Our Intent
Our school vision is at the heart of St Mary’s PSHE Curriculum, aspiring for all our children to flourish and to empower our children to let their light shine in all they do. We aim for our children to have the knowledge, understanding and emotions to be able to play an active, positive and successful role in today’s diverse society. We aim for our children to grow into responsible people who can positively contribute to their school community and beyond, as well as work co-operatively with others developing a continued love for learning. We aim to foster pupil well-being and develop resilience and virtues that are fundamental to pupils being successful, productive members of society.
Our Implementation
We follow Islington’s ‘You, Me, PSHE’ sequence of work, which equip pupils with essential skills for life. It intends to develop the whole child through carefully planned and resourced lessons that develop the knowledge, skills and attributes pupils need to protect and enhance their well-being. Through tailored lessons, pupils will learn how to understand and implement the key values of a PSHE curriculum independently. This will include staying safe and healthy, building and maintaining successful relationships – and becoming active citizens who participate in society responsibly – now and in the future.
Within PSHE a cross-curricula approach is also adopted, incorporating learning in RE, RSE, Science, Computing and PE.
In the Foundation Stage, PSHE is an integral part of the topic work covered throughout the year. The sequence of work is intended to be taught in topics and across other strands to enable pupils to build upon previous learning and explore areas both relevant and appropriate to their level.
Throughout KS1 and KS2 PSHE has been sub-divided into 7 different strands and within each strand, there are age appropriate topics for the different year groups.
The seven strands of PSHE are as follows:
• Careers, financial capability and economic wellbeing
• Drug, alcohol and tobacco education
• Relationships, health and sex education
• Identity, society and equality
• Keeping safe and managing risk
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing
• Physical health and wellbeing
The units are designed to be delivered in a creative way, using many approaches such as role play, discussion and games with groups of various sizes. The activities help pupils to build confidence and resilience. Evidence of the work completed is gathered into individual pupil folders as well as a whole-class big book so that the focus is on the discussions and the children’s understanding of what is taught and not on the written aspects.
Children are supported in other ways throughout the school to support positive mental health and wellbeing. In EYFS and KS1 each child has a care bear, which they can share with their teacher to raise any concerns or worries they have. In KS2, each class has a worry box where children can share any concerns, whether they arise from lessons or from something else.
We have a qualified ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) to oversee and lead dedicated nurture groups that support wellbeing, Islington CAMHS, and Islington School Wellbeing Service, our deputy head is also the Designated Senior Mental Health Lead.
Events are organised as part of our wider curriculum:
- NSPCC Speak Out.Stay Safe assembly and workshops;
- Visits from the school nurse to talk about a variety of health issues across the school, from personal hygiene to diet and nutrition;
- Anti-bullying Awareness and Children’s Mental Health Week;
- Islington Junior Citizenship Programme;
- Online Safety Workshops;
- Anti Bullying workshops led by the Islington Anti-Bullying coordinator;
- Knife Crime and Youth Violence Workshops through the Ben Kinsella Trust.
Curriculum Information
For further information please contact our PSHE Leader Olivia Nero on 020 7359 1870 or email at school@stmarys.islington.sch.uk