1. Aims and objectives

1.1 - We believe that PSHE and citizenship should enable children to become healthier, more independent and more responsible members of society. We encourage our pupils to play a positive role in contributing to the life of the school and the wider community.  In doing so we help develop their sense of self-worth.  We teach them how society is organised and governed.  We ensure that the children experience the process of democracy through participation in class management.  We teach children both about their rights and their responsibilities.  They learn to appreciate what it means to be a positive member of a diverse multicultural society.

1.2 - The objectives of PSHE and citizenship are to enable the children to:

• Know and understand a healthy lifestyle
• Be aware of safety issues;
• Understand what makes for good relationships with others;Have respect for others;
• Be independent members of a community, such as school;
• Be positive and active members of a democratic society;
• Develop self-confidence and self-esteem, and make informed choices regarding personal and social issues;
• Develop good relationships with other members of the community.

2. Teaching and learning style

2.1 - We use a range of teaching and learning styles to meet the PSHE and citizenship requirements of the National Curriculum. We emphasise active learning by including the children in discussions, investigations and problem solving activities.  We encourage children to take part in a range of tasks that promote active citizenship, for example charity fundraising, the planning of special school events (such as an assembly or open evening), involvement in helping other individuals or groups less fortunate them themselves.  We organise classes in such a way that pupils are able, through discussion, to set agreed classroom rules of behaviour, and resolve any conflicts.  We offer children to hear visiting speakers, such as health workers, police, and local clergy, whom we invite into the school to talk about their role in creating a positive and supportive local community.

3. PSHE and citizenship curriculum planning

3.1 - We teach PSHE and citizenship in a variety of ways.  Sometimes for example when dealing with issues around road safety or personal safety, we teach PSHE and citizenship as a discrete subject.  On other occasions we introduce PSHE and citizenship topics through teaching in other subjects.  For example, when teaching about the local environmental issues in geography, we offer pupils the opportunity to find out more about the school, its grounds and the surrounding area.  Also there is a large overlap between the programme of study for religious education and the aims of PSHE and citizenship, we deliver a considerable amount through our religious education lessons.  The school also makes use of the QCA units for teaching citizenship at Key Stages 1 and 2.

3.2 - We also develop PSHE and citizenship through various activities and whole school events, for example the Harvest Festival and Chrysalis project where there is a particular focus on developing pupils self esteem, and giving them opportunities to develop leadership skills and positive group work.

4. The Foundation Stage

4.1 - We teach PSHE and citizenship in the reception class as an integral part of our topic work.  As the reception class is part of the Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum, we relate the PSHE and citizenship aspects of the children’s work to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals (ELGs).  Our teaching in PSHE and citizenship matches the aim of developing a child’s personal, emotional and social development as set out in the ELGs.  We also support citizenship education in the reception class, when we teach ‘how to develop a child’s knowledge and understanding of the world’.

5. Teaching PSHE and citizenship to children with special needs

5.1 - We teach PSHE and citizenship to all children regardless of their ability. Our teachers provide learning opportunities matched to the individual needs of children with learning difficulties.  Intervention through the School Action and School Action Plus will lead to the creation of an Individual Education Plan (IEP).  When teaching PSHE and citizenship, teachers take into account the targets set for the children in their IEPs, some of which targets maybe directly related to PSHE and citizenships targets.

5.2 - For gifted and talented pupils teachers will provide additional opportunities take responsibility, develop leadership skills, think creatively and use their talents for the good of the class or wider community.

6.1 - ICT makes a contribution to the teaching of PSHE and citizenship in that children engaged in ICT activities learn to work together in a collaborative manner.

7. Assessment for learning

7.1 - Our teachers assess the children’s work in PSHE and citizenship both by making informal judgements, as they observe them during lessons, and through formal assessments of the work done, gauging it against specific learning objectives set out in the National Curriculum.  We have clear expectations of what the pupils will know, understand and be able to do at the end of each Key Stage.

7.2 - The achievements of pupils in PSHE and citizenship are reported to parents each year in the annual report

7.3 - We do not set formal examinations in PSHE and citizenship. The assessments that we make are positive, and record achievement in its widest sense.

8. Resources

8.1 - We keep resources for PSHE and citizenship in a central store with additional resources in each class and the library.

9. Monitoring and review

9.1 - Our PSHE and citizenship coordinator is responsible for monitoring the standards of children’s work and quality of teaching.  Our coordinator supports colleagues in their teaching by giving them information about current development in the subject.