Personal, Social, Health and Economic ( PSHE ) Education
PSHE at Velmead
‘Today’s children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives seamlessly on and offline. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way.’
(Adapted from the foreword by the Secretary of State, in the Department for Education’s Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education statutory guidance)
Here at Velmead we put in place the key building blocks of healthy, respectful relationships, focusing on family and friendships, in all contexts, including online. This sits alongside the essential understanding of how to be healthy and to foster pupil wellbeing, developing resilience and character that we know are fundamental to pupils being happy, successful and productive members of society.
It is vital that we develop pupils’ ability to believe that they can achieve goals, both academic and personal; to stick to tasks that will help them achieve these goals, even when the reward may be distant or uncertain; and to recover from knocks and challenging periods in their lives. This is complemented by development of personal attributes including kindness, integrity, generosity and honesty. The knowledge and attributes gained through PSHE will support pupils’ own, and others’, wellbeing and attainment and help young people to become successful and happy adults who make a meaningful contribution to society.
In addition, PSHE lessons are also linked to the statutory requirement to teach about the British Values of Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those with different faiths/beliefs.
Here at Velmead we follow the SCARF PSHE scheme of work provided by Coram Life Education. Coram Life Education is one of the leading providers of relationships, health, wellbeing, and drugs education. Meeting all DfE requirements for statutory Relationships and Health Education, and mapped to the PSHE Association programmes of study, they provide a framework of lesson plans, online planning and assessment – a whole-school approach to promoting behaviour, safety, achievement and wellbeing.
To learn more about Coram Life’s SCARF scheme of work, please follow this link: Coram Life
Year 4 PSHE Lessons December 2023
In PSHE, Year 4 have been learning about Stereotypes and gender expectations. They understand that a stereotype is when we think one way of being fits all situations and that this can negatively influence behaviours and attitudes towards others. Part of the lesson involved working in pairs, looking at newspaper headlines and deciding what the stereotypical gender would be. One pupil drew the stereotype with the second pupil drawing the opposite. This lesson certainly generated some interesting discussion amongst our pupils.
Life Education Lessons - 18th - 20th April 2023
This week Coram Life Education visited every class in the school, delivering high-quality workshops providing inspiring enrichment experiences, developing essential life skills. Their expert educator delivered workshops covering sensitive issues including drug use, safe and unsafe relationships and mental health.
Year 6 Friendship Poster February 2023
Christmas Card Production in PSHE October 2022
Y5 PSHE Lessons September 2022
COLLABORATION CHALLENGE!
PSHE lessons got off to a great start with Year 5 learning about some of the skills that will help them in the future e.g. teamwork, communication and negotiation. They completed a Collaboration Challenge where they split into groups and with just 6 sheets of newspaper and a roll of sticky tape, they had to build the tallest tower, which also had to support a small cuddly toy. As you can see from the photos, there were some interesting designs. Not all were successful but nonetheless, the children had great fun and enjoyed being able to complete the activity outside, making the most of the sunshine.
Friendship work by P6 January 2022
P6 have been exploring the qualities and skills needed for successful friendships. Below is a poem by Harley, Jake and Theo that they performed to the class. Others performed Raps, Songs and TV Adverts.
Guinness World Record Breakers 2021
September 2021
Great news, we have a Guinness World Record!!!
The Royal Mail have sent us a certificate because our Postage Stamp Designs (examples on the right) were part of the Guinness World Record Breaking Postage Stamp Design Competition! Well done TEAM Velmead!
PSHE Documents
Coram Life Education Lessons April 2024
In April, our PSHE provider, Coram Life Education visited Velmead and delivered high-quality workshops to all 12 classes. Their expert educator provided inspiring enrichment experiences designed to develop essential life skills, covering topics such as drug use, safe and unsafe relationships and mental health.
Our pupils are always delighted to welcome Harold the Giraffe back to Velmead for his annual visit!
Year 6 RESPECT Acrostics - January 2024
Whilst learning about tolerance and respect for others, Year 6 created RESPECT acrostics, examples of which are shown in the photos. Year 6 understand that the term prejudice means ‘pre-judgement’. A person is prejudiced when s/he has formed an attitude towards a particular group of people before having enough information on
Step-by-Step Harvest Assembly October 2023
Year 4 Drama Freeze Frames March 2023
Through drama and freeze frames, Year 4 examined the concept of aggressive behaviour and what this might look like. They know that people are not aggressive in themselves but may show aggression - it is a behaviour. They discussed the reasons why someone might behave in an aggressive way and what witnesses could do to de-escalate the situation (active bystander behaviour).
Year 6 know that all humans have basic emotional needs. One of the ways these needs can be met is through friendship, as shown in this poster by P6 and C6.
Year 4 Learning about Medicine 20th January 2023
Great work by Year 4 in PSHE this week! The children have been learning how medicines contribute to health and the importance of taking medicines correctly. Our children know how to limit the spread of infection to keep themselves healthy and can suggest alternatives to taking medicine when they are unwell. In the photos below, you can see their ‘alternative’ medicine bottles and examples of their work demonstrating their knowledge of labelling.
Once again, the children are having great fun creating designs for our Christmas cards and stationery fundraiser. This design can be printed onto high quality items such as cards, giftwrap, sticky labels, chocolate bar wrappers and for this year, A5 notebooks!
Year 5 Remembrance Poems November 2021
Friendship
The roots of the tree of friendship
Begin with absolute trust.
If we don’t trust each other
This friendship will be bust.
For eternal friendship
We must never betray.
If these criteria are met
My best friend you will stay
By Harley, Jake & Theo
My School Community
During PSHE lessons, children learn what it means to be part of the 'School Community', to value the different contributions that people and groups make to the community and what living in a community means. All children take part in our annual Christmas fundraiser, raising funds for the school.
Every child creates a Christmas design which is brought to life by turning their artwork into print! Their designs can be put onto Christmas cards, wrapping paper, mouse mats and even chocolate bars!
Whilst it is too soon to be showing finished products, you can see from the photos taken in Year 4 that the whole school are busy designing their cards, painting backgrounds and thoroughly enjoying themselves.
