Religious Education & PSHE
Religious Education
Intent
We celebrate diversity. We are lucky to have so many families from a range of different countries, faiths and religions and we like to share, celebrate and learn from each other.
Our RE curriculum provides our pupils with high quality RE education, which both respects and draws on pupils diverse religious cultural experiences. We are able to learn from each other and from others. The curriculum supports children's understanding of the world, whilst deepening their knowledge of their own and others' cultural and religious traditions. Pupils are taught and encouraged to make connections between their own values and those of others. We encourage children to be inquisitive by asking questions about the world around them. Visitors and local visits to places of worship support and enhance this.
Religion and beliefs inform our values and are reflected in what we say and how we behave-we therefore encourage children to be open, to listen and not to judge and to be respectful, even if our beliefs are not the same.
Implementation
- We follow the Barnet Syllabus using the Hertfordshire scheme of work to support the teaching of the curriculum.
- Children are given opportunities to visit places of worship and we invite speakers from the local community to speak to children about their religion.
- We have a cultural diversity week and we encourage children to share their knowledge of their religion with others.
The curriculum promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental, physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and prepares pupils for the opportunities and experiences for later life, while also preparing our pupils for life in Modern Britain.
PSHE
Intent
At Edgware, we work to develop the whole child. We believe that PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, Economic Education) supports our children and develops them to be ready for life in an increasingly complex and challenging world. We want children to be able to have a skill set and knowledge to deal with online safety, current family and wider social issues.
Our Core values, Habits of Mind and British values are embedded within our school culture and underpin everything we do. We develop children's moral, social, spiritual and cultural development. We educate them on safeguarding issues, how to keep themselves safe within an ever changing world.
Implementation
At Edgware, we teach using the Jigsaw Curriculum and the National Curriculum but we also tailor our curriculum to meet the needs of our pupils. We have a solid RSE curriculum and policy for teaching it. We cover drug education, and the importance of having a healthy lifestyle. We have a strong focus on mental health. We ensure that children's emotional wellbeing is met. We encourage children to share their feelings and views and pose questions.
We provide a safe, respectful, calm and supportive environment. Children at Edgware are taught that being kind is one of the most important things they can be. Children are asked to reflect on their behaviour- develop their understanding and empathy for others. We lead with the motto: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". We want children to become good and active citizens. We look to pave the way for children to go on making the right choices in their lives to ensure they lead good lives now and as they become teenagers and adults.
We place a strong emphasis on emotional literacy, building resilience and nurturing mental and physical health and mindfulness.
We have circle time sessions and focused assemblies with themes on values across the year. We cover key topics about bullying, online safety, and this is reflected clearly in our ethos and Golden rules.
We teach children about the Habit of Minds (Art De Costa) every week in Assembly and ensure that these are embedded throughout the school. We also really promote our 6 core values.
Each year we have a safeguarding month where children learn about and celebrate: online safety, gangs, anti-bullying, NSPCC Speak out stay safe, Fake news, Stand Against Violence, drugs workshops.
Respect, Tolerance, Honesty, Resilience/Perseverance, Kindness, Reflective
We use restorative justice alongside positive behaviour management.
Mental Health Programme
We have a strong focus on mental health. Our PSHE curriculum includes mental health strands. We have also created our own bespoke mental health curricula.
We train children to be Mental Health Champions- they support other children with their mental health and help to raise awareness of the importance of having good mental health.
We have trained Mental Health First Aiders and soon to have a Senior Mental Health Lead.
Our Safeguarding team/learning mentors support children with their wellbeing. We provide interventions to enable children to thrive at school. We run mindfulness sessions for children with anxiety and often create bespoke timetables for children who need extra emotional support.
We have a well-used sensory room and we cover a range of themes.
Every year we celebrate Mental Health week. We delve into topics that are affecting our children. For example: Kindness to yourself and others. For example, body image, self-awareness, how to treat others, how speak affects others.
The Protected Characteristics- Promoting Equality and Diversity
There are nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.All children must gain an understanding of the world they are growing up in, and learn how to live alongside, and show respect for, a diverse range of people.
The nine protected characteristics are:
At Edgware, we have a very diverse community. We are inclusive. Children should feel validated and valued. It is our responsibility to make sure children have a voice and that they truly reflect on the way they behave and deal with others, think, speak and act within the world. We embrace diversity and difference and look to teach children to be empathetic, understanding, respectful and non-judgemental of others. This is seen through our values, assemblies, the behaviour we expect in school and the way we treat each other.
We have a strong PSHE curriculum as well as a very comprehensive sex and relationships curriculum.