For all the latest PSHE curriculum news, please click here.
The subject lead for PSHE at Darwen St James is Mrs Corbally.
PSHE Curriculum
Wellbeing Champions
Our Academy has a team of Wellbeing Champions who work together to provide a safe, caring and nurturing environment for all staff.
Two members of the Wellbeing Champions are mental health first aiders and another staff member is a coaching mentor, with two years experience.
Our key role is to ensure that we keep staff members up to date with relevant information and be there when someone wants to talk and voice any issues they may have. As a Wellbeing Champion we are able to signpost guidance on a subject and where to find information that will support them.
Confidentiality is key to show support and that all issues discussed are handled sensitively. Putting the trust into the Wellbeing Champions is important in order to address the issues that have been raised. All information is anonymous to respect members of staff wishes.
Achievements and positive comments are given to boost staff morale, along with a staff appreciation board where staff can comment on the support or help they have been given from another member of staff that has put a smile on their face.
At Darwen St James’ we are strong believers in developing the whole child. Alongside our child centred curriculum we offer curriculum enhancements including trips, visitors, bucket list events, challenge sessions for Growth Mindset, curriculum days, Aim High Day, Inspirational speakers, sporting events and many more.
We are also proud of our Nurture time, 30 mins every week dedicated to an element of wellbeing, global citizenship or entrepreneurship. This year we are spending the autumn term looking at Global Citizenship through the use of Picture News and also throughout the year through our charity work. More information can be found by clicking our Global Citizens tab and Charities Tab. The spring term we will be doing Entrepreneurship, this will involve each group setting up their own business, each having their own roles and responsibilities. The children develop a product that they then make and sell. They have to have a business plan, a control over finance and a good sales pitch! The children love doing this and it becomes a healthy competition over the course of the term. In the Summer, when it is exams and tests and transition time, we focus on wellbeing. The children learn about the 5 ways to well-being and how they can incorporate these into their daily lives.
Through Friends of Darwen St James' being extremely hard working they raised enough money for us to turn an underused space into a fantastic nurture room for the children. The children designed it themselves and worked to a budget to get the work completed. This space is often used for small groups, wellbeing drop-ins, 1-1s with our Pupil Wellbeing team and a relaxing and calming space for children who need it.
Nursery
This half term the children have been developing their understanding of feelings and emotions. We have introduced different ways on how to cope with these feels and why we might be feeling them. One of the tasks that was used was a breathing method to calm our bodies if we are feeling angry or sad. We talked about why we might feel this way and how to resolve the issue without getting to upset or cross. The children used their finger to follow a pattern on the paper and breathe in and out slowly to regulate themselves.
Year 1
In PSHE this term, Year 1 have been thinking about Living In The Wider World. We have talked about people in our communities who help us and how to call the emergency services. We have also talked about money; how to earn money and the different needs of people in our community.
Year 2
In PSHE this term, Year 2 have been thinking about different communities we belong to and our roles and responsibilities within the community. We have also been thinking about our similarities and differences even though we all belong to the same community.
Year 3
This term Year 3 has been looking at eating healthy. Derek and his friends (Life Education Van Friends) have been to a party and it wasn’t very healthy so the children helped Derek help Kiki the kangaroo plan healthy party food. Some children decided to plan a three course meal instead! Not long after the part poor Derek became ill and so we discussed different kinds of illness’ and what we could do to keep ourselves healthy. The children also looked at how our mental health affects our decision making during mental health week, and so we looked at how saving money for a rainy day would help in keeping our minds healthy. To link in with keeping our minds healthy we then looked at our body and what our organs are and what they do. We found out some interesting facts. One fact we found was that our brain is the controller sending and receiving messages. Cool!
Year 5
In year 5 we have been looking at rights and responsibilities. We have looked at our own definitions for the words and discussed difficulties we face when trying to carry out responsibilities effectively.
For mental health week, we talked about anxiety around money. The children were very open and sensible as we discussed how anxiety might make us feel and ways to deal with it effectively. We then completed a calming activity and did some mindful colouring.
Nursery
This half term the children have been developing their understanding of their senses. We had a group discussion about what we use our eyes,nose,mouth,ears and hands for. We have also been looking at when we were younger and what we are like now. Things we needed as a baby and what we need now.
Reception
This half term the children have been discussing their bedtime routines and what they need to do before going to bed. We have also been developing how we can be helpful and caring at home and in our classroom.
Year 1
Year 1 have been learning about ‘Living In The Wider World’. We have discussed money, how to earn it and the value in saving it. We have also learned about the customs of other cultures and countries.
Year 2
In Year 2, we have been learning about money. We have been thinking about what we need money for, different ways to pay and whether we ‘want’ or ‘need’ different items. As a class, the children sorted pictures, thinking about and discussing whether we really ‘need’ something. This created an interesting and in depth conversation between the children. They also looked at different scenarios, thinking about how they would look after their money.
Year 3
In Year 3 the children have been thinking about a personal space. They had to reenact a situation where their personal space had been invaded and how they would react in order to maintain their safety. They then moved onto discussing PANTS, an acronym that teachers the children about touching and when saying no, it means no! A very serious topic of discussion that the children handled brilliantly.
Year 5
In year 5 we have been thinking about what it means to be part of a community. We talked about the different communities we belong to and what they mean to us. We spoke about being a volunteer in the community and heard from different people who volunteer and why they do it. We learnt about lots of different special people we all know!
Finally, we talked about our aspirations and what hopes and dreams we have for the future. We wrote about them and illustrated them. We have lots of different hopes like learning to drive, and owning our own businesses.
Year 6
Year 6 have been discussing body image this term. We have thought about how the media creates an idea of what a ‘perfect’ person should look like, and watched a video showing how a very pretty model is photoshopped after the photo is taken, to look even better! We then wrote on two post-its about someone else in the class: one thing we like about their personality, and one thing we like about how that person looks. When we read what people had written about us - some of us were very surprised (in a good way)!
Nursery - Two's Class
This half term the children have been getting to know another and explore their new learning environment. The children have been learning skills to share, take turns and develop skills to play alongside each other. Making relationships with Mrs Skinner, Miss Owen and playing alongside other children.
Nursery - Preschool Class
The children have been having lots of fun in Preschool, making new friends, learning our routines and joining in. We have looked and explored how Marvelous we are and discussed our likes from toys or playing games and how some of our friends like to do the same thing. We have been learning how to share and take turns when playing games in the garden and working together on a task. The children have also been introduced to the colour monster and we have discussed the feeling of happy and sad and why we might feel like this.
Reception Class
Reception has been learning about people who help us in school. We had a look at the photographs of some teachers and then we went on a tour of school, looking for the people who can help us. The children also had a visit from the dentist where we got to dress up and explore all the equipment they use. The children had a discussion on how important it is to clean our teeth any day.
Year 1
This half term Year 1 have been learning about feelings, the reasons for rules, listening and how to be a good friend. We have talked about how rules are important because they keep everyone safe and the consequences for ourselves and others if we break the rules. When we talked about how to be a good friend, the children discussed the kind things they can do for each other to improve their relationships.
Year 2
In PSHE this term we have been looking at ourselves and our relationships. We have discussed what makes a happy classroom and identifying different feelings, including what we do when someone has negative feelings. We have also looked at what makes a good friend and what bullying is.
Year 3
In Year 3 they have been looking at why we have rules and creating some funny rules for teachers. They also discussed the importance of rules. Moving on from this they discussed special people and how to maintain positive relationships. In order for them to maintain positive relationships, they looked at how problems can be solved which in turn builds special friendships and relationships.
Year 4
This half term the children have been selecting their school councillors by having an election in class. The children had group discussions and then voted. The children have also been developing their knowledge on different feelings and how this will be seen on the person or themselves. The children used the person outline to draw on and comment on these feelings.
Year 5
The children have been exploring more into emotions and what they mean and developing why we have emotions. The children created characters and created personalities that expressed their emotions. The children also took part in the school council elections to see who were going to be councillors for their year group. Group discussions took place and then everybody voted.
Two's Classroom
In the Two’s Room, we have been very busy learning how to play nicely with each other. Learning how to share and take turns. We take turns playing what’s in the bag, we have been rolling the snowball to one another. We all explored the outdoor area and went searching for dinosaurs. Together, we were able to find all of the dinosaurs! We then created a big dinosaur together using then natural materials that we had collected.
Pre School
This half term the children have been learning about fire work safety and we celebrated Children in Need day, making masks and sticking Pudsey back together again. We have been developing our understanding of taking turns and waiting when playing games together.
Reception
Reception class had a busy half term! We have celebrated Children in Need and Anti Bullying week.
We have been learning about keeping our bodies and minds healthy, discussing feelings and strategies we can try to keep healthy, active and positive.
We have been learning to talk about things we like and don’t like.
Year 1
Year 1 have been learning about Being My Best. We have learned about healthy eating, growth mindset and personal hygiene. As part of these activities we have talked about the importance of remaining positive in the face of challenges, how to take good care of ourselves by brushing our teeth and found ‘five a day’ that we all like to eat.
Year 2
This half term the children have been identifying physical and non physical differences and similarities. Learning to use words that show respect and kindness to one another. The children also took part in a group role play task that highlighted what we would do if someone was unkind to us and how would we respond.
Year 3
This half term Year 3 have been looking at healthy diets and what makes a balanced meal. They then looked at what different illnesses we might get and how best to keep our bodies healthy. More importantly, they looked at how best to store medicines and when to take them. After that the children looked at different body organs and their role within the body.
Year 4
In year 4 the children have been exploring choices and making the correct choices, the children took part in a group discussion to think about them being on a island and only having able to have one thing with them. The items they decided to take were very interesting. We have also learnt about where pressure comes from, media, friends, adults, bullies and other sources. The children role played scenarios and then wrote comments about their feelings towards pressure.
Year 5
In year 5 the children have been looking at qualities and explored the qualities for a celebrity. The children created posters and wrote positive comments and how they are different.
Two's Classroom
In the Two’s room, we have been developing taking turns and sharing skills. For our story of kitchen disco, we took part in lots of different activities. We explored fruit and vegetables and had a selection that we looked at, touched, smelt and tasted. We talked about which fruit and vegetables we liked and which ones we didn’t like.
Pre-School Class
Pre school have been developing their understanding of emotions and how if might feel in our tummies when we are happy or sad. We used sensory boxes to explore these feelings. We have also started developing our understanding of safety outdoors and what things can be dangerous to our bodies, crossing the road, plants and animal faeces.
Reception
Reception has been learning all about their bodies and how to keep them safe. We looked at medicines, things we put into our bodies and how we keep safe indoors and outdoors.
Year 1
Year 1 have been learning about how to keep safe and how to look after ourselves. We have learned about Harold the giraffe’s bedtime routine and the benefits of a good nights sleep. Year 1 have also been thinking about recognising our feelings when we
need help such as butterflies in our tummy. The pictures show some of the children’s work.
Year 2
We have explored acts of kindness in class, we talked about what kindness means and what it means to be unkind. We wrote notes for teachers in groups and delivered them and talked about how that made us feel and how that person felt when they received the note.
Year 3
In PSHE Year 3 have been looking at different ways to keep safe. They looked at statements about online safety and had to answer whether they were true or false. This was very interesting and the children did a great job. In another lesson the children discussed exercise , sleep, food, alcohol, cigarettes and medicines and decided if they were to help us, harm us or could do both. Again the children worked hard and got the answers right!
Year 4
In PSHE we have been looking at what makes us safe, recognising dangers and hazards and how resist the temptation to give in to ‘dares’ and when to have the courage to say no and speak to an adult.
Year 6
In this half term the children have explored what hopes and dreams they have for the future, moving on to high school and where they want to go. We have discussed in groups about energy drinks and why they are not good for us and what risks they cause to our bodies. We have also discussed in class appropriate and inappropriate touching and who we talk to if this should happen.
Pre school
The children have been learning about how to keep safe indoors and outdoors. Learning about how to cross the road, safety at the park and not talking to people you do not know. The children have also looked at keeping their bodies safe, looking at medicine and who should give it to us to make us better but it can also make us ill.
Reception
Reception had a wonderful Stay and Play with their Mummies, creating crafts, showing them their learning environment and sharing a story.
They have been learning about responsibility this half term, including helping others and helping out in school and at home.
Year 1
Year 1 have been learning about rights and respect this half term. We have talked about money; where it comes from, how to look after it and how to spend it wisely. Year 1 have also learned about basic first aid and what to do in an emergency. The photos show the children practising administering basic first aid using plasters and bandages.
Year 2
In Year 2 we have been learning about ‘Rights and Respect’. We have been developing our skills in getting on with others and what we do if we feel we can’t. We have also looked at how to stay safe online whilst playing games and completed a fun online quiz.
Year 3
This term we had the pleasure of having the Life Education van in school. The children were so excited when the man came into class. They all couldn't wait to see Harold-but he wasn’t there! He was at a talent show. Before the children moved onto the talent show-they looked at the different parts of the internal organs. A child was selected to place a special T-shirt over their tops and a special computer showed them their insides Cool! They looked at all the different parts and what they were far. We had a few giggles. After that we looked at the talent show with Harold, Kiki and Derek. Unfortunately they were falling out so the children explained how to be nice friends. The children absolutely loved the afternoon.
Year 4
This term we had the pleasure of having the Life Education van in school. The children were so excited when the man came into class. They all couldn't wait to see Harold-but he wasn’t there! He was at a talent show. Before the children moved onto the talent show-they looked at the different parts of the internal organs. A child was selected to place a special T-shirt over their tops and a special computer showed them their insides Cool! They looked at all the different parts and what they were far. We had a few giggles. After that we looked at the talent show with Harold, Kiki and Derek. Unfortunately they were falling out so the children explained how to be nice friends. The children absolutely loved the afternoon.
Year 6
Year 6 have been learning about the media, and how to spot biased reporting and non-biased reporting. We read two ‘newspaper articles’ and decided if they were biased toward one point of view or not. This is part of our ‘Rights and Respect’ unit of work, and we will be looking at social media and fake news as part of this subject.
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