Personal Development

Whilst at Christleton Primary School, children receive a Personal Development programme that equips them with the knowledge that they need to make decisions, to be resilient and to develop their character and personality. These skills and experienced are clearly mapped through a well-planned curriculum and through wider school experiences.

Children at Christleton Primary School know and understand their role in society; they have a sound sense of self and contribute positively to their community. They are tolerant and understand that everyone’s voice should be heard and everyone’s views should be acknowledged and respected. They leave primary school armed with the core values of respect, kindness and responsibility.  Our aim is that every child is aware of their responsibility as a citizen of the modern world and have secure and developed moral foundations on which to further build.

Our curriculum offer is bespoke to our learners and allows all pupils to develop in many diverse aspects of life. This is encapsulated in our Personal Development Programme. We aim to ensure that, over their time at Christleton Primary School, learners receive a Personal Development programme that gives them the knowledge that they need to make decisions, to be resilient and to develop their character and personality. We provide these rich experiences in a coherently planned way – through our curriculum and extra-curricular activities. Through our bespoke curriculum which includes aspects such as growth mind-set, children leave Christleton Primary School with the confidence to try new things and make mistakes. Our curriculum has been designed to get the best out of each and every learner.

We teach the following key aspects of Personal Development:

Healthy & Safe Behaviours

Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) curriculum, Relationship and Sex Education (RSE), Physical Health, Mental Wellbeing and Wider Aspects of Safety.

Character Development

Development of children’s own character and personality, our own values framework (ready, respectful, responsible and kind), children’s behaviour and wider extra-curricular opportunities for children to engage with.

Christleton Primary School Values and British Values

Democracy, Rule of Law, Mutual Respect, Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs and Individual Liberty.

Protected Characteristics

We teach awareness and understanding of the protected characteristics throughout the curriculum. We expose the children to a range of different people, beliefs, cultures and experiences in all of our subjects. Some examples of these include:

• A vast range of high quality texts that promote diversity used in all areas of the curriculum and available in our reading areas throughout the school
• Lessons focussing on inspirational people of different races, gender, abilities, religions and cultures, in subjects like art, reading, science, PE
• Assemblies
• Celebration days
• Fundraising activities for a variety of charities
• Well mapped out RE curriculum
• Visitors into school to discuss and celebrate their life experiences
• School visits and residential

We also teach the protected characteristics through the ‘No Outsiders’ scheme which is taught throughout the year through the following books:

We also teach the protected characteristics through the ‘No Outsiders’ scheme which is taught throughout the year through the following books:

British Values

We promote fundamental British values and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. We actively promote British values, encouraging our pupils to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance. Ultimately, we aim to help pupils understand:

• The importance of combatting discrimination
• How we can influence decision-making by taking part in democratic processes like voting and petitioning
• Our freedom under British law to choose different faiths and beliefs
• That the law is there to keep us safe

Children also engage with the values through the curriculum, in ways that are suitable for their age and context. For example, in some subjects there are opportunities to think about traditions from different cultures and religions.

Extra-curricular activities such as games teach children about the importance of rules. Pupil votes, questionnaires and councils are other ways that your children can have their voices heard and learn about democracy.

Our duty to actively promote fundamental British values means that we always present political views to children in a balanced way. We are also responsible for challenging prejudiced or extreme opinions and behaviour.

At Christleton Primary School, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Democracy is embedded throughout our school curriculum from the moment the children enter our Reception class. Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our School Council and regular pupil questionnaires. The elections of the School Council members are based solely on pupil votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced. Our school rules and expectations are deeply embedded in our work every day. Our rules are regularly discussed in class and during whole school assemblies and are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment. Our pupils are taught the values and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

Individual Liberty

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. This can be through daily choices, such as what they would like to eat that day, our book votes in class or where they would like to play at lunchtime. Children are also encouraged to make choices linked to challenge and learning activities, of how they record and present their work and of participation in our extra- curricular activities. Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; examples of this can be clearly seen in our e-safety and PSHE lessons.

Mutual Respect

Our school values and behaviour policies have evolved around Core Values such as ‘Respect’. The pupils have been part of discussions and collective worship related to what this means and how it is shown. Respect is one of the values that is taught explicitly within lessons, collective worship, enabling pupils to contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of our school. It is shared with home through newsletters and website information. Adults throughout the school model, demonstrate and promote respect for others as do older children who have suitable, age related, tasks and responsibilities and this is reiterated throughout classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour.

Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

Our core value of Respect ensures tolerance of those who have different faiths and beliefs. We enhance pupils’ understanding of different faiths and beliefs through religious education studies; PSHE work; visits from parents who participate in celebrations such as Diwali and enjoying a depth of study during themed weeks. Beliefs, traditions and customs from around the world are studied, with visitors being invited into our school to enrich and extend understanding. Through these activities, our pupils gain an enhanced understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.

Personal Development Whole School Teaching

Some areas of our personal development approach are taught through subjects with their own curriculum, e.g. our PSHE/RSE and RE curriculum, or the online safety strand of our Computing curriculum. Other aspects are taught discretely. The following table illustrates which aspects are taught through which approach.

SMSC – spiritual, moral, social and cultural

Spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) elements are developed across all subjects and aspects of school life at Christleton Primary School. Children develop the ability to be reflective about their own and others’ lives and positive relationships are evident across school. Children readily apply an understanding of right and wrong to their everyday lives and have many creative and cultural opportunities during their time at school, including those that are artistic, musical and sporting.

Mental health and wellbeing

At Christleton Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff. We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional emotional support. We take the view that positive mental health is everybody’s business and that we all have a role to play. 

For our pupils we aim to develop the 'whole child'. This means working to develop them educationally, emotionally, spiritually, morally and physically. As well as caring for their education we also care for their mental health and wellbeing and feel that it is essential to provide children with information to enable them to make life long, well informed decisions about their diet and health.

• We have a designated Mental Health and Well Being Lead in school that is responsible for promoting wellbeing for our staff and pupils (Mrs Bingham).
• We have a designated trained ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) , Mrs Bradshaw, who delivers nurture groups for pupils and individuals, including 1:1 check ins in liaison with our SENDCos (Special Needs & Disabilities Co-Ordinator)
• In each class we have worry boxes for pupils to share their worries with a safe adult.
• We have nominated school council members in each class to represent their peers and gain feedback in class assemblies.
• We hold regular meetings for pupils who need more regular meetings to support their needs.
• We have Seesaw so parents can inform their child’s teacher of any concerns.
• We have home/school communication books for pupil’s who require more regular updates.
• We have move up days and meet the teacher sessions to support transition.
• We have an allocated buddy for all new pupils.
• Play mentors.
• We have Key Stage 2 children as play-leaders to support younger children in positive play.
• We have positive behaviour systems in place to promote positive social behaviour.
• The topic of mental health and wellbeing is covered within assemblies to promote resilience and self-management.
• We have a PSHE curriculum that helps pupils to build important life skills, such as learning to learn, habits of mind and the growth mindset.
• Our ethos is to promote supporting the development of skills and character traits such as perseverance, compassion and teamwork.
• We celebrate events during the year which may promote mental health e.g. Mental Health Awareness Week

PSHCE

Christleton Primary School uses ‘The Kapow Primary scheme’, which is a whole school approach that consists of three areas of learning in EYFS: Reception (to match the EYFS Personal, social and emotional development prime area) and five areas of learning across Key stages 1 and 2. 

EYFS: 

• Self-regulation
• Building relationships 
• Managing self 

Key stage 1 and 2: 

• Families and relationships 
• Health and wellbeing 
• Safety and the changing body 
• Citizenship 
• Economic wellbeing

Each area is revisited to allow children to build on prior learning. The lessons also provide a progressive programme. PSHE is taught weekly in each class to support personal development.

Relationship, Sex and Health Education

At Christleton Primary School we aspire to teach pupils to live their lives well. RSHE in school develops the knowledge, understanding and skills young people need to manage their lives, now and in the future. We deliver a comprehensive RSE (relationships and sex education) and Health scheme of work.

We have RSE lessons from EYFS up to year 6 and are part of the PSHE scheme of work. This programme reflects the recent developments in RSE and the Science National Curriculum and has been quality assured by the PSHE Association. The main themes for each year groups are:

Consent

The statutory PSHE education content — sometimes referred to as ‘RSHE’ — includes teaching about consent. We teach consent in every year group through stand-alone lessons and through discussions around everyday situations. We teach consent using resources and lesson plans published by the PSHE association which reflect statutory status and other developments, including increased awareness of sexual harassment and abuse between pupils. 

The key learning — about respecting the rights of others, communication, negotiation and considering the freedom and capacity of others to make choices — is crucial in a range of situations children and young people will encounter throughout their lives. Learning about consent after they have been in these situations is too late. This is why we now teach age-appropriate lesson plans from key stage 1.

Developing Individual Talent

The way our curriculum is structured enables our children to take risks to become the best version of themselves.

In valuing pupil voice, we empower the children to speak confidently about their achievements, challenges and worries. This dialogue enables teachers to have a comprehensive understanding of the talents and abilities of the children in their care. Opportunities can then be planned for to enable children to maximise their talents. Such opportunities may include performing, directing children to clubs or groups in which they may thrive, giving them responsibilities and roles in the classroom or ensuring the environment is supportive to these children being able to express themselves.  We celebrate achievements outside of school through show and tell and assemblies, and encourage the children to talk about their experiences. We invite visitors in to talk about different activities that children may aspire to take part in and encourage them to try new things. 

Collaboration is a vital skill which requires teaching. We teach the children to communicate effectively by sharing knowledge, ideas and mistakes with their peers as they work together. We support them in developing a growth mind-set acknowledging mistakes as a positive step. This encourages our children to become more resilient and persevere when things get challenging.