Character Development Curriculum at St Clare’s
We are very proud to hold the wellbeing in Schools Award (June 2022) and the Gold Head Start Award (September 2024) and the inclusion Quality Mark (Nov 2024)
St Clare’s mission for mental health
At St Clare’s, 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 important for everyone and that we all have a role to play.
At our school we:
help children to understand their emotions and feelings better
help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
help children socially to form and maintain relationships
promote self-esteem and ensure children know that they count
encourage children to be confident and ‘dare to be different’
help children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks
This image shows how we take a graduated response to the needs of our children.
Wellbeing Award information 2021-22
Mental Health signposting for parents:
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/your-guide-to-support/guide-to-camhs/
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/childrens-mental-health/
https://www.headstartsouthtees.co.uk/young-people/headstarters/
We work closely with The Bungalow Partnership to ensure that children are supported at every level of their mental health and wellbeing.
https://www.thebungalowpartnership.co.uk/
We have two fully trained ELSA support practitioners on our staff. An ELSA in a school is an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. There is a recognised ELSA training course aimed specifically at Teaching Assistants in schools. Examples of things covered on the course are social skills, emotions, bereavement, social stories and therapeutic stories, anger management, self-esteem, counselling skills such as solution focus and friendship.
https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/
PSHE and Citizenship
Delivery of the Curriculum
We have a comprehensive scheme of work called Jigsaw which is delivered each week. Please use the link to see the long term plans for each year group.
Intent:
At St. Clare’s Primary School, personal, social and health education (PSHE) enables our children to become healthy, independent and responsible members of a society. It aims to help them understand how they are developing personally and socially, and tackles many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. We provide our children with opportunities for them to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. Our children are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community The intent of our PSHE curriculum is to deliver a curriculum which is accessible to all and that will maximise the outcomes for every child so that they know more, remember more and understand more. As a result of this they will become healthy, independent and responsible members of a society who understand how they are developing personally and socially, and give them confidence to tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. We provide our children with opportunities for them to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. Our children are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community.
Implementation:
We teach PSHE at St Clare’s through the Jigsaw scheme. During weekly whole class Jigsaw lessons will focus on different topics each term. Children are encouraged to use the skills they are developing and to make links to other areas of learning wherever possible. The aims of PSHE and Jigsaw within our school are to provide children with accurate and relevant knowledge, opportunities to create personal understanding, opportunities to explore and challenge a range of values, attitudes, beliefs, rights and responsibilities and a range of skills and strategies to live a healthy, safe, fulfilling, responsible and balanced life.
Jigsaw deals with the diverse beliefs, values and attitudes that individuals and societies hold. It helps pupils to develop themselves, their understanding of the world, and their ability to communicate their feelings. Children will also acquire an understanding and experiences of British values that are necessary if they are to make sense of their experiences, value themselves, respect others, appreciate differences and feel confident and informed as a British citizen.
Whole school and key stage assemblies will also deliver teaching in many areas of the PSHE curriculum. The RE Curriculum and our Catholic life also provides opportunities for learning and development in PSHE.
We follow the Ten Ten Life to the Full scheme of work for our Sex and Relationships Education.
LTP PSHE PSHE Whole School Long Term Plan
We also use enrichment activities such as visitors and experiences to further enhance our PSHE curriculum.
SRE / Life to the Full
St Clare’s Catholic Primary School is closely linked with the Parish Church and the Parish Community. Please see also our RE/Catholic Life pages.
Pupils are encouraged to develop links with the local community through:
• Weekly class masses and whole school masses
• Singing at St Clare’s/ St Francis’ Parish at Christmas and local nursing homes
• St Clare’s Easter and Christmas Fayre and Summer ‘Stay and Play’,
• Delivery of Harvest Goods with members of the Church community and the John Paul Centre. Cause hampers.
