PSHCEe
Young People's Survey
Essex Youth Service would like to hear as many young people's views as possible to help them develop programmes, activities and other work. Please click on this link to access an information poster where you can scan the QR code to take you to the survey.
Alternatively, you can click on the link below which will take you to the online survey:
Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship and Economic education (PSHCEe) at Thriftwood Academy
AIM
PSHE education continues to play an important role for learners with SEND. Rehearsing and embedding the practical skills and understanding they need to lead independent and fulfilling lives and enjoy safe and healthy relationships.
At Thriftwood College, PSHE lessons provide the students an inclusive and safe environment where they have the opportunity to explore and reflect issues that affect them day to day. It is important that they are given a safe learning environment to allow them to discuss sensitive topics with confidence.
We support our students to develop the understanding and strategies to manage real-life situations.
DELIVERY
In Key Stage 4 the lessons are delivered in the classroom setting, the students are encouraged to participate in group discussions which are primarily, teacher led. They work towards deepening their understanding and knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, that they would have learnt in Key Stage 2 and 3.
At Thriftwood College we deliver Key Stage 5 PSHE in a more relaxed environment. The sessions are held in the Common Room instead of a classroom setting. This is to distinguish a different learning style from Key Stage 4. Although the content is planned by the teacher, the students have a lot more input into the delivery style, they are given the opportunity to choose the next topic, lead parts of the session or suggest relevant resources to be used throughout the sessions.
CODE
At the beginning of the year the students will work together to produce a learning agreement that they follow throughout each session. This code is unique to Thriftwood, and put together with input from the students. It is based along the grounds of
"Keeping it REAL"
Respect & Rights, Equality & Equity, Asking & Answering and Listening & Learning.
The agreement is produced to maintain a level of trust and mutual respect between all students and teaching staff. The learning agreement is referred to at the beginning of each session as a gentle reminder of the importance of respecting each other's feelings, opinions and confidentiality.
Within this agreement the importance of confidentiality and safeguarding concerns are also highlighted. Due to the nature of discussions, there may be times where a student may make a disclosure that needs to be passed on to the Pastoral Team to follow up accordingly.
PROGRAMME
At Thriftwood College we follow the PSHE Association Programme of Study for students with SEND. This includes three main core themes:
- Health and Well-Being
- Relationships and Sex Education
- Living in the Wider World
Although the lessons are planned, it is very important to be adaptable. Issues may arise in college, locally or nationally that affect the students, and they wish to discuss and explore further at the present time.
Due to the different levels of understanding, the content of each lesson is adapted and differentiated accordingly.
It is now a statutory requirement to deliver Relationships and Sex Education. We cover this in Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5.
ASSESSMENT
Students complete discussion, written and practical tasks. These all help to improve their confidence, understanding and communication skills.
To assess the students' progress, we monitor their input, participation and development throughout the year.
The following methods are used for assessment:
- Group Discussions
- Question and Answer
- Quiz/Questionnaire
- Explain to an Alien
- Mind-Map
- Graffiti Wall
- Card sort-Diamond 9 method
- Draw and Write
FOCUS DAYS
Once a half term we collapse the timetable to take part in a particular activity that relates to PSHE. These focus days are delivered in a creative and fun way to enrich areas of the curriculum and expand the students' cultural knowledge on areas such as:
- Relationship Building
- Online Safety
- Sexual Health
- Recycling
- Young Peoples Mental Health
- Black History Month
- Bullying
- Knife Crime
- Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence
- Appreciation
- Stress Awareness
- Transition Time
- LGBT Pride
- Dealing with Change
- Summer Safety
We invite guest speakers and production companies to deliver some of the above topic areas. Through an interactive approach like this, our students have a greater emotional engagement towards the important awareness issues that are raised and covered.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
In Key Stage 5 there are areas from the PSHE Framework that are delivered in their own right. This reinforces the important areas that will help to develop the student's knowledge and skills when preparing to move on to further education or employment. These include:
- Life Skills (preparing for independence)
- Moving On (preparing for the next steps)
- This is Me (self-awareness)
- Wider World (awareness of the wider world).
We are very passionate about the importance of PSHE for our students. If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Liane Lindo PSHE, Transition and Events Co-ordinator
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