HeadStart Hull Supports PSHE Education

 
 

PSHE Education in Hull

In September 2020, Relationships, Sex (Secondary) and Health Education becomes statutory in all schools and HeadStart Hull have been on hand to provide support throughout the build up to this change.

May 2019, HeadStart Hull introduced their new Policy and Practice Officer (PPO) for PSHE Education, Catherine Jones, whose role it is to provide professional practice advice, guidance, training and expertise to support schools and enable them to be prepared for September 2020.

The PPO also manages the successful embedding and delivery of PSHE Education across Secondary, Primary, Special Schools and PRUs by providing bespoke support as and when this is required, at no cost to schools.

HeadStart Hull Policy and Practice Officer for PSHE Education, Catherine Jones

HeadStart Hull Policy and Practice Officer for PSHE Education, Catherine Jones

 
 

The support consists of:

  • Supporting PSHE Education subject leaders

  • Curriculum enhancement (community links and external providers)

  • Providing advice, guidance and support with policy writing

  • Working with individual staff

  • Presenting to Senior Leadership Teams

  • Presenting to Governing Bodies

  • Staff training and continual professional development

  • Undertaking audits, monitoring and quality assurance

  • Preparation for Ofsted

The majority of schools across the city now use the Jigsaw PSHE Education programme. Provided by HeadStart Hull at the start of their partnership working, the programme uses well-constructed and fully age appropriate content that covers six areas, in which Relationships, Sex and Health Education plays a key part.
The six areas covered by the Jigsaw programme are:

  • Being Me in my World

  • Celebrating Difference

  • Dreams and Goals

  • Healthy Me

  • Relationships

  • Changing Me

All schools have access to training and development for their staff teams, curriculum resources and planning tools, and to date, 100% of Special Schools and PRUs, and 93% of Primary and Secondary Schools have received specialist RSHE training.

In addition to the training, all schools receive a half-termly PSHE Education newsletter, which includes links to resources, national updates, access to CPD and any sharing of good practice across the country.

Catherine attends termly Yorkshire and Humber PSHE Education network meetings to gain a clear insight into what is happening across the region and how we can ensure that as a city we are up to date with current legislation and guidance.

Catherine created and leads a well attended Secondary Schools PSHE Education forum, which has jointly focused on areas such as; assessment within the subject, planning for Ofsted inspections and general support and sharing good practice.

Catherine also meets quarterly with members of Public Health within the city, keeping them up to date with how schools are progressing and preparing for RSHE becoming statutory. The group looks at how they can enhance PSHE Education provision for students in school by working in partnership. School governors across the city are being informed about the DfE statutory guidance and training is available for anyone who requests this.

The DfE Statutory guidance states “Working with external organisations can enhance delivery of these subjects, bringing in specialist knowledge and different ways of engaging with young people.” Linking with external stakeholders across the city who are willing to work with schools, a ‘Pledge to PSHE Education’ directory has been created to provide schools with a full range of contacts from local sports teams and the police to LGBT organisations that can help and support them in all areas of their PSHE Education Curriculum.

As part of PSHE Education, schools often benefit from the expertise of external support from key local providers. This enhances the subject, links young people with local services who can provide support on these issues if needed, and is a vital part of developing responsible, respectful and active citizens who are able to play their part and become actively involved in public life as adults.

The personal development of pupils includes promoting equality of opportunity so that they can thrive together in their communities, understanding that difference is a positive, not a negative, and that individual characteristics make people unique.