At The Bliss Charity School PSHE is taught to give our children an exciting learning experience which enables them to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe, and prepared for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. Our aim is to provide the children with the confidence and knowledge that will enable them to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, health and relationships, and to build their self-efficacy.

To achieve this, a range of learning strategies are used, including working both collaboratively and independently. High quality, evidence-based and age-appropriate lessons help to prepare  children for life in modern Britain through four core strands: Protective Behaviours, Health and Wellbeing, Relationships (including Sex Education) and Living in the Wider World. Protective Behaviours is taught as a practical approach to personal safety and is a process which encourages self-empowerment. The Health and Wellbeing strand focuses on the characteristics of good physical health and mental wellbeing, while the Relationships strand focuses on teaching the fundamental building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships, with particular reference to friendships, family relationships, and relationships with other children and adults. As part of this strand, Sex Education is also taught to support pupils’ ongoing emotional and physical development. The Living in the Wider World strand focuses on developing the skills and understanding needed to function successfully in modern society, including the fundamental values of British citizenship. All strands complement and reinforce the school’s ‘Metacognition Programme’ and its ‘RESPECT Rules’.

When children leave Bliss, they can demonstrate through lesson participation and evidence of work that they competently keep themselves healthy and safe, and are prepared for the  opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. They can use their acquired knowledge and understanding to support them in making informed decisions about their wellbeing, health and relationships.

The Fundamental British Values

• Democracy
• Rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Being part of Great Britain

As a school, we value and celebrate being part of Britain. In general terms, this means that we celebrate traditions and customs throughout the year; including, Harvest Festival, Remembrance Day, May Day, Easter services and Christmas celebrations! We also value and celebrate national, charity and sporting events.

Learning about being part of Britain is also part of our school curriculum. In Geography and History, we ensure that the children have a better understanding of what Britain is, learning more about:

• capital cities and countries, rivers and mountains
• the local area
• how ‘Great Britain’ differs from ‘England’ and ‘the United Kingdom’ where Britain is in relation to the rest of Europe and other countries in the world
• British history, Monarchs, rulers and significant events that defined society

Democracy

Children, parents and staff have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. Democracy is central to how we operate.

An obvious example is our School Council. The election of the School Council members reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action: candidates make speeches, pupils consider characteristics important for an elected representative etc. Made up of two representatives from each class, the School Council meets regularly to discuss issues raised by the different classes.

Other examples of ‘pupil voice’ are:

• using Pupil Feedback forms, children are asked to respond and reflect on the teaching and learning.

• Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. We encourage pupils to take ownership of not only their school but also of their own learning and progress. This encourages a heightened sense of both personal and social responsibility and is demonstrated on a daily basis by our pupils.

The Rule of Law

The importance of rules and laws, whether they be those that govern our school or our country, are referred to and reinforced often, such as in assemblies and when reflecting on behaviour choices. Children are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves, and the consequences when laws are broken. These values are reinforced in different ways:

• visits from authorities such as the police;
• during Religious Education, when rules for particular faiths are thought about;
• during other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different rules (in a sports lesson, for example).

Individual Liberty

Alongside rules and laws, we promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs. Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are taught how to exercise these safely, such as in our online safety lessons.

Through the provision of a safe, supportive environment and empowering education, we provide boundaries for our young pupils to make choices safely; for example:

• choices about what learning challenge or activity;
• choices about how they record their learning;
• choices around the participation in extra-curricular activities.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

Our pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have, and to everything, whether it is a school resource, a religious belief or something else. Children learn that their behaviour choices have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school and wider community should treat each other with respect.

This is also enhanced:

• through Religious Education and other lessons where we might develop awareness and appreciation of other cultures;
• in English through fiction;
• in Art, Music and DT by considering culture from other parts of the world.

Picture News

As part of our curriculum, each week across school we look forward to our Picture News activities. Picture News allows the children to be aware of our wider world and reflect upon things they might never have thought about or experienced before. All children are encouraged to form their own opinions about each topic. We link these ideas closely with British Values and learn about life in modern Britain.
Each week they are introduced to provoking, open-ended questions, linked to current events and British values, through our Picture News assembly.

 

Protected Characteristics

The Equality Act became law in 2010. It covers everyone in Britain and protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Everyone in Britain is protected. This is because the Equality Act protects people against discrimination because of the protected characteristics that we all have. Under the Equality Act, there are nine Protected Characteristics.

1. Age
2. Disability
3. Gender reassignment
4. Race
5. Religion or Belief
6. Marriage or civil partnership
7. Sex
8. Sexual orientation
9. Pregnancy and maternity

At Bliss, we actively promote these in our curriculum and work to embed them into our ethos. Please find a table where which shows how each characteristic is taught through our PSHE programme.