Personal Development Learning (PDL) Curriculum at

Abbotts Ann CE Primary School

Intent

At Abbotts Ann, PDL (Personal Development Learning) is a key part of what we do throughout the school on a daily basis and within the Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education we provide for our pupils.   Our aim is to teach all young people in our care to become:

• successful learners who enjoy learning, making progress and achieving their goals
• confident and happy individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
• responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society
  Pupils’ personal development helps them to learn and achieve. It enables them to understand and acquire for themselves:

• the skills and confidence to maximise their achievements
• principles for distinguishing between right and wrong, considering issues of justice and injustice
• knowledge, understanding and appreciation of their own beliefs and cultures, and those of others
• enduring values, integrity and autonomy to help them become responsible and caring citizens capable of contributing to the development of a just society
• the ability to challenge racism, discrimination and stereotyping
• an awareness and understanding of the environments in which they live
• the ability, as consumers, to make informed judgements and decisions, and to understand their rights and responsibilities
  At Abbotts Ann CE Primary School, we use the PSHE Association’s (the national body for Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education) programme of study for PSHE education as well as the Hampshire PSHE Guidelines.
  Our PDL curriculum also aims to develop children’s self-esteem and emotional well-being, and help them to form and maintain worthwhile and satisfying relationships, based on respect for others. This curriculum also encourages pupils to develop key personal, thinking  and learning skills which they need to function as effective members of society and in the workplace. These include co-operation and team work; self-management; independent enquiry;  reflective learning and creative thinking.
   
  Relationship and Sex Education (RSE)
  High quality RSE helps create safe school communities in which pupils can grow, learn, and develop positive, healthy behaviour for life. Schools maintain a statutory obligation to promote their pupils’ wellbeing and under the Education Act (1996) to prepare children and young people for the challenges, opportunities and responsibilities of adult life. A comprehensive SRE programme can have a positive impact on pupils’ health and wellbeing and their ability to achieve, and can play a crucial part in meeting these obligations. Our RSE curriculum enables pupils to:

• Develop confidence in talking, listening and thinking about feelings and
  relationships
• Make sense of the world around them, to develop the skills to express their own views and make their own informed choices
• Name parts of the body and describe how their bodies work
• Protect themselves and others and ask for help and support
• Be prepared for puberty 
  
  Implementation
  Children have a carefully planned PDL curriculum which is delivered across the school. PDL learning and messages are then reinforced throughout the curriculum and school day.  Children are given a range of opportunities to develop their understanding and discussion, debate and exploration are key to children’s learning in this area. We also use P4C (Philosophy for Children) to explore challenging questions in more depth at an age appropriate level. Whilst children are given time to work in partners and groups, they are also given individual recording time when appropriate.
   
  Impact

• Children are supported in becoming responsible citizens who show care, kindness and respect to both other children and adults
• Governor visits show ‘Keep Safe’ messages are strong and secure and well understood by the children  - children are able to explain how they can seek help if needed and how to keep themselves safe
• Our RSE curriculum is planned according to pupils’ development, readiness and needs and takes into account prior learning, experience and understanding
• Pupil voice is be used to review and tailor our RSE programme to match the different needs of our pupils.  In order to develop pupils’ knowledge, skills and attributes, prior learning is revisited, reinforced and extended year on year
• Our RSE programme is taught through a range of teaching methods and interactive activities such as small group work and discussions. High quality resources support our RSE provision and are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up to date, accurate and balanced in content. Assessment for and of learning is central to ensuring high expectations of the quality of pupils’ work, as in any other subject
• Pupils receive opportunities to reflect on their learning and its implications for their lives. In order to show the impact of our RSE curriculum, assessment is also key to ensuring progression in pupils’ personal development, safeguarding, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development