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

Where fun, farming and nature go hand in hand.

A farm park, petting farm, indoor soft play, outdoor play, nature park, wildlife encounters, adventure play, working farm, cafe, educational centre, rare breeds farm, adventure play, children’s birthday parties.

Llama trekking is fast becoming a 'must-do' activity. Bond with your llama, get to know him and take him on a walk in the glorious countryside of south west Herefordshire. If travelling from further afield, why not take a two day stay in one of our holiday cottages?

Although you can't actually ride them, these lovely pack animals will willingly carry your rucksack, whilst you enjoy the beautiful scenery. What better way to get away from it all than by leading a gentle llama along bridleways, farm tracks and country lanes.

Set in the heart of Normandy this 17th century Chateau is set in four acres of beautiful private grounds.

Features

This beautiful 17th century Normandy Château is located in the idyllic fishing village of Criel-sur-Mer, providing the ideal opportunity for young people to immerse themselves in French culture

Just 90 minutes from Calais and 20 minutes from Dieppe, the Château is surprisingly accessible

St Nicholas Meadow was acquired by Warwick Borough Council and the formal gardens and the Children’s Corner were opened in the 1930s.

St Nicholas Park's activities attracts visitors from all over the Midlands as well as local people.

Things to enjoy:

A farm park with a difference, featuring an enchanted walk, adventure playground and our collection of farm and exotic animals. Everything is designed with disabled children in mind, but Fairytale Farm can be enjoyed by everybody.

The National Centre for Disability Sport in the UK

Stoke Mandeville Stadium is the National Centre for Disability Sport in the United Kingdom.

The Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle, Cornwall, houses the world's largest collection of witchcraft-related artefacts and regalia. This is a unique collection and has a fascinating on-line catalogue. The objects in the collection provide a great way to explore history and many contemporary issues. You can explore...

Some 300 Bronze Age and medieval sites, covering 15 1⁄2 square kilometres (6 square miles) of Dartmoor landscape.

A fascinating chance to get closer to nature. Find out about wildlife habitats, biodiversity and climate change.

Neptune Sailing has been part of Suffolk Water Sports Association and is a Recognised Training Centre for the RYA. It has been working with Neptune Youth Group and those keen to learn to sail in the local community for many years. The Centre has been divested from SWSA to Neptune Sailing Management Committee. It has been awarded charitable status.

Saxtead Green Post Mill is a corn mill, whose whole body revolves on its base and is one of many built in Suffolk from the late 13th century.

Come and enjoy our transport and engineering heritage

Ring the bell on a fire engine, drive a bus or visit our restoration zone.

The Ipswich Transport Museum has the largest collection of transport items in Britain devoted to just one town. Everything was either made or used in and around Ipswich, the county town of Suffolk. 

Follow the story around this beautiful Georgian building taking in domestic life and childhood in Colchester over the past 300 years.

This beautiful Tudor mansion is the jewel in the crown of Ipswich's historic past boasting over 500 years of history.

Explore the period rooms from the Tudor kitchen to the sumptuous Georgian saloon and the beautifully detailed Victorian wing and much more!

This picturesque fortified mansion was built for Lord Hastings, who was dramatically seized and executed by Richard III in 1483.  

Hastings’ descendants still believe they have a direct line to the throne of England.

The remains of Christchurch Castle include parts of the mound-top keep, and more unusually the 12th-century riverside chamber block or 'Constable's House'. This very early example of domestic architecture includes a rare Norman chimney.

History

The construction of a castle and monastery transformed the fortified settlement of Twyneham.

Colchester Castle is the largest Norman Keep in Europe. Constructed on the foundations of the Temple of Claudius, built when Colchester was the first Roman capital of Britain, the Castle Museum today reveals many fascinating layers of history to visitors.

The highest point in Dorset with views between the trees over Devon, Somerset and out to sea

Standing at 915 feet (279 metres) Lewesdon Hill, along with nearby Pilsdon Pen, dominates the surrounding landscape. It's certainly an alluring hill fort, although being enclosed by woodland the views aren't uninterrupted, but the glimpses of the surrounding landscape you do get through the trees are worth the climb to the top.

Exportise teaches a variety of sports to children of all levels using the latest coaching techniques. Our resident coaches and representatives are there to make sure that every child goes home with a sense of achievement, fun memories, a group of new friends and the desire to return. We aim to provide a friendly, personal service throughout your holiday.

19th-century fantasy castle with spectacular surroundings

This enormous 19th-century neo-Norman castle sits between Snowdonia and the Menai Strait.

It's crammed with fascinating items, such as a one-ton slate bed made for Queen Victoria, elaborate carvings, plasterwork and mock-Norman furniture. It also has an outstanding collection of paintings.

Ape Rescue Centre

Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre is home to over 240 rescued and endangered primates. We have 8 species of monkeys and prosimians at the park: capuchin monkeys, common marmosets, cotton-top tamarins, ring-tailed lemurs, ruffed lemur, squirrel monkeys (pictured), stump-tailed macaques and woolly monkeys.

Today the Keep Military Museum is a striking landmark on the Bridport Road in Dorchester. Completed in 1879, it was designed to resemble a Norman Castle, and is built of Portland stone which gives it a white appearance. In 'British Barracks 1600-1914', James Douet explains that:

The World Owl Trust works on owl conservation on a global scale, and we have members in many countries around the world.

Our conservation programmes protect populations of endangered owls until their habitat has been restored. This has already been achieved for the European Eagle Owl and British Barn Owl.

Ranger’s House is an elegant Georgian villa in Greenwich Park built in 1723 to be the official residence of the 'Ranger of Greenwich Park'. From 1815 this post was held by Princess Sophia Matilda, niece of George III.

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