Children need to be ready to learn and this can only happen with the right personal, social, health and emotional development. Children learn skills and attributes to maintain physical and emotional wellbeing life both now and in the future. Through PSHE lessons, children learn how to develop a sense of identity, form healthy relationships, keep their body healthy, and keep their mind healthy through developing an awareness of their emotions and how to manage them.
PSHE is taught through the Islington You, Me, PSHE scheme. The scheme is divided into seven strands: physical health; mental health and wellbeing; identity and equality; keeping safe and managing risk; financial capability; and drug, alcohol and tobacco education. Relationships and Health education is also compulsory in all primary schools. Within each strand, there are age-appropriate topics for each year group, with one topic studied per half term. A good PSHE lessons establishes a safe and supportive environment, with clear ground rules and sensitive management of discussions by class teachers. Story and role play are often a feature of lessons.
Click here to see the You, Me, PSHE Scheme.
Click here to see the RSE Policy.
PSHE is supported in the EYFS and Key Stage 1 through using Leuven Scales to establish levels of wellbeing and involvement. Tool such as ‘Box Full of Feelings’ are used to develop children’s emotional literacy.
The TfL STARS programme supports children with safe travel and acting responsibly when out in the community. Events and workshops are interwoven throughout children’s time at Hargrave Park to supplement learning. These include learning around fire safety, safe travel and community services.
Year 6 children also develop their understanding of, and strategies for, good wellbeing and mental health by taking part in Brain Buddies, a programme of work delivered by the Islington School Wellbeing team. The annual residential to Cardfields also provides rich opportunity for development in independence, teamwork and emotional wellbeing.
Weekly class meetings help children to think as a community and often promote debate. Wider school life, such as our buddy and House systems, prompt personal and social development outside of the classroom. Children are supported by the pastoral care team to problem-solve and make good choices when challenges arise.
Philosophy for children is an additional approach used across the school to support the children’s critical and flexible thinking, reasoning and questioning posing.
