsaw theme at the same time, this enables each Puzzle to start with an introductory assembly, generating a whole school focus for adults and pupils alike. Teachers are then able to teach the lessons either through weekly lessons or in a focused block of lessons. Throughout the year, pupils are given opportunities to demonstrate the skills they have learnt through special PSHCE days. In the autumn term, they are encouraged to provide gifts for families that are less fortunate than they are in their local community as well as communities around the world.

In the Early Years, PSHCE lessons are taught through all areas of learning. Both Nursery and Reception classes have daily circle-time to develop social and emotional skills. Through child-initiated-learning, pupils are provided with opportunities to further develop these skills.

Sex and Relationships Education (SRE)

Statutory Relationships and Health Education is included within our whole-school Jigsaw PSHCE Programme.  At Gade Valley, we value PSHCE as one way to support pupil’s development as human beings, to enable them to understand and respect who they are, to empower them with a voice and to equip them for life and learning. Effective SRE can make a significant contribution to the development of the personal skills needed by pupils if they are to establish and maintain relationships.  In addition, it provides opportunities for pupils to understand the difference between safe and abusive relationships and equips them with the skills to get help if they need it. 

As a school, SRE is taught through Jigsaw's ‘Changing Me’ Puzzle which provides teaching and learning intentions for each year group. To ensure progression, we use Jigsaw and tailor it to our pupil’s needs. The mapping document: Jigsaw 3-11 and statutory Relationships and Health Education, shows exactly how Jigsaw and therefore our school, meets the statutory Relationships and Health Education requirements. This programme’s complimentary update policy ensures we are always using the most up to date teaching materials and that our teachers are well-supported.
The Jigsaw Programme is aligned to the PSHE Association Programmes of Study for PSHE.

Drug and Alcohol Education

The Drug and Alcohol Education programme at our school reflects the school ethos and demonstrates and encourages the following values. For example:

• Respect for self
• Respect for others
• Responsibility for their own actions
• Responsibility for their family, friends, schools and wider community

Key Developments and Information for 2022/23

Up to July 2023:

• We held celebrations and activities across the school to mark the coronation of King Charles III.
• Miss Kavanagh organised our 'Date with a duck week', where we watched our ducklings hatch and grow. Each pupil had the opportunity to hold a duckling.
• We were visited by Bart Gee who told us how he overcomes the challenges of his disabilities. He held an Assembly and class workshops where he inspired us to be perseverant and to overcome challenges in our lives.
• Year 5 took part in a Distraction Workshop, run by Herts County Council to help the pupils learn about distractions when crossing the road, particularly when using a mobile phone.
• Pupils in Key Stages 1 and 2 completed units of work about 'Being me in my world' and 'Celebrating differences'.
• Early Years pupils completed units of work about 'Who...Me?' and 'How am I feeling today?'
• Each pupil's work was represented and celebrated in a PSHCE class book, showing their learning journey for each topic.
• We held a Harvest Festival where donations could be made to a local care home. Year 6 pupils became involved in the community by delivering the donations.
• Anti-Bullying Week took place in November in which Gade Valley focused on encouraging positive relationships. We had a 'Friendship Friday' where pupils across the school completed activities focused on making and keeping friends.
• Gade Valley School commemorated Remembrance Day and used their Art skills by creating a whole-school display depicting a poppy field of our hopes for the future.
• To mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and to celebrate her reign, a display was created in the school Library.

Key Developments and Information for 2021/22

Up to July 2022, the following measurable impact includes:

• In the 2020/2021 academic year, the very large majority of pupils achieved age related expectations or above.
• Pupil voice has shown that:
• Pupils enjoy learning in PSHCE lessons.
• Teachers give clear explanations of the subject.
• Pupils know how to get help if they need it.

• The vast majority of pupils feel that the teachers encourage them to participate in PSHCE lessons and that they can ask questions when concepts are hard to understand.
• We have developed the way in which work is presented. Each class produces a class book for PSHCE, showcasing the learning that has taken place for each unit of work.
• In the Autumn Term, observations were carried out and found that all teachers followed the Jigsaw scheme of work well and used the teaching and learning principles effectively to develop lessons. 
• Staff have reviewed the content of their units of work to ensure it covers core curriculum objectives.
• In the Autumn term, all pupils created a poppy to commemorate Remembrance Day
• In the autumn term 2021, whole school participated in Harvest Festival where items are collected and given to DENs - a local charity for the homeless.
• Teachers carried out a Book Look in the Spring term for all subjects. PSHCE was found to be presented well in the class books and progress in the subject was evidenced as the pupils move up the school. There is good coverage of the curriculum using the Jigsaw scheme as well many cross-curricular links.
• In the Spring term, the school introduced GOAL days (Go Outside and Learn) in which pupils are able to develop their teamwork and problem-solving skills.
• In March 2022, the whole school participated in a charity day with the proceeds sent to the Disaster Emergency Commitee.
• In the current academic year, whole school participated in an e-safety week.
• The school held a Growth mindset day in the Spring Term, where they developed their CHAMP skills with Doodlebug.
• In the Summer term, pupils took part in a whole-school kindness day, linked to Anti-Bullying Day.
• In the Summer term, pupils celebrated the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with links to learning about diversity across the Commonwealth.
• An Open Evening was held in the Summer term which enabled each class to proudly celebrate their achievements in PSHCE this year.

To see our learning in PSHCE, please visit the PSHCE page on the 'Curriculum Blogs' section.

PSHCE Overview 2023-2024