PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education)

PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education)

Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) can mean all things to all people, but in a positive way. It enables schools to analyse what they offer to students and to use PSHE programmes to provide the final rounded curriculum. This is not easy as PSHE is not so much a ‘subject’ as a group of learning experiences that need careful binding together lest they become amorphous.

PSHE at its best brings emotional literacy, social skills and healthy attitudes to the core studies of the history, economic state and social make-up of the local and wider community

Ofsted has praised some schools’ multi-faceted approaches to creating a caring and coherent school and reaching out to the local communities, and some schools for delivering sex and relations programmes effectively, and some for their commitment to equality and diversity. Visits and activities outside the classroom can act not only as focal points for a school’s work but as catalysts to reinforce the messages contained in the courses.

In some ways it does not matter where the visit is to. The importance is how well they are planned, the matching of the experiences to the aim, and the enthusiasm staff and students bring to it.

So, typically learning for PSHE takes place whilst undertaking other activities. Here we list a range of ideas which the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom suggest as activities which can engender excellent experiences to benefit students in this area.

Attitudes and values

  • Talking about an object in a museum, or visiting a place of worship can give insight into issues, other cultures or periods of history.
  • Creating your own work of art can give rise to explorations and understandings about the world and our place in it
  • A visit to a farm can stimulate debate about animal husbandry and food production, and provide a context for designing a Fairtrade enterprise.
  • Adventure education can provide opportunities to show different skills, such as leadership or teamwork.
  • Seeing a play on the stage can bring a text alive and stimulate conversations about the values and actions of the characters.
  • A residential can provide a different setting for conversations about what we believe and what we think is important.

Confidence and resilience

  • Learning a new skill, such as map-reading or how to look at a painting, builds independence and confidence.
  • Adventure education enables young people to test themselves in various ways and develop new aptitudes and dispositions.
  • For young people with disabilities, a residential trip can foster independence and give them a rare opportunity to build close relationships outside the family.
  • Planning their own experience or activity helps young people to gain confidence in a wide range of project planning skills.  It can develop resilience in dealing with conflicting opinions, and in finding solutions to project challenges.

Communication and social skills

  • A drama workshop requires teamwork and helps, to strengthen friendship groups.
  • A residential experience enables staff to get to know young people, and young people get to know each other, discovering different aspects of each others’ personalities.
  • An experience, such as visiting a power station, stimulates discussion and encourages young people to share ideas and opinions.
  • A musical performance gives young people a feeling of achievement and a sense of personal success.
  • Young people planning their own programme or activities gives them voice and choice and ensures their active involvement.
  • Undertaking voluntary work in the community gives young people a sense of making a positive contribution.

Knowledge of the world beyond the classroom

  • Young people who live in the country may encounter a town or city for the first time or vice versa.
  • Environmentalists, town planners, artists, curators, scientists, politicians, musicians, dancers and actors can all act as new and powerful role models.
  • Going to an arts venue can encourage young people to try the experience again.
  • Recording the reminiscences of older people gives young people new insight into their community, and brings historical events alive.
  • Going to a local civic institution like a town hall builds knowledge of how communities function.
  • A school or youth council enables young people to learn about and participate in democratic processes
  • Visiting the library enables young people to find out what they have to offer – apart from lending books.
  • Children and young people with profound learning difficulties and disabilities may not often experience visits to galleries, concerts or the countryside because of the difficulties of transport and personal care which parents have to consider and cannot always manage alone. Educational visits may provide the only means for these young people to have such experiences.

Physical development and well-being

  • Visiting a park, field studies centre or making a school garden all provide physical activity and develop an interest in the environment.
  • Participating in recreational activities help to develop physical well-being and the growth of confidence.
  • Many learning outside the classroom activities can also provide attractive alternatives to competitive sports and can lead to a lifelong interest in healthy physical recreation.

Emotional spiritual and moral development

  • An integrated dance workshop with able bodied and disabled participants can help young people empathise and develop awareness of disability.
  • Activities in the natural environment can encourage a feeling of awe and wonder, and an appreciation of silence and solitude.
  • Visiting a place of worship develops an understanding of religion, reflection and spirituality.
  • Engaging with young people in conversations about values and beliefs, right and wrong, good and bad supports their moral development.

Main organisations:

PSHE Association

National Centre for Citizenship and the Law

Inclusion: NASEN

Venues for this Curriculum

Battersea Park Children's Zoo invites you to check on the monkeys, crawl down the tunnel to see the meerkats, talk to the parrots and mynah birds, on to the farm to say hello to the goats, donkeys, pigs, emus etc. Playground which includes climbing frames,large sandpit with water toys, swings and roundabouts etc.

A Falconry centre with over 70 beautiful birds of prey, and over 30 species, including American Kestrel, Snowy Owl, Saker Falcon, Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture and loads more! There are great opportunities to meet some of these birds at close quarters, and to take some great photos of the flying birds, without the barrier of cages or netting.

On the north side of Charlotte Square is Robert Adam's masterpiece of urban architecture, the Georgian House, with its elegant furnished interior.

There is a formal Schools Programme linked to the Curriculum for Excellence: 'People, Past Events and Societies'.

The Trust is an award winning visitor attraction and registered charity dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey. We work with many organisations and conservation groups across the world to deliver conservation programmes, education projects and to generate environmental awareness for the benefit of birds of prey and their habitats.

Amazon World Zoo Park has a huge range of unusual rare and exotic animals. At the last count it was somewhere in the region of 200 different species, spanning the entire animal kingdom!

We have mammals, reptiles, birds, insects, spiders, fish and amphibians. Botany is important too.

Education and Exploration

The Little Zoo With Lots To Do

Lakeland Wildlife Oasis is a unique and exciting blend of exotic wildlife and interactive hands-on displays, which take you through 3,000 million years of evolution and follows the development of life on Earth - from magic molecules to mischievous monkeys.

Pride of Pembrokeshire

Amazing adventures, penguin parties, toddler takeovers, cwtch corners, and zoo keeper experiences are all ways to d

Enlighten and Inspire, Educate and Energise

Come and see our variety of exotic animals.

We invite you to use our park as a living classroom, a place to educate and inspire, to increase understanding and respect for animals and the environment.

Free Daily Keeper Talks:

  • 12pm Elephants

  • 12:30pm Giraffe

  • 2pm Tigers

  • 14:30 Rhino

Be sure to check out one of our daily Aquatheatre shows and get up close to our divers as they feed the fish in our huge underwater viewing window – all in front of the sharks.
Blue Planet Aquarium is famous for its Shark collection – one of the largest in Europe!

Calderglen children's zoo opened in 1982 and is home to over 50 different species, some of which are critically endangered. Being about an acre in size, the zoo specialises in small creatures and amongst the ornamental gardens and Conservatory you'll discover meerkats, families of monkeys, noisy Kookaburras, cheeky Ring-tailed Coati, and Burrowing Owls.

The aim of Camperdown Wildlife Centre's education programme is to supply the highest standard of zoological education to visitors using every possible resource that is available to education staff.

The UK's No. 1 Safari Park

Longleat Safari and Adventure Park, in Wiltshire, was opened in 1966 and was the first drive-through safari park outside Africa.

Your drive-through safari adventure will take you unbelievably close to creatures you’ve only dreamed about.  So mind the zebras crossing, give the rhinos right of way, watch out for the wolves and beware of the meddling monkeys.

We have a whopping 12,000 animals at the zoo from 400 different species.

About half those species are on the threatened list. We’re one of the world’s leading centres for conservation, working in the UK and worldwide to help protect animals and plants from extinction.

A typical Scottish laird's residence brimming with family treasures, Leith Hall is set in a scenic estate containing a beautiful garden that overlooks some of Aberdeenshire's finest rolling countryside.

Schools are welcome for tours of the House, Garden & Estate. The gardens and estate provide a wonderful opportunity for schools to explore their natural surroundings.

Best known for its magnificent waterfall - the fifth highest in the UK - and uniquely dramatic scenery, Grey Mare's Tail is a superb example of a hanging valley. The area boasts a rich history as well, and is important for its rare upland plants and wildlife.

School visits can be arranged by contacting the Property Manager on 07713 786230.

Animals are fascinating whatever their size, shape or behaviour and at Banham Zoo you can get a unique opportunity to see some incredible animals naturally demonstrating just how amazing they are!

Dollar Glen has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its range of wildlife habitats and important geological features.

The whole area is a haven for wildlife, and the scenery is spectacular. There are a selection of activities available to suit schools' needs, covering natural heritage, geology, cultural heritage and food and farming topics.

Conservation through education

Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park set in 27 acres of mixed woodland, is the wild animal conservation centre of southern Scotland.

A varied collection of nearly 150 animals from all over the world can be seen within the peaceful and natural settings where the woodland has been tailored to provide large and imaginative enclosures.

Schools & Groups

The heart of the property is the formal walled garden originally laid out in 1675 by Sir Alexander Seton. In the 1950s, the Trust set about re-creating the gardens following designs dating from the 17th century.

The Hebridean island of Iona has a significant history and a special, spiritual atmosphere that continues to attract and inspire thousands of visitors each year.

School visits are welcome, with environmental activities led by the Mull and Iona Ranger Service. Prior booking is required.

Come and meet hundreds of incredible animals!

Kelmarsh Hall is a Grade I listed country house built in 1732. The Kelmarsh Estate is now in the care of a charitable trust, charged with maintaining it in perpetuity for the benefit of the nation. In 2004, Kelmarsh (Events) Limited was set up as a commercial arm of the business to support the Charitable Trust.

Otter, Owl and Wildlife Park

From the giant otter to polecats and free-roaming deer, there's something for all the family at the Chestnut Centre. In beautiful grounds of the Derbyshire Peak district, with a stream running through the valley, home to four species of otter, owls, pine martens, foxes, Scottish wildcats and sika.

Discover over 270 species...

Here are just some of the attractions here at Colchester Zoo:

A small sanctuary for exotic animals and birds of prey

Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre is a small sanctuary for unwanted and mistreated exotic animals and birds of prey. Home to a wide variety of creatures including, Owls, Hawks, Snakes, Monkeys, Raccoons, Wild cats, Lizards, Fruit bats, Falcons, Terrapins and much more it's a great afternoon out for the family.

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