LfL

Learning for Life (PSHE) Curriculum 

 

At the Glebe Primary School, we believe that our bespoke Learning for Life (PSHE) curriculum should enable our children to become healthier, more independent and more responsible members of society. We encourage our pupils to play a positive role in contributing to the life of the school and the wider community. In doing so, we help build their confidence, resilience and self-esteem, and ability to identify and manage risk, to keep themselves safe, make informed choices and understand what influences their decisions.

Our Learning for Life curriculum enables pupils to meet the end of Key Stage Attainment targets outlined in the National curriculum. When used in conjunction with our Science, Computing, RE and PE curriculums, our Learning for Life curriculum, also aligns with all the objectives of the DfE’s Education for a Connected World framework. This guidance was created to help equip children for a life in the digital world, including developing their understanding of appropriate online behaviour, being discerning consumers of online information, copyright issues and healthy use of technology. Our Learning for Life progression map shows the knowledge and vocabulary that is taught within each year group, for each unit and how this knowledge develops year on year, to ensure objectives are securely met by the end of each key stage.

Implementation

Our Learning for Life curriculum is categorised into seven key areas – Relationships, Keeping Safe and Managing Risk, Ourselves, Growing and Changing, Mental and Physical Wellbeing, Zones of Regulation, Healthy Life Styles and Belonging, Our Community and the Wider World. Pupils revisit each area throughout KS1 and KS2. Each time a key area is revisited, it is covered in greater depth and increasing maturity. Upon returning to each key area, prior knowledge is revisited to ensure retention in long term memory and each key area is built upon to develop increasingly sophisticated understanding.

At the Glebe, Learning for Life lessons are timetabled weekly. We use a range of teaching and learning styles with an emphasis on active learning by including the children in discussions, practical activities, drawing and written activities. Activities are provided as a group, class or school events and initiatives for example, community projects, school productions, collective assemblies including celebration assemblies. The Learning for Life curriculum is provided in a variety of ways, to reflect the age and stage of the children, and to ensure a whole school approach to the subject.

We take part in collaborative enrichment days/weeks for example Raising Aspirations week, FAB week, Safer Internet day, Parliament week, World Mental Health day, Children’s Mental Health week and charity days such as Children in Need, Macmillan Coffee Morning and Comic Relief. We also develop Learning for Life themes through cross curricula lessons in PE, Science, RE, Computing including the promotion of citizenship through our Rights Respecting Schools Award.

Throughout the school there will be acknowledgment of SMSC (spiritual, moral, social and cultural development) in every lesson, through the teachers and pupils’ relationships with each other. Our Learning for Life curriculum and our school ethos, intentionally integrates lessons on ‘protected characteristics’ such as race, gender, disability, religion, and sexual orientation, with the goal of promoting understanding and respect for diversity in everyone both online and offline. Our Learning for Life curriculum actively fosters core British values—including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs—through focused lessons and discussions and collective assemblies. Playtimes and lunchtimes offer opportunities for playing co-operatively using play equipment. We also have Sports Leaders who support children in both KS1 and KS2. The children are involved when visitors come into school to enhance our curriculum. The children actively participate in activities with visitors who come to school to enrich our curriculum.

Teachers consistently assess children’s learning in this area using formative assessment opportunities. Assessment of learning from Learning for Life lessons takes place over time, with planning adapted to address gaps and misconceptions as they arise. The impact of our Learning for Life curriculum can clearly be seen in our floor books.

A key part of our Learning for Life curriculum is to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of our pupils is paramount. We prioritise mental health and wellbeing, striving to equip our children with the essential skills to lead safe, happy, and healthy lives. At the Glebe, our RSE and Science curriculums aim to give children their entitlement to information about relationships, puberty and human reproduction, appropriate to their ages and stages of development. This work takes a clear and thoughtful approach, guiding children through changes like puberty and helping them understand healthy relationships.

Early Years Foundation Stage  

At the Glebe Primary School, we believe that developing Learning for Life skills from an early age is essential. Our stimulating indoor and outdoor environments offer a wide range of opportunities for children to grow in this area through a blended approach of adult-led sessions and child-initiated learning. In the Early Years, children are encouraged to build a strong sense of self, recognising their own value as individuals. They develop confidence in their abilities, set simple goals, and learn to persevere in the face of challenges. Children develop skills in managing emotions, expressing feelings, and understanding the perspectives of others are key aspects of their learning, helping them to form respectful and meaningful relationships. They also begin to understand the importance of cooperation, learning how to build friendships, resolve conflicts peacefully. They gain independence in managing their personal needs, including hygiene and healthy eating, while also learning how to care for their bodies. They engage in regular physical activity and daily toothbrushing which contributes to their overall well-being. Through these experiences, children develop essential life skills that will support their personal and social growth, laying the foundation for their future well-being and success.

SEND
At the Glebe Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that all children, including those with Special Educational Needs (SEND), can fully engage with their Learning for Life education. We recognise that some children may need additional support to develop key social, emotional, and life skills, and we use adaptive teaching to meet their individual needs. Our inclusive and bespoke Learning for Life curriculum provides opportunities for all children to develop self-awareness, confidence, and emotional resilience. We use a variety of teaching methods, including visual aids, sensory activities, and small-group discussions, to ensure accessibility for all learners. Adult-led interventions and one-to-one support are available for children who may need additional guidance in managing emotions, forming relationships, or understanding social cues. We also foster a supportive learning environment where children feel safe to express themselves and explore strategies for self-regulation and well-being. By embedding social skills practice into daily routines, we help SEND pupils build independence in personal care, communication, and decision-making. Through this inclusive approach, we empower all children to develop essential life skills, equipping them with the tools they need to navigate challenges and build positive relationships both within school and beyond.

Impact

Following the implementation of our Learning for Life curriculum, pupils will leave the Glebe with a diverse set of skills that will help them thrive in secondary education and actively contribute to society. The expected impact of our Learning for Life curriculum is that children will:

  • know and understand what constitutes a healthy lifestyle, including through healthy eating, physical activity and mental health;
  • make the right choices and develop healthy behaviours with the aim of reducing health inequalities later in life and promoting social inclusion;
  • the skills, language and strategies they need in order to live healthy, safe, fulfilling, responsible and balanced lives.
  • be aware of safety issues, including online safety;
  • understand what makes for good relationships with others and develop relationships with members of the community;
  • have respect for themselves and others;
  • understand and manage their emotions
  • be independent and responsible members of the school and the local community;
  • be positive and active members of a democratic society;
  • develop self-confidence and self-esteem and make informed choices regarding social and personal issues;
  • have opportunities to consider issues which may affect their own lives and/or the lives of others.

 

Learning for Life Curriculum Documents

 

Useful Websites

  • NSPCC– Recognising the signs that a child may be struggling with their mental health and wellbeing can be really hard. NSPCC have got advice to help you support your child who may be experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts or self-harm. https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/childrens-mental-health/
  • YoungMinds– This website offers advice for you to help your children and a free telephone service. Call the Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday 9.30am – 4pm, free for mobiles and landlines). https://youngminds.org.uk/resources/
  • Anna Freud– This charity is dedicated to providing training and support for child mental health services. https://www.annafreud.org/
  • Public Health England and the NHS– Offer advice on how to take simple steps to look after their mental health, improve their mental wellbeing and support others. https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

 

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