PSHE Vision

At Pennington Infant School we intend to provide a PSHE curriculum which is accessible for all children. We strongly believe that high-quality PSHE lessons will equip children with essential skills for life, to develop the whole child and provide them with the knowledge, skills and attributes children need to protect and enhance their wellbeing. Our curriculum design allows children become healthy, independent and responsible member of a society who understand how they are developing personally and socially. This in turn gives them the confidence to tackle many of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. We provide our children with opportunities for them to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. At Pennington Infant School we link learning through a range of whole school themes, which give children the essential characteristics to help them stay safe and healthy, build and maintain successful relationships and become active citizens, responsibly participating in society around them. Through use of JIGSAW our children have the opportunity to develop their identity and self-esteem as active, confident members of their community and are prepared for life in society now and in the future. We aim to increase and develop children’s knowledge, skills and attributes children need to protect and enhance their wellbeing by immersing them in PSHE learning through role play, discussions, moral debates and first hand experiences. We plan purposeful outcomes which enable children the chance to show what they have learnt and provide them with protective teaching on essential safeguarding issues, developing their knowledge of when and how they can ask for help.

At Pennington Infant School we ensure high standards of teaching and learning in PSHE, by implementing a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. We aim to challenge, motivate and involve all learners and through PSHE lessons. Teachers will encourage all children to develop a growth mindset, accepting that they may not have all the skills but determinedly strive to develop and create an inquisitive mind and be prepared to take on any challenges that may arise in their lives. PSHE is taught through whole school themes following JIGSAW, focusing on the knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum and curriculum guidance for RSE, Citizenship and British Values. There are always occasions where teachers may feel it necessary to teach PSHE as a result of an issue arisen in their own class and the nurture lead may also support groups or individuals when appropriate. At Pennington Infant School each PSHE journey enables children to recall and build upon previous learning, exploring the underlying principles of PSHE education regularly at a depth that is appropriate for the age and stage of the child. Teachers ensure that children are engaged in PSHE through providing a range of opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills. Their ability to explore, consider, reflect and review their opinions and understanding will enable them to begin to develop an understanding of PSHE and their physical and mental health and wellbeing. Children have opportunities to explore a wide range of themes and these are 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. At Pennington Infant school we believe that the promotion of a language rich PSHE curriculum is essential to the successful acquisition of the knowledge, skills and develop understanding in PSHE and so it is carefully planned for across the school. PSHE resources and online access to SCARF are key aspects of PSHE learning and they provide children with an opportunity to explore and apply their understanding in different contexts and allow them to make links successfully. Through a rich PSHE curriculum, the children will feel prepared and well equipped for a successful future and able to see each and everybody’s value in society, from appreciation of others and promoting strong and positive views of self.

The impact and measure of our curriculum is to ensure that children at Pennington Infant School are enabled to use 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 will be able to apply their understanding of society to their everyday interactions, from the classroom to the wider community of which they are a part. Consequently, they will be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 2 and have developed the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to succeed at school and in the wider world. We want our children to have thoroughly enjoyed learning about PSHE and for it to have had a positive impact on the whole child, including their academic development and progress, by reducing any social and emotional barriers to learning and building confidence and self-esteem. We want our children to talk about their PSHE learning openly, with a questioning mind, with passion and enthusiasm both within school and at home. On leaving Pennington Infant school we want children to be provided with skills to evaluate and understand their own wellbeing needs, practise self-care and contribute positively to the wellbeing of those around them. Assessment activities have been created for Teachers to assess and reflect on the learning throughout a PSHE learning journey and against the carefully planned outcomes. Standards are monitored by the PSHE leader through learning walks, pupil conferencing and work book scrutinies.

Jigsaw PSHE

In September 2019 we introduced Jigsaw PSHE  It is a comprehensive scheme of work which promotes emotional well being and personal development for our children, encompassing the new statutory  requirements for Relationship Education. It supports our SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) learning as well as embedding British Values. Jigsaw supports our ethos and values and everything we are trying to teach the children. 

At Pennington Infant School we teach safeguarding through PSHE to help children to…

• manage friendships including how to manage social situations like playtime, conflict, difference of opinion
• develop respect and trust through their behaviour and responses
• resist negative pressure from peers
• know how to keep themselves safe online and in the real world
• regulate their own behaviour and emotional responses
• know how to call the emergency services and the importance of doing so wisely and safely
• recognise who are trusted adults in times of need
• how to maintain positive emotional and physical health and hygiene
• become supportive peers and citizens who listen to others with respect and live comfortably with difference
• know when not to share personal information and how to respect the physical space of others
• understand how certain drugs can be dangerous and the difference with those that are prescribed but always acting with safety in this area
• recognise that families take many different forms

The children have been introduced to the Jiggies Family. Each year group have a puzzle piece who helps them with their thinking and talking in PSHE lessons. Jigsaw Jenie helps in Year R, Jigsaw Jack helps in Year 1 and Jigsaw Jo helps in Year 2.  Jerrie Cat and the Chime helps all the children with mindfulness and Calm Me Time.