At St Mary's, we want the children to become healthy, independent, safe and responsible members of society. We intend to help them understand how they are developing personally and socially, and tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. It is important that they appreciate difference and diversity and feel confident and informed as British citizens. We aim to give children the knowledge and capability to take care of themselves and the key building blocks of healthy, respectful relationships in all contexts, including online.  Our children are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and our ethos of ‘One Family’ and the wider community. Our core Christian Value of Love under pins and informs the curriculum that we deliver.

At St Mary’s, our RSHE curriculum is taught through HeartSmart which is an exciting programme that connects all of our school values, RE, PSHE and wellbeing. Our RSHE sessions are delivered weekly to the children. As a school we recognise the value of educating the heart alongside educating the mind and HeartSmart is a great tool to do just that.

There are some fun phrases that are part of the program, and I’m sure you’ll start hearing them in your home as well. They’re called the HeartSmart High Five and here’s a brief overview:

To learn more about HeartSmart click through to their website http://heartsmartprimary.com/

Alongside our HeartSmart lessons, the RSHE curriculum is also supported by extensive additional experiences within other subject areas such as Science, Physical Education, DT, Computing and RE as well as Circle Time. 

Furthermore, children will experience RSHE learning beyond the classroom through Acts of Worship, trips off site, whole school events, visitors in school, residential visits, team projects and links with the community and the church.

 

Read below to find out more about our weekly Circle Time sessions and mindfulness:

Circle Time

Circle Time is a tool we use in order to develop positive relationships between children. It provides children with an opportunity to solve problems that are affecting the class and encourages unity, respect, turn-taking and working together towards a shared vision.

Like all of our lessons at St Mary's, Circle Time is structured to fit the specific needs of the children and to ensure that they are provided with the correct tools that will help them through their day-to-day school life.

Circle Time has many benefits for children which include:

• Improved speaking and listening skills. 
• Increased self-esteem.
• A sense of community.
• An understanding of how their behaviour affects others.
• Improved emotional intelligence.
• Improved problem-solving skills.
• A sense of responsibility.
• Improved relationships between children, and between children and their teacher

Mindfulness

At St Mary's, we recognise that it can be easy to rush through life without stopping to notice much and as a result of this we have introduced calming and mindfulness exercises into the classrooms. Mindfulness can help minimise anxiety and increase happiness. During this time, the children are taught techniques that allow them to pay more attention to the present moment, their own thoughts and feelings and to the world around them.

Click on the link to find out more about the basics of mindfulness.