PSHE & RHE                       

Intent

At St Joseph's we ensure that PSHE education contributes to personal development by helping pupils build their confidence, resilience and self-esteem, identify and manage risk, make informed choices and understand what influences their decisions. It enables them to recognise, accept and shape their identities, to understand and accommodate difference and change, to manage emotions and to communicate constructively in a variety of settings.  Developing an understanding of themselves, empathy and the ability to work with others will help pupils to form and maintain good relationships, develop the essential skills for future employability and better enjoy and manage their lives.

 The intent of PSHE is also to provide a starting point for our children to develop their oracy skills.  In the hope of children becoming more confident and competent in their ability to express and explain their opinions regarding school, local and global matters.

We are aware of the way that PSHE supports many of the principles of safeguarding and links closely to schools Safeguarding, SMSC and British Values Policies.  We are all aware of the important role the PSHE curriculum has in supporting schools to implement the 9 protected characteristics of The Equality Act 2010. 

It is our aim that St Joseph’s pupils will become informed, active and responsible citizens who will play a positive role in shaping our society for the good. We strive to create an inclusive community where child well-being is at the centre, in order for every child to develop self-confidence, positive values and a caring attitude towards others.

Implementation

This year we will be teaching PSHE and RHE through the Ten: Ten programme, which is a leading provider of faith-based resources for Catholic primary schools.  We consult with parents in Autumn term. Ten: Ten 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 to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. 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. 

The Life to the Full Programme from Ten:Ten Resources have 10 guiding principles that are central to the teaching of Catholic RHE (Relationships and Health Education).

1) Our bodies are good. We are both physical and spiritual - body and soul. I am my body and my body is me. Our dignity comes from the fact that we are made by a loving God. 

2) Through our loving relationships, we become close to the image and likeness of God.

3) Catholic RHE is about the whole person: spiritual, moral, social and cultural education. We always consider the wider context of the whole person.

4) Catholic RHE should be taught in partnership with parents. They are the first educators of the child. It is their right and responsibilty to inform and educate their children in matters relating to human growth and development. We compliment the parents' primary role by assisting and consulting with parents and carers.

5) Our deepest identity is as a child of God. Our children need this deep truth planted, nurtured and burning in their hearts to know that they have been created exactly as they are and chosen by a loving God. 

6) Story can change hearts and minds. We can live life experiences out vicariously through the art of stories and reflect on our life choices and how we might change or adapt and grow.

7) Catholic RHE is an education in virtue. A virtue is a habit or behaviour that leads us to happiness and a closer relationship to God.

8) Catholic RHE is an education in conscience and that God has a purpose for their lives. We help pupils to discern the difference between what helps them grow closer to God and what hinders that close relationship. 

9) Relationship Education is about striving for the common good. When they adopt virtuous habits and form their consciences, pupils will naturally have a desire to help and serve others. Even people they do not personally know.

10) Prayer, scripture and the sacraments underpin the teaching. These are at the foundation of the programme. We provide opportunities for staff, families and the pupils to develop their prayer life.

These principles enable our pupils to live their life to the full through the person of Jesus.