SPHE PLAN

Social, Personal and Health Education

■ Title
Social, Personal and Health Education Whole School Plan

■ Introductory Statement and Rationale

(a) Introductory Statement
The staff of St Mary’s N.S. formulated this revised school plan for SPHE, in consultation with our Board of Management,Parents and Pupils, as we believe that SPHE is a shared responsibility and their contributions and involvement will be essential to the effective implementation of the SPHE programme in the school. Prior to this , this plan was last reviewed in September 2018. On this occasion, this SPHE plan was updated at a whole-school level , with staff contributing to the review process by reviewing our current policy and completing a review document. This served to update school management on the resources and methodologies currently being used in classrooms in relation to the teaching of SPHE. Following the review of our current SPHE policy and the input received from staff, this current policy was brought to the attention of the Board of Management and Parents.

(b) Rationale
Aspects of SPHE have been taught in St Mary’s N.S. for many years through various programmes and initiatives such as Stay Safe, Walk Tall, Relationships and Sexuality Education and through our involvement in the Health Promoting Schools Initiative. It has also been taught through integration with other subject areas such as Physical Education, Religion, Geography, etc. However, we wish to formalise our teaching of SPHE and plan for it on a whole school basis. We, as a Staff, developed S.P.H.E. policy for the following reasons:

▪ the necessity to integrate SPHE in the school curriculum from 09. 2003
▪ to conform with principles outlined in the Revised Curriculum and to follow Department of

Education and Science Guidelines.
▪ to facilitate a planned and consistent approach throughout the school

■ Vision and Aims (a) Vision:

St. Mary’s Primary School will endeavour to enhance the self-esteem of everyone in the whole school community, to instil the pupils with respect for themselves and others and to encourage responsible behaviour throughout the school.
We believe that Social, Personal and Health Education as taught in St. Mary’s Primary School will offer opportunities to the individual child:

(b) to cultivate his/her own personal development
(c) to promote his/her health and welfare
(d) to help him/her build and sustain supportive relationships
(e) to support him/her become an active and responsible citizen in society.

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United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1990 ▪ State parties agree that the education of the child shall be directed to:

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Article 29 (Extract)

▪ the development of the child’s personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential
▪ (d) the preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes, and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin

(f) Aims:
The children of St. Mary’s NS should be enabled to achieve the aims outlined in the SPHE curriculum, which include:
- ▪ to promote the personal development and well-being of the child
- ▪ to foster in the child a sense of care and respect for himself/herself and others and an
  
  appreciation of the dignity of every human being
- ▪ to promote the health of the child and provide a foundation for healthy living in all its
  
  aspects
- ▪ to enable the child to make informed decisions and choices about the social, personal and
  
  health dimensions of life both now and in the future
- ▪ To develop in the child a sense of social responsibility, a commitment to active and
  
  participative citizenship and an appreciation of the democratic way of life
- ▪ to enable the child to respect human and cultural diversity and to appreciate and
  
  understand the interdependent nature of the world

■ Content of Plan Curriculum:

Strands and Strand Units:

The curriculum is delineated at four levels—infant classes, first and second classes, third and fourth classes, and fifth and sixth classes—and is divided into three strands: Myself, Myself and others, and Myself and the wider world.

Each of these strands is further subdivided into a number of strand units or topic areas that contain particular objectives.

St Mary’s will teach aspects of all three major strand units each year and strand units will be chosen in such a way that the child will receive a comprehensive programme in SPHE over a two year period. St Mary’s have created this timetable to reflect this approach–
Please see APPENDIX 1.

Contexts for SPHE:

SPHE will be taught in St. Mary’s through a combination of the following contexts:

1. Positive School Climate and Atmosphere

St. Mary’s NS has created a positive atmosphere by:

▪ building effective communication
▪ catering for individual needs
▪ creating a health-promoting physical environment
▪ developing democratic processes

▪ enhancing self-esteem

SPHE is allocated 1⁄2 hour per week on each teacher’s timetable in St. Mary’s. However, teachers may allocate 1 hour per fortnight to allow for more in depth exploration of a strand unit.

3. Integration with other subject areas and Linkage within SPHE

Teachers will endeavour to adopt an thematic approach to SPHE by integrating it with other subject areas such as Language, Geography, History, Religion, Visual Arts, Physical Education, etc. Themes/Projects such as Healthy Eating Week, Friendship Week, Agri-Awareness, Healthy Heart Week, Lenten Campaign, etc. will also be explored.

Approaches and Methodologies:

St. Mary’s Primary School believe that the approaches and methodologies used in SPHE are crucial to the effectiveness of the programme. Active learning is the principal learning and teaching approach recommended for SPHE, therefore we will endeavour to teach SPHE using a variety of strategies which include:

▪ drama activities
▪ circle time
▪ ICT
▪ talk and discussion
▪ co-operative games
▪ use of pictures
▪ use of photographs and visual images
▪ written activities
▪ use of media
▪ information technologies and looking at other children’s work

Assessment:

Assessment is a central part of the everyday learning and teaching process in SPHE. It can provide valuable information on the child’s progress and on the effectiveness and suitability of the programme and the teaching methods being used.
St. Mary’s uses the following recommended informal tools for assessment in SPHE:
▪ Teacher observation
▪ Teacher-designed tasks and tests
▪ Portfolios and projects

Children with Different Needs:

fostering respect for diversity
fostering inclusive and respectful language
developing appropriate communication
developing a school approach to assessment

Discrete time for SPHE

Each child will keep an SPHE Scrapbook and this will be used to assess a child’s progress in SPHE.

Each year the child will be given a teacher-designed task or test related to the strand units taught,

and the scrapbook will be added to cumulatively during the child’s schooling. Finally, an informal

“graduation ceremony” will be held in 6th class when the child will receive their scrapbook as a record of their work in SPHE during their schooling in St. Mary’s.

Teachers will endeavour to adapt and modify activities and methodologies in SPHE to encourage participation by children with special needs. The learning support and resource teachers will supplement the work of the class teachers where necessary. St. Mary’s NS will liaise with trained professionals/appropriate agencies when dealing with sensitive issues such as bereavement or loss to ensure that the children involved are fully supported.Differentiated resources such as worksheets and pictures for EAL students are used.Content/ outcome/ tasks/questioning are also differentiated on an individual basis.SNA support as required.

Equality of Participation and Access:

St. Mary’s Primary School recognises and values diversity, and believes all children are entitled to access the services, facilities, or amenities that are available in the school environment. Ours is a mixed- sex/girls only/boys only school and we endeavour to challenge traditional stereotypes and ensure that equal opportunities are given to boys and girls to participate in discussion, debate,presentation, etc. St. Mary’s is under Roman Catholic school management, and we endeavour to provide for Members of Travelling community, Children with disabilities, Families with literacy difficulties, Children who are learning English as a second language.

Organisation:

The National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children and the Department of Education and Science Child Protection Guidelines have been adopted by the School Staff.
The Designated Liaison Person is the Principal Teacher and Deputy Liaison Person is the Deputy Principal.

Policies and Programmes that support SPHE:

Policies

● Child Protection
● Anti-Bullying
● Relationships and Sexuality Education
● Substance Use
● Code of Behaviour
● Enrolment
● Health and Safety
● Healthy Eating
● Internet Acceptable Usage
● Admissions Policy
● Attendance Policy
● School Absence Form
● Discipline Policy
● Policy on Administration of Medication
● Form for Administration of Medication
● Homework Policy
● Policy on Tours/Outings
● Child Safeguarding Statement
● Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment
● Child Protection Guidelines Checklist for School Employees

Programmes

● Active School Flag
● Life Skills Programme
● 6th Class Transition to Secondary School Programme
● Rainbows Programme (Separation/Bereavement)
● Health Promoting Schools
● Green Schools Initiative
● Intercultural Week Annually
● Staff Wellbeing Week Annually
● Friendship/ Wellbeing Week Annually
● Amber flag
● Dogs Trust Visit Annually -Pet Care
● PAX Good Behaviour Programme
● Safety Talks by local Gardaí
● Cyberbullying Workshops 6th Class.
● Roots of Empathy
● NEPS programmes
● School Completion Programme
● Barnardos Wellbeing Workshops
● Roots of Empathy
● Talk-about
● Health Promoting Schools Initiative in conjunction with the HSE
● Restorative Practice Training for Staff 2022/23 school year.

Homework:

SPHE homework, if prescribed in SPHE, will reflect the active learning approach and will reinforce information already taught during class. In line with our Homework Policy our school endeavours to encourage all children to develop to his/her full potential and involve parents as partners in their child’s education. In line with this from time to time, in order to promote useful home-school links, pupils may be given small assignments ie. Work sheets, data collection use of I.C.T., questionnaires and surveys. All homework for S.P.H.E. will be of an informal nature.

Resources:

(PDST have developed a resource list, which is available on the SPHE page at www.pdst.ie. New resources are added to this from time to time.) St. Mary’s N.S encourages SPHE communities of learning within the staff where staff members share their expertise and experience of appropriate resources at staff meetings/ collaboration sessions etc. Staff are encouraged to use their professional judgement and knowledge as regards their use of the suit of recommended resources below.

Programmes and Other Materials:

Books for Pupil

Recommended Resource Books for Teacher

Audio / Visual

Posters

Media & ICT

Guest Speakers:

When a guest speaker addresses the children in SPHE, the class teacher will remain in the classroom (as per Circular 22/2010) and make the speaker aware of this school plan and attached policies.

Individual Teachers’ Planning and Reporting:

This plan in SPHE and the curriculum documents will inform and guide teachers in their long and short term planning in SPHE. Each teacher will keep a Cuntas Míosúil and this will inform our progress and needs when evaluating and reviewing our progress in SPHE.

Staff Development:

Training opportunities will include the following areas and this training will support an effective implementation of the SPHE programme:

▪ training in the Child Abuse Prevention Programme/ Stay Safe
▪ training in the Substance Misuse programme /Walk Tall
▪ training in the Relationships and Sexuality Education programme /R.S.E.
▪ PDST Advisor support and modelling of lessons
▪ other

Teachers are encouraged to attend SPHE related courses and will share information/skills acquired at these courses with other members of staff during staff meetings.

Parental Involvement:

Parental involvement is considered an integral part to effectively implementing SPHE as St. Mary’s NS believe that SPHE is a shared responsibility. This plan and the curriculum documents are available for parents to inform them of the programme for SPHE, and they are welcomed as committee members on the Relationships and Sexuality Education Policy and Substance Use Policy. They are also welcomed as committee members of the Health Promoting Schools initiative. Parents are informed by the class teacher about Stay Safe commencing each year and given due notice regarding the upcoming lessons.

Community Links:

St. Mary’s Primary School believe that the local community has a very important role to play in supporting the programme in SPHE and endeavour to liaise with the members such as the Dental Hygienist, Health Nurse, Fireman, Vet, New Parent, etc. where appropriate.

No formal pupil book.

RSE Manuals Walk Tall
Stay Safe- (Obligatory Resource)
Bi Follain Making the Links Welcome to Wellbeing Weaving Wellbeing Programme

Busy Bodies

Various

posters throughout the school

Wellbeing Promotion Update section on school website. Wellbeing section in each monthly newsletter.

■ Success Criteria
The success of this plan will be evaluated through teacher’s planning and preparation, and if the procedures outlined in this plan have been consistently followed. We will also judge its success if the children have been enabled to achieve the aims outlined in this plan.

■ Implementation

(a) Roles and Responsibilities:

The Board of Management will ratify the plan and support its implementation.
The parents will be aware of the content of the plan and will also support its implementation through involvement in homework.
The Principal Teacher will supervise the implementation of the plan and support the School Staff Teachers will follow the plan and implement it in class.
Pupils will cooperate with the implementation through active participation in class lessons.
Special Needs Assistants and Ancillary staff will be aware of the contents of the plan and will support its implementation.
The S.P.H. E. coordinator will coordinate the progress of the plan, encourage and accept feedback on its implementation, and report to staff on findings.
This plan will be reviewed every 5 years, or as necessary.

(b) Timeframe:

The plan will be implemented by (state date)

■ Review
(a) Roles and Responsibilities:

It will be necessary to review this plan on a regular basis to ensure optimum implementation of the SPHE curriculum in the school. The whole school staff will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the plan. The teaching staff of St. Mary’s Primary School will review this policy. Submissions will be sought from Parents, Board of Management, Pupils and Staff members. Suggestions from the Department of Education and Science, School Development Planning and other agencies will be taken on board.The Principal Teacher will support the Teachers in the implementation of this policy.

Iseult Murphy (SPHE Coordinator) is responsible for coordinating this review. Those involved in the review will include:

Teachers
Pupils
Parents
Post holders/plan coordinator BoM/DES/Others

(b) Timeframe:

This plan will be reviewed in 2028.

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● Ratification and Communication
This document was circulated to all members of the St. Mary’s Primary School Staff.
Copies of this document were circulated to all members of the St. Mary’s Primary School Board of Management and made available to parents via the school website.
This document is available to the Chairperson of the St. Mary’s Primary School Parents’ Association. This document is available to parents from St. Mary’s Primary School Office/school website. Parents may gain access to this document by requesting a copy from any Classroom Teacher. This Policy will be ratified at the next St. Mary’s Primary School Board of Management meeting.

The Board of Management of St. Mary’s Primary School ratified this plan on (state date).

Signed _________________________
Date ___________________________
This plan is available to view at the school by the parents on request.

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