PSHE
Children in Key Stages One and Two are taught a robust Personal, Social and Health Education curriculum on a rolling cycle with another subject (i.e. They study PSHE for half of the year). In EYFS, PSHE is embedded through the EYFS statutory framework areas of Personal, Social and Emotional development, and Understanding the World. Learning and development opportunities for these areas, as well as Communication and language, can be interwoven within the pupils’ experience through daily EYFS play-based activities, role-play areas, quality children’s fiction and reflective discussion to begin to build pupils’ knowledge and understanding, skills, attitudes and attributes related to PSHE elements of education.
At Kirkstall Valley, the curriculum is comprehensive but flexible; we have strong communication between year groups, so teachers are confident, supported by the PSHE Lead, to amend, complement or rearrange units to best meet the needs of their individuals and cohort. We follow the Leeds recommended You, Me and PSHE scheme of work, which provides us with a clear and progressive PSHE curriculum across Key Stage One and Key Stage Two.
PSHE is split into 7 strands: Sex and Relationship Education (SRE), Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco, Keeping Safe and Managing Risk, Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing, Physical Health and Wellbeing, Careers, Financial Capability & Economic Wellbeing and Identity, Society and Equality. Within each strand, there are age-appropriate topics for each year group and two topics are taught per term.
Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) is taught in Y2, Y4 and Y6. Our SRE programme helps pupils to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes they need to live confident, healthy, independent lives now and in the future. Throughout the unit, children learn about the biological differences between male and female (Y2), maintaining healthy relationships (Y2, Y4, Y6) and the physical changes associated with puberty (Y4, Y6).
As well as the PSHE curriculum, we also teach MindMate sessions across Key Stage One and Key Stage Two. These sessions help to develop children’s social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) and are taught once per half term. These days are often supported by other tasks that develop children’s emotional literacy, as teachers feel necessary and appropriate. Again, this is supported by the PSHE Lead.
Assessment in PSHE is an integral part of each topic. A pre-assessment is completed so that, along with clear handover information, teachers can address misconceptions, fill any gaps in knowledge and build on prior knowledge effectively. A post-assessment is also done so staff are able to measure progress summatively. For most units, and as age-appropriate, children will complete a self-reflection sheet, following the unit. This encourages self-evaluation. Alongside these strategies, teachers assess formatively using their knowledge of a child’s starting points and post-teaching points. This supports an effective handover and allows the PSHE Lead to monitor progress.
Kirkstall Valley prides itself on meeting the needs of each individual. If a teacher identifies that a child may need more emotional wellbeing input than their whole class teaching allows, they will discuss it with the PSHE Lead, Learning Mentor or SENDCo. The child may then receive a variety of interventions to help them thrive.
For more information on our PSHE curriculum, please speak to Mrs Thompson.
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First Aid at KVPS
As well as our curricular-based learning (detailed below), our PTA also provide extended regular first-aid training for our children. We believe these are essential life skills for our children.
