What does this look like at St Mark's? 

PSHE  encompasses all areas designed to promote children’s personal, social, health, and citizen development.  It gives children the knowledge, skills and understanding that they need to stay healthy and safe and develop worthwhile relationships, respect differences, develop independence and responsibility and make the most of their own abilities and those of others. 

Our PSHE Policy has been written in line with Government Guidance updated February 2020. Our approach to the PSHE curriculum is based upon the principles of the PSHE Association who advise schools on their curriculum content and improvements in the quality of their teaching. 

The PSHE Association Programme of Study covers Key Stages 1 to 5 and is based on three core themes within which there is broad overlap and flexibility.

Our pupils will be taught the three core themes of PSHE, ‘Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World through the HeartSmart programme. HeartSmart is a creative approach that we use to build character, emotional health and resilience in children. Equipping children with foundational principles and skills that will improve their mental health and relationships and academic achievement

We have adopted HeartSmart as a whole school approach and the teaching and learning within this programme actively delivers all that is needed in a PSHE curriculum. In addition, this programme uses 5 Principles to embed our Christian Values and empowers children to make good choices. The combination of taught lessons, whole school and class worship, plus reflection times will be delivered to embed our PSHE curriculum. This approach links directly to our Behaviour and Personal Development policy and practice.

Watch this video as an introduction to HeartSmart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI9XpRqJXwQ&feature=youtu.be

HeartSmart also provides activities, film clips and games to play at home.

https://www.heartsmart.family/

DEFINITION OF RSE

Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) has been renamed as RSE: Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) to emphasise the relationships aspect of RSE. This was one of the recommendations from the Commons Education Committee Feb 2015 Relationship and Sex Education is not just learning about growing up, changes and reproduction. It is also about enabling children to make and maintain relationships with others, to understand about human sexuality and to feel good about themselves and the choices they make. This involves helping children to gain knowledge, develop skills and form positive beliefs and attitudes.

Top Tips for Parents.....

Respond to your child's questions as simply and as honestly as possible.

Talk to the school about any issue which concerns you about the social and mental wellbeing of your child, as we will do everything in our power to ensure that their needs are met.