What is Learning for Life?

Our Personal, Social and Health Education (P.S.H.E) together with our Relationships and Sex Education (R.S.E), enables our children to become healthy, independent, aspirational and responsible members of a diverse and ever changing society. Our approach to Learning for Life is evident within all aspects of the curriculum, insuring that our pupils receive a firm foundation on which to build. Our school PURE principles underpin our core beliefs: Positivity, Urgency, Resilience and Equity. 

At South Camberley Primary School we teach these aspects of the curriculum as Learning for Life. The Learning for Life curriculum is guided by the Jigsaw scheme and has been adapted to meet individual pupil needs. It takes a spiral approach, gradually revisiting topics at a deeper level at each key stage or year group, whilst rehearsing, emphasising and embedding the essential skills and attributes young people need to manage their lives, both now and in the future. In addition to this, we supplement the Jigsaw scheme by using ‘Picture News’ which enables to discuss current and relevant issues, both nationally and internationally. We respond to the needs of our children and community by having strong links with a number of supporting resources and agencies. 

We strive to help our pupils understand how they are developing personally and socially, and support them to tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. We understand the importance of emotional and mental wellbeing, ensuring that our pupils know how to look after themselves both physically, emotionally and mentally and where to find suitable support. 

An important part of Learning for Life is the ability to discuss and debate issues with clarity, and listen to people’s points of view, whilst understanding that you do not have to agree with them but recognise their point of view. 

We strive to provide our pupils with opportunities to learn about their 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. 

We aim to have a positive impact on both academic and non-academic outcomes for all pupils. 

Our ultimate aim is for every single child who leaves South Camberley Primary School to become the very best that they can be and to ensure that disadvantage does not hold any child back. 

Intent

Our intent for Learning for Life is:

• Develop pupils’ understanding of the world and of personal, social, emotional and mental health, and citizenship concepts and relevant vocabulary to empower learners, so they have more control other their own lives 

• Provide pupils with a relevant, age appropriate and broad curriculum which enables them to make informed choices 

• Understand issues relating to their own health, personal care, sexual development and relationships. 

• Provide pupils with strategies to maintain personal wellbeing, promote resilience and equip pupils with skills to keep themselves and others safe 

• Promote an atmosphere celebrating equality and diversity 

• Enable learners to form appropriate relationships and give them a sense of dignity and respect for each other. 

• Develop personal responsibility, self-confidence, assertiveness and enhance their self-esteem. 

Implementation

Learning for Life is an ever-evolving subject, which responds to the needs of children and society. In order to achieve this, we have a structured learning experience with a clear balance of skills and knowledge development from the EYFS through to Year 6.  Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of Learning for Life involves the following; 

• Learning for Life is taught through a mindful approach using the Jigsaw scheme of work which embraces emotional literacy, social skills and spiritual development 

• The Jigsaw programme provides a comprehensive PSHE Programme which covers all the requirements of the government guidance and outcomes, and more 

• Jigsaw’s philosophy starts by building positive self-image, a sense of identity and a healthy relationship with self, and from that starting point helps children grow healthy relationships with others 

• One lesson per week through varied teaching strategies and differentiated approaches to suit all children however a great emphasise is placed on Learning for Life being embedded in all aspects of the curriculum and ethos of the school.  

• A spiral approach, gradually revisiting topics at a deeper level at each key stage or year group, whilst rehearsing, emphasising and embedding the essential skills and attributes young people need to manage their lives, both now and in the future 

• We strive to help our pupils understand how they are developing personally and socially, and support them to tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up, not only in Learning for Life but in all aspects of the curriculum 

• Within lessons, there is a mindfulness aspect to the curriculum helps address the emotional health and behaviour issues which often can create barriers to learning 

• We have created a safe, open and positive learning environment based on trusting relationships between all members of the class, adults and children alike: this is done through establishing ‘ground rules’ which are  agreed and owned at the beginning of the year and are reinforced in every Piece - by using The Jigsaw Charter 

• We understand the importance of emotional and mental wellbeing, ensuring that our pupils know how to look after themselves both physically, emotionally and mentally and where to find suitable support 

• Pupils are taught to  discuss and debate issues with clarity, and listen to peoples points of view, whilst understanding that you do not have to agree with them but recognise their point of view. 

• We provide our pupils with opportunities to learn about their rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society 

• Pupils are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community: e.g.  School council, House captains, ambassadors 

• The Relationships and Changing Me Puzzles have a strong safeguarding focus in particular, obvious to teachers but not necessarily so explicit to children. (Please see the RSEH policy) 

Impact

Learning for Life will be recorded within their workbooks and some lessons will be recorded through floor books in the earlier years.  Many of the lessons will be assessed through discussion, group activities and evidence within books.  Staff will evaluate the children's contributions through assessment for learning using the Jigsaw 'I can' statements and pupils will be involved in self and peer assessments in each session.  

Children are able to talk about their feelings in a safe environment and gain a good understanding of themselves and of others and develop strategies to deal with the real world.  Pupils learn to be aware of their thoughts and feelings as they arise and will be able to focus their mind on what they chose to focus on thus having a positive impact on their learning attitudes.   Mindful children can more readily choose their responses to situations rather than react while caught up in the thought-flows and emotions, saving behaviour issues from happening, helping concentration and lessening stress and anxiety. 

Health Education in Jigsaw embraces not only physical health but has a strong focus on mental health and emotional literacy throughout and empowers children to be aware of their own thoughts and feelings and know how to manage and regulate these (e.g. Using Calm Me (mindfulness techniques).  Jigsaw values every child and so takes inclusively as a given, promoting acceptance of individuals for who they are and who they will become. Our philosophy is to grow resilience and positive self-esteem and confidence in children, so they can recognise when they feel uncomfortable in a situation and know who to trust and how to speak up for help. They respect themselves and their bodies and know what healthy relationships feel like. 

At the core of our Learning for Life study are the British Values.  Our pupils learn what it means to be part of a wider community and how to have a positive impact on those around them.   

Our ultimate aim is for every single child who leaves South Camberley Primary School to become the very best that they can be and to ensure that disadvantage does not hold any child back.

“I think wellbeing is important as we need to understand it, to take care of ourselves and to do the things that make us happy.  I think our school has a great way of showing and telling us this as they show examples and teach us about it.” 

“Learning for life is enjoyable to me because you can experiment about the different actions and emotions of people.”

South Camberley Pupils