PSHE (Personal, Social Health & Economic Education)
At Our Lady of Grace Infant School, we learn about PSHE through the SCARF programme of study. SCARF has been developed by the children's charity, Coram Life Education.
SCARF aims to equip our pupils with the knowledge, understanding, skills and strategies required to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society. Our curriculum intends to develop the whole child through carefully planned and resourced lessons that foster pupils’ knowledge and skills necessary to grow personally and socially, to protect and enhance their wellbeing, to stay safe and healthy, build and maintain successful relationships and become active citizens, who are able to responsibly contribute to our diverse society. SCARF promotes a deep understanding of British Values, developing appreciation of others and their value in society, as well as build positive views of themselves, so as to develop their self-worth, a strong sense of identity and become confident citizens by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community. All the topics support social, moral, spiritual and cultural development and provide all pupils with appropriate and essential safeguarding knowledge to enable them to know they can ask for help.
The SCARF programme of study is fully in line with the learning outcomes and core themes of the PSHE Association scheme of work. It covers all the required objectives and follows the three core areas of Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. It also fulfils the requirements of the 2020 Statutory Relationship and Health Education which enables all pupils to build good, safe and healthy relationships now and in their future lives.
We have a clear and comprehensive programme of study for PSHE – SCARF. This is a high-quality, inspiring curriculum with excellent enrichment experiences to enable pupils to develop essential life skills. It is designed to be taught in thematic units which can be revisited and pupils can recall and build upon previous learning, exploring the underlying principles of PSHE education regularly at a depth that is appropriate for the age and stage of their education. All lessons include supporting materials, including building a rich bank of vocabulary.
SCARF links well with our clear and comprehensive RSE scheme of work by Ten Ten – ‘Life to the Full’ which is rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church, reiterates the meaning of living well in relationship with others and presents pupils with a positive framework for a life in Christian faith follows the Diocese of Westminster requirements. We aim to deliver our PSHE curriculum in a creative way by using strategies such as role play, music, singing, discussion, debate, games, etc. These strategies enable pupils to build upon our Learning Behaviours such as confidence, resilience, curiosity, and responsibility. PSHE is an important part of our school assemblies where pupil’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured.
The SCARF programme of study provides our school with an effective framework for pupils’ wellbeing. Pupils are enabled to develop the vocabulary, confidence and resilience to clearly articulate their thoughts and feelings within an environment that encourage openness, trust and respect and know when and how they can seek the support of others. They will apply their understanding of society to their everyday interactions, from the classroom and the school to the wider community they are part of. SCARF actively supports our school which prioritises physical and mental health, providing pupils with the skills to evaluate their own wellbeing needs, practice self-care and contribute positively to the wellbeing of those around them.
Our PSHE provision has a positive impact on the whole child, including their attainment and progress, by mitigating any social and emotional barriers to learning and build on their self-esteem. In our school we use SCARF as a tool to promote wellbeing, safeguarding and SMSC outcomes. We believe that through the effective delivery of the SCARF curriculum we enable pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to succeed at school and in the wider world.
