Personal, Social, Health Education
At St John's Catholic Primary School, personal, social and health education (PSHE) enables our children to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society. 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.
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. It also introduces them to some of the principles of financial planning and understanding. 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.
We have implemented ‘The Jigsaw Approach’ throughout the school, across all classes from EYFS to Y6, in addition to covering PSHE through other areas of the school’s curriculum e.g. RE lessons, RSE, assemblies, circle time and science.
Jigsaw brings together PSHE Education, emotional literacy, social skills and spiritual development in a comprehensive scheme of learning. Teaching strategies are varied and mindful of preferred learning styles and the need for differentiation (personalised learning). Jigsaw is designed as whole school approach, with all year groups working on the same theme (puzzle) at the same time. This enables each puzzle to start with an introductory assembly, generating a whole school focus for adults and children alike.
The Department of Education statement about British Values reads:
"We want to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of
- democracy,
- the rule of law,
- individual liberty,
- mutual respect,
- tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs."
We view these values as fundamentally Gospel Values which are at the heart of our Catholic education.
Jigsaw contributes to the 'British Values' agenda significantly, both through the direct teaching of information and through the experiential learning children will enjoy. The 5 strands of the British Values agenda have been mapped across every Puzzle and every Piece (lesson).
Our 'Come and See' lessons enable us to place these values within our Catholic beliefs.