Intent
The aim at Hamstead Infant School is to provide children with an ambitious, coherent curriculum allowing children to develop their confidence and independence regardless of their independent needs. We provide a broad and engaging curriculum based on the EYFS Development Matters and National Curriculum allowing children to extend their knowledge and appreciation of how to live responsibly in a diverse community. We aim to provide children with the skills to become healthy, independent and responsible members of a society who understand how they are developing personally and socially, and give them confidence to tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up.
Our Curriculum Drivers are used to personalise the curriculum to meet the needs of the children within the school with the aim to provide challenge for all:
Language- Children to be able to use a rich, varied and extensive range of vocabulary, linked to PSHE. Children are encouraged to take part in discussions and will be able to respond respectfully when encountering a diverse range of people, communities and families. Children will be able to speak confidently and knowledgeably about themselves and their place in local, national and international communities.
Independence- Children will take part in informative and engaging PSHE lessons, where they can share their ideas and views with others. Children are taught how to be responsible for their own health and wellbeing and are equipped with skills to keep themselves mentally and physically safeguarded.
Outdoor- Children will be given the opportunity to experience their learning through outdoor opportunities and to use what is around them in the immediate and local area to enhance their learning. Children learn about our local community of Sandwell and the different cultures within it. Through PSHE teaching children are equip with the skills to strive and excel in the world outside of school.
Implementation
PSHE is taught through the implementation of ‘Healthy Minds, Happy Me’ and the Relationships and Health Education.
It is taught as a discrete weekly session in EYFS and KS1 and is enhanced through the delivery of assemblies and whole school PSHE days and weeks.
HMHM units are delivered through a 2-year spiral curriculum and RHE topics are taught yearly which allows children to recap and build upon prior learning. Each topic consists of 6 lessons which allow children to develop skills such as empathy through role play, co-operation through team work as well as listening and responding respectfully in discussions and debates.
Teaching staff tailor additional circle times in reflection to the needs and issues of their individual classes.
Continuous provision provides opportunities for children to reinforce and retrieve information and skills. It provides children with the independence to become active learners and explore whilst challenging their learning.
Outdoor learning is encouraged and pupils are given opportunities to learn outside the classroom with the use of continuous provision, Forest School and educational visits to the Church, Mosque and Gurdwara.
Children’s skills are developed and built upon throughout their school journey to allow them to gain a deeper knowledge and confidently use skills. Misconceptions are explored and used to adapt children’s learning.
The PSHE subject leader will share their subject knowledge with staff and provide support.
Teachers and children will use a varied range of vocabulary linked to PSHE.
The teaching of PSHE across the school meets the needs of all individual learners and provides a safe and inclusive environment for all as children will respond respectfully.
Children are encouraged to be active, talk, experiment and use their imagination at every opportunity through a range of guided and independent activities.
Impact
Children who leave Hamstead Infant School will have achieved their personal best, be confident, independent learners who are ready for the next stage of their education.
Children are able to develop and use the skills and language learnt related to PSHE and apply these independently.
Children will have an in depth knowledge of how to cope successfully, happily and safely in the world.
Our ambitious and engaging curriculum provides children with a love of learning so they ‘Know more, Remember more’.