At Lowerhouse Junior School, Personal, Social, Health and Education (PSHE) is a subject through which pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. 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.

PSHE is taught across the school from Year 3- Year 6 on a weekly basis. As a school, we follow the DotCom scheme as well as some added topics which are personalised for our children. Our PSHE curriculum equips children with relevant and meaningful content, which is supported through a strong emphasis on emotional literacy, building resilience and nurturing mental and physical health. As a result of this, our children will become healthy, independent and responsible members of society.

Interwoven throughout the PSHE teaching are our core values: Aspiration, Integrity, Resilience and Respect. 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. Our children are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community.

Our PSHE curriculum covers all areas of the subject. One PSHE lesson per week is timetabled throughout Key Stage Two, although teachers are able to use their judgement to adapt this as necessary. The PSHE curriculum overview is available on the school website. There are many other opportunities where children are involved in PSHE outside of the direct lessons, including assemblies where a range of themes are covered. Some other discreet links include assemblies, visitors from different faiths and backgrounds, cross-curriculum teaching, themed days to raise awareness, the school council and Year 6 leaders.

Monitoring and assessment is an on-going process for PSHE and wellbeing; teachers use their assessment for learning as necessary, as well as monitoring and evidencing children’s learning in exercise books. The implementation of PSHE, both inside and outside of lessons, plays an integral role to help develop our children’s growth mindset, self-confidence and an increased understanding of the impact that individuals’ actions can have on their own and others’ lives. Children demonstrate a progression of knowledge and skills throughout their school life, which they continuously build on and embed. At Lowerhouse Juniors, children are given every opportunity to develop fundamental life-skills necessary in order to become well-rounded people in the wider world.