PSHE at the Oaks

PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) is an important part of the curriculum at The Oaks Primary.

PSHE is a program of learning through which children acquire the skills and knowledge they need to live healthy and happy lives now and in the future. Through PSHE education children develop and build on ‘Life Skills’ that they need to succeed as individuals and as a member of society.  Through PSHE we explore and counter any ‘Barriers to Learning’ that children may have.

The Programme of Study

At the Oaks Primary School, we have recently adopted Jigsaw: The mindful approach to PHSE.

Jigsaw is a whole-school approach and embodies a positive philosophy and creative teaching and learning activities to nurture children’s development as compassionate and well-rounded human beings as well as building their capacity to learn. Jigsaw is a comprehensive and completely original PSHE Education programme (lesson plans and teaching resources) for the whole primary school from ages 3-11 (12 in Scotland). Written by teachers and grounded in sound psychology, it also includes all the statutory requirements for Relationships and Health Education, and Sex Education is also included in the Changing Me Puzzle (unit).

Jigsaw brings together PSHE Education, compulsory Relationships and Health Education, emotional literacy, mindfulness, social skills and spiritual development. It is designed as a whole school approach, with all year groups working on the same theme (Puzzle) at the same time at their own level. There are six Puzzles (half-term units of work) and each year group is taught one lesson per week.  All lessons are delivered in an age- and stage-appropriate way so that they meet children’s needs.

Aims

The aims of PSHE education at The Oaks Primary is:

• To provide children with the knowledge and skills they need to live healthy, safe, responsible and balanced lives.
• Eliminate ‘Barriers to Learning’.
• Provide children with opportunities to explore their own needs, beliefs and values and appreciate differences in others.
• Ensure all children become positive and active members of society.

The Rights Respecting School Award

At The Oaks Primary School, we aim to provide rich leaning opportunities that allow children to reach their full potential in a safe and happy learning environment. As part of our school’s aims to promote a happy and successful school, we have achieved the ‘Rights Respecting School’ Silver Award and are working towards the Gold Award. These are awards which are given to schools on behalf of UNICEF.

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights. In 1989, governments worldwide promised all children the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). These rights are based on what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential.

The ‘Rights Respecting School’ award (RRSA) will help our pupils to grow into confident, caring and responsible young citizens both in school and within the wider community. By learning about their rights, our pupils learn about the importance of respecting the rights of others.

Work we have done so far:

• In summer 2015, we achieved our Recognition of Commitment (ROC)

• In 2018, we achieved the ‘Rights Respecting School’ Bronze Award

• In 2020 we achieved our Silver Award.

• Classes throughout the school have studied the rights and created a class charter to document the rights that are important to them and how they will respect these rights

• Held assemblies that link to the rights

• Include the rights on the fortnightly newsletter

• Implemented a Rights Respecting Council (RRC)

• The RRC have met to discuss issues in school that relate to our rights, such as charity events, play times and the class charters

• We have raised money as a school for local charities

• We have designed a Rights Respecting Schools Mascot; Polly the Rights Parrot

• Polly has started to visit each class in the school to help children learn about their rights