Intent

At St. Michael’s Nursery and Infant School, we believe that personal, social and health education (PSHE) enables our children to become healthy, safe, independent and responsible members of society. It aims to help them understand how they are developing personally and socially, and tackles many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up.

We are dedicated to ensuring that St. Michael’s is a happy, stimulating and caring place and we expect high standards of behaviour and good manners throughout the school.

Behaviour and attitude to learning is underpinned by values that are taught through PSHE lessons and underpinned by our sunshine system, making it integral to the success of the whole school. PSHE is at the heart of our school ethos.

Implementation

We encourage our children to take part in a range of practical roles and activities that promote active citizenship: Peer Support, School Councillor, class and whole school fundraising, reading buddies and engagement in school and local events.

Children have opportunities to meet and work with members of the community, such as: health workers, firefighters, police officers, librarians, sports coaches, junior school pupils, artists, authors and representatives from the local church.

We participate in, and promote National events such as: Anti-Bullying Week and Road Safety Week.

We are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all pupils at St. Michael’s Nursery and Infant School and take part in Children’s Mental Health Week each year.

Impact

PSHE is taught as explicit lessons but is also embedded in other areas of the curriculum and day-to-day life of the school. As a result, our children are supported in developing the following characteristics:

• Happy and positive relationships
• Empathy and compassion
• The confidence to make the most of their abilities
• Value and respect of diversity
• Respect for others’ rights to their own values and beliefs
• Evaluation (and appropriate challenge) of the opinions and arguments of others
• Leadership and presentation skills
• Strategies for managing influence
• Enterprise skills and attributes
• Skills for employability (aspiration, communication, creativity, goal setting)
• Taking positive risks