PSHE

Intent

Most of PSHE education became statutory in September 2020 under the Children and Social Work Act.

The Act introduced compulsory Relationships Education in primary schools and compulsory Relationships and Sex Education in secondary schools. Health Education (both mental and physical) became statutory from key stages 1 to 4. This brought all schools more in line with independent schools who were already required to teach PSHE.

This statutory content – now often summarised as ‘RSHE ’– covers the majority of PSHE education. And it will now be a greater focus during school inspections due to its impact on safeguarding, especially in light of Ofsted’s review into sexual harassment in schools. This review called for carefully planned and sequenced RSHE in all schools, taught by trained teachers.

Though not yet statutory, schools should still cover important non-statutory content about careers, economic wellbeing and personal safety. The PSHE education Programme of Study shows how schools can cover statutory and non-statutory content by key stage. 

At Aston, we use a varied approach to ensure our children leave with a well rounded and clear respect and understanding for all the skills incorporated under the PSHE umbrella. 

No Outsiders is taught to ensure children respect the diverse world we live in (see below).

In conjunction with this scheme the school worked towards and achieved their Rainbow Flag award.  The Rainbow Flag Award is a national quality assurance framework for all schools and youth-centred organisations. The award focuses on positive LGBT+, (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, plus other related identities), inclusion and visibility.

The Rainbow Flag Award encourages a whole organisation approach to LGBT+ inclusion, as well as developing strategies to effectively challenge and combat LGBTphobic bullying.

Committing our school to the Rainbow Flag Award is a commitment to improve the lives of all the young people that we work with, as well as the LGBT+ young people in your care, those from LGBT+ families, and LGBT+ staff members.

My Happy Mind is used to teach children about healthy minds, healthy bodies. It teaches children about the brain and how to train it in healthy habits to reduce stress and anxiety and increase happiness, resilience to name a few!

St Johns Ambulance provide Aston with materials to teach an effective first aid programme to Y3-6.

The Christopher Winter RSHE programme forms the core of our relationships and Sex education teaching and learning. 

Implementation

Everyone is welcome, everyone is equal...is the key message at the heart of the Andrew Moffat programme, that like many Cheshire West and Chester schools, we are following here at Aston by Sutton.

The programme is built around popular, age appropriate children's story books, and tackles issues relating to differences in families, friendships, personalities, race, gender, religion, culture, sexual orientation, age, nationality etc. in a positive inclusive way.

At it's core is the 2010 equalities Act, and we firmly believe that by teaching children through these texts, we will endeavour to improve the lives of all our young people and families, educatiing them that everyone is different, and that is what makes our school a special and happy place to grow and learn in. 

The texts include titles such as :

EYFS: You Choose by Nick Sharratt, Red rockets and Rainbow Jelly by Sue heap

Y1:Ten little Pirates by Mike Brownlow, My world, Your World by Melanie Walsh

Y2:The odd egg by Emily Gravatt, What the Jackdaw saw by Julia Donaldson

Y3: We're all wonders by R.J. Palacio, Beegu by Alexis Deacon

Y4:King and King by Linda de Haan, Dogs don't do ballet by Anna Kemp

Y5:and Tango makes three by Justin Richardson, Where the poppies now grow by Hilary Robinson

Y6:My Princess boy by Cheryl Kilodavis, Dreams of freedom by Amnesty International.

These are just 14 titles from a series with 35 books in, but will give a flavour to what the programme is all about. 

The Department for Education (DfE) defines PSHE education as  ‘an important and necessary part of all pupils’ education’ and that ‘all schools should teach PSHE, drawing on good practice’.

Impact

A DfE evidence review highlighted the subject’s importance to children and young people’s wellbeing and knock-on effects on academic achievement, stating that ‘The evidence shows that personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education can improve the physical and psychosocial well-being of pupils. A virtuous cycle can be achieved, whereby pupils with better health and well-being can achieve better academically, which in turn leads to greater success’.

At Aston we strive to ensure all children leave with a well rounded and strong understanding of knowledge and skills to keep themselves safe, healthy