Personal, Social, Health, Economics & Citizenship (PSHE+C) & Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)

Our Philosophy:

At Brighton Avenue Primary School, we believe that education in Personal, Social, Health, Economics and Citizenship (PSHE+C) enables children to become healthier, more independent and more responsible members of society. We encourage our pupils to play a positive role in contributing to the life of the school and the wider community therefore developing their sense of self-worth. We teach them how society is organised and governed. We ensure that the children experience the process of democracy through specifically being taught about their rights and about their responsibilities. In doing so, our children learn to appreciate what it means to be a positive member of a diverse and multi-cultural society.

Our Aims:

Our Personal, Social, Health, Economic education and Citizenship (PSHE+C) curriculum covers learning, in line with the requirement of the National curriculum (2014) that schools ‘should make provision for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE).’ Pupils’ learn this though the curriculum, and in different contexts across the school week. (Please see PSHE+C AND RSHE Policy for further details)

Principles of PSHE+C AND RSHE Teaching:

• To provide a curriculum which will significantly contributes to their personal development
• To promote the fundamental British values, which reflect life in modern Britain, reflecting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) issues they will face as children, young adults and beyond to responsibly participate in the ever-changing society around them.
• To enable our children to develop their identity and self-esteem as active, confident citizens, providing children with protective teaching on essential safeguarding issues, e.g., developing the knowledge of when and how children can ask for help.
• To carry out our duty of care with regards to safeguarding. The DfE’s statutory ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education (Sep 2023)’ guidance states that ‘Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure that children are taught about safeguarding, including online safety. Schools should consider this as part of providing a broad and balanced curriculum’.
• In response to the child-on-child abuse updates to Section 5 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE, 2023), our curriculum introduces and revisits ideas of personal boundaries, consent and communicating our boundaries with others. This prepares pupils for the challenges and responsibilities they will face in the future.
• To cover the Relationships and Health Education statutory guidance (as set out by the Department for Education, including the non-statutory sex education)
• To give our children the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that they need to be happy, healthy, safe
• To prepare our children for secondary school, life and work, to lead confident, healthy, independent lives, effectively navigating the complexities of life in the 21st Century.
• To take individual responsibility for their healthy lifestyle, physical and mental wellbeing
• To build our children's self-esteem, confidence to develop valuable and fulfilling relationships
• To play an active role as members of a democratic society
• To respect the differences and diversities between people  
• To develop and understand how to keep themselves and others safe
• To understand the risks of drugs and alcohol and how to stay safe online
• To develop resilience, independence and responsibility
• To develop the personal and social skills required to succeed in business and industry
• To identify misleading information and be aware of the situations they might encounter

Citizenship

Citizenship provides knowledge, skills and understanding to play a full and active part in society. Children will become more mature and independent, learn about themselves and being a member of their community, build upon their own experiences, develop a sense of moral responsibility and begin to understand possible consequences to choices made. 

• To develop social and moral responsibility
• To understanding of community cohesion
• To promote sustainability 
• To becoming global citizens
• To have an understanding of democracy, government and law
• To explore political and social issues critically
• To share opinions, weighing evidence, debate and make reasoned arguments
• To teach our children how to take their place in society as responsible citizen

Under section 78 of the Education Act 2002 and the Academies Act 2010, a PSHE curriculum:

• Promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and
• Prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

SMSC and British values.

In participating in PSHE+C, RSHE learning, pupils recognise their own worth, the value of others and reflect on the multitude of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) issues they will face as young adults and beyond; they also learn to understand and respect diversity, the rule of law, and learn ways to identify and manage risk. Brighton Avenue Primary School continues to promote the SMSC development of pupils in school life, within our curriculum and community; citizenship education is also a key element of SMSC and within this, fundamental British values: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and for those without faith.

Please refer to Key Information, British Values &SMSC website page for more information on SMSC and British values.

By the end of primary school, pupils will have been taught content on:

- Relationships Education: families and people who care for them, caring friendships, respectful relationships, online relationships and being safe.

- Health Education: mental wellbeing, internet safety and harms, physical health and fitness, healthy eating, facts and risks associated with drugs, alcohol and tobacco, health and prevention of illness, basic first aid and changes to the adolescent body.

RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education)

RSHE supports children and young people’s personal development including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Its aims are to help children and young people to deal with the real-life issues they face as they grow up and that they will encounter as adults. Their learning will support them both online and offline, to make informed choices about their safety, physical and mental health, enabling them to live positive and fulfilled lives. RSHE is lifelong learning about relationships, emotions, which involves acquiring information, developing skills and forming positive beliefs, values and attitudes.

RSHE begins informally in the home with parents and carers long before any formal education takes place in schools. It also enables children and young people to make responsible and informed decisions about their health and wellbeing. This is why the DfE recommend:

“… that all primary schools should have a sex education programme tailored to the age and the physical and emotional maturity of the pupils. It should ensure that both boys and girls are prepared for the changes that adolescence brings and – drawing on knowledge of the human life cycle set out in the national curriculum for science - how a baby is conceived and born.” (Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education, and Health Education, DfE, 2019, para 67)

RSHE is enhanced by a supportive school ethos where everyone is valued, positive relationships are promoted and there is a safe learning environment. We believe that RSHE should be taught with a climate of trust, respect and appropriate confidentiality, in which pupils and adults feel able to talk openly and honesty.

From September 2020, Relationships Education and Health Education was compulsory for all primary schools, as set out in the DfE Guidance. Primary schools may provide additional age-appropriate sex education outside that covered by statutory Health Education (changes to the adolescent body), and this can be included within PSHE or Science. All schools are legally obliged to have an up-to-date policy for RSHE that describes the content and organisation of RSHE: these details are included within our RSHE policy. The policies are available to parents/carers on request but is also available on our school website. It is our school governors’ responsibility to ensure that the policy is developed and implemented effectively.

Parents/carers are made aware of the sex education elements of RSHE they can withdraw their child from.

We continue to seek your views on the statutory and non-statutory parts of the curriculum; this helps us understand your views/comments and take these into consideration as we update our policies and curriculum, for example, through our summer survey (2023 Weduc App) and our autumn cafe/workshop (Sept.2023).

The DfE Relationships Education and Health Education document is attached and an overview about the RSHE curriculum; also, with our latest survey results (2023).

The aims of RSHE education at Brighton Avenue Primary School are to provide a secure foundation:

• Provide accurate and age-appropriate information.
• Include all children.
• Help children make informed choices.
• Develop knowledge, skills and attitudes.
• Build confidence and self-esteem.
• Develop personal attributes.
• Prepare children for the next stage of education and adulthood.
• Develop positive and inclusive attitudes to everyone, particularly to those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

You are informed of what is taught in PSHE+C and Science (which include RSHE) on your child's Class Curriculum Map and Class Newsletter every half term. Any up-to-date PSHE+C information, will continue to be on the ‘Key Information, Curriculum, PSHE+C’ page of the school website and we can also inform you through WeDuc App; please remember to ask, throughout the academic year, if you have any questions.

PSHE+C Subject Leaders: Miss Greaves (HLTA) and Mrs Kevan (Deputy)

For more information see 'Key Information', 'British Values & SMSC' on our website about the above.

Mental Health and Mental Wellbeing is also part of our curriculum and will teach the children how to:

-make good decisions about their own health and wellbeing

-recognise issues in themselves

-recognise issues in others

-seek support as early as possible when issues arise

In addition to the above, ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ – across the academic year – is an opportunity for the pupils to focus on 5 areas: discover, take notice, connect, give and move. ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ also provides key vocabulary and progression across KS1 and KS2 The Mental Health and Wellbeing scheme cross-references its links with the PSHE+C, RSHE curriculum: please see our ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing policy’ for more information.

We will continue to reflect and evaluate our curriculum, regarding what opportunities or challenges occur for our children, supporting the development of the skills, attitudes, values, behaviour and Personal Development, which enable them to:

- Stay safe in the on and off-line world

- Remain physically healthy and seek appropriate support to do so

- Remain emotionally healthy and seek appropriate support if they are worried about their mental health

- Form and maintain healthy and safe relationships

- Identify and manage risk

- Live and work with others

- Be active citizens

- Understand their own and others’ values, rights and responsibilities

- Consider their aspirations and develop resilience for life challenges ahead

- Live in a democratic society

- Develop personal skills such as effective communication, assertiveness, budgeting and wider life-skills

See Key Information, Policies for the following 5 policies:

Antibullying, Food, No-Smoking, Oral Health and Drug Policy

Pupil Voice

Pupil Voice Spring 2024:

“I love putting sparkly shoes and a pink dress on. I am not allowed outside in sparkly shoes because I could fall.”

“I want to have a job and want to tidy up every day. I like to wash the painting brushes.”

“I am on the black, balance bike with a black helmet. It is fast and charges with electric, it can rev.”

“I like showing my Mum on the iPad what I have learnt.” (Tapestry)

“I love school because everyone can talk about what they feel and think.”

“I loved learning about all the planets! Did you know that the sun is a star and not a planet?”

“Teachers fill in a register but we have to pick our own dinners every day.”

“Safeguarding – visitors and Mums enter our school and even they have to have their photo and sign-in so we know the people who are in our school."

“I like hearing the fire-alarm but it is only Mrs Allan checking we all know how to get outside quickly and safely and then everyone is counted. The teachers talk on the radios to check we are all safe before we go back in.”

“We use iPads, laptops and talk about scenarios about how to be safe online and what to do if we do not feel safe. I know I can ask any questions because I have to stay safe online.”

“PSHE+C makes me confident to know that I can share my own opinion even if others don’t agree.”

“The best part of PSHE+C was creating a video of the importance or relaxing before bedtime.”

Pupil Voice autumn 2023:

‘I love the home corner.’ ‘I play in sparkly shoes.’ ‘I put soap on my hands, look at the tap, the dryer’s hot.’

‘I like coming to school and my Dad can sometimes stay and play.’ ‘That PE kit is mine. PE circuits are fun and keep me strong.’

‘I know my family is different to my friends.’ ‘I want to know things to help everyone I can.’

‘In some lessons, I like to debate because it’s really good to say what we think is right or wrong.’ ‘It’s good for all children to understand what bullying is and to know they can tell any teacher.’

‘I like telling my family about words, like ageism.’ ‘We need to talk about and celebrate our diversity; also, it’s important not to stereotype people.’

Pupil Voice summer 2023:

1 child: “I liked learning about how I can grow potatoes. I ate them!”

1 child: “I liked the races on the field with my class and all the Mums.”

1 child: “I was proud when I was a horse on the stage in the ‘Hats Off’ show! PSHEC helps me to talk.”

1 child: “I like going to Gemma at dinnertime to talk about things.”

1 child: “I tell my Mum that PSHEC is important to me because I understand the world more.”

1 child: “I like the relationships I’ve made with all the staff in Breakfast Club.”

1 child: “By being a good citizen, it can make good friendships and the community stronger. Helping is better than hating.”

Cultural Capital Overview and Personal Development Overview.

Character Education

The foundations of our character education play a vital part of a good all-round education and we have a statutory duty to promote children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and prepare children for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

Character Education can develop a set of personal traits that produce emotions, inform motivation and guide how we behave; this helps our pupils develop positive personal strengths. Character Education allows opportunities for our children to become happy, confident and well-rounded individuals who make meaningful contributions to society.

‘Character education is more than a subject: it’s learning to be a good person and a positive contributor to society,’ says Aidan Thompson, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Jubilee Centre.

Character Education is also entwined through a variety of curriculum subjects and can also delivered through activities such as Collective Worships, circle times, School Councils, ‘Buddy’ schemes, community projects, and after-school clubs.

Our Character Education Overview focuses, across the academic year, on the following areas:

• Sport
• Creativity
• Volunteering
• The world of work
• Performing

Please see attached Character Education overview and British Values.

Cultural Capital

What is Cultural Capital?

Cultural capital is the accumulation of knowledge, behaviours, and skills that a pupil can draw upon and which demonstrates their cultural awareness, knowledge and competence; it is one of the key ingredients a pupil will draw upon to be successful in society, their career and the world of work.

Cultural capital promotes social mobility and gives a pupil power. It helps them achieve goals, become successful, and gives pupils the desire to aspire and achieve social mobility whatever their starting point.

Why do we have a Cultural Capital?

We recognise that for pupils to aspire and be successful academically and in the wider areas of their lives, they need to be given rich and sustained opportunities to develop their cultural capital; the essential knowledge pupils need to be educated citizens through what we can introduce them too.

The school recognises, in our Cultural Capital Overview, that there are different areas which are interrelated and cumulatively contribute to the sum of a pupil’s cultural capital:

• Community engagement
• Whole school community
• The arts
• Residential trips
• Educational visits
• Visitors into school
• Outdoor learning
• Awards and celebrations
• SEND and EAL
• Charity support
• Clubs
• Career opportunities
• PE and sport, competitions
• Leadership

And also in our Personal Development Overview, we have the following areas which are interrelated and contribute to this:

• British values
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Physical
• Emotional
• Spiritual
• Moral
• Social
• Cultural
• Staff, e.g. wellbeing team, work-life balance
• Behaviour
• Support, e.g. SENDCo, FSW, transition
• Safeguarding and Online safety
• Career aspirations
• PSHE+C

Subjects taught within the school day make their own contribution to pupils’ Cultural Capital and Personal Development.

PSHE+C EVENTS 2023-2024.

Red Nose Day is back on Friday 15 March 2024!

Our next event will be Red Nose Day! Sir Lenny said: “The spirit of Red Nose Day is for everyone to get involved and to get the vibe of helping someone else that they don’t know, it’s always been that and what could be better?” We couldn't agree more!

For this event, we will be holding a non-uniform day and the children can bring in a £1 donation to help this worthwhile charity!

Kindness Workshop

In addition to our amazing Mini-Health Champions Day, Greig Trout, a Wellbeing Educator, Director of Kindness at the charity 52 Lives and the Director of Life 101, also spent the morning in school with our KS1 and KS2 pupils for a Kindness Workshop!

The Kindness Workshop was interactive, with the children engaged, regularly sharing their input both in the hall and back in their classrooms. At the end, they were so proud to celebrate their kindness, share what and who they had made something kind for, e.g., ranging from creative and unique cards, games, pop-up surprises and a ‘bag of crisps’ with each crisp being pulled out sharing a kind message!

The children were more considerate of the impact and ripple effect of kindness on others; and of course, the key role they have in their own and others’ wellbeing. Studies have shown that when we are kind, it’s not only good for the object of our kindness; it is also good for our own health and happiness and linked to increased feelings of wellbeing. The children were interested to know that kind people stress less, kindness can relieve pain, is good for the heart, gives us more energy and is contagious! Research shows it reduces stress, improves our emotional wellbeing and even benefits our physical health!

Greig shared examples about kindness in action, inspiring information, why kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate and why teaching kindness is important:

• It helps to improve children's relationships with their friends and classmates
• It equips children with a simple tool to improve their mental and physical health
• It helps children to develop empathy and tolerance
• It improves self-awareness
• It encourages more self-kindness
• It helps to create a kinder classroom, kinder school, kinder community and kinder world
• It empowers children to create the kind of world they want to live in

We were delighted to be involved in an engaging Kindness Workshop, which was a brilliant way to reinforce with pupils about one of the most important things in the world – KINDNESS!

Mrs Kevan

Deputy Head

Mini-Health Champion’s Day.

On the 29^th February, 2024, our Children’s Champions, Gemma and a parent-governor spent the day at The Fed for a Mini-Health Champions Day!

They heard the inspirational key note speaker, Greig Trout, a Wellbeing Educator, Director of Kindness at the charity 52 Lives and the Director of Life 101. The Mini-Health Champions Day was designed to support pupils in championing positive health outcomes for all children in their school settings and ensuring an emphasis on pupil voice.

Our Children’s Champions rotated through a variety of fun and engaging workshop sessions: Kindness, Physical Activity, First Aid, Climate and Environment and Junior Road Safety Officers. The Pupil Voice of the children were excited that each workshop will support their role as Children’s Champions with ideas for more positive strategies in our school setting.

The Gateshead School Health and Wellbeing team and the visitors shared how amazing the children were in the role they do at Brighton Avenue Primary! Greig also enthusiastically contributed his feedback and that he loved that the Children’s Champions wore a blue armband to represent the importance of this role!

Mrs Kevan

Deputy Head.

Children's Mental Health Week 'My voice matters'- 5th to 11th February 2024

Children's Mental Health Week is a mental health awareness week that empowers, equips and gives a voice to all children and young people in the UK. Within school, the children will be taking part in an array of activities to support their individual mental health knowledge.

Children's Mental Health Week was launched in 2015 and each year, hundreds of schools, children, parents and carers take part. Now in its 10th year, our theme is ‘My Voice Matters’.

Check out the video link!

https://youtu.be/G1gvP09JLm0

Friday 26th January 2024 - Bright Red Day.

The Bright Red charity focus their support on the people of the northern region, and help patients who are dealing with a wide range of blood cancers. The more common diseases are leukaemias, lymphomas, and myelomas. We also help support patients suffering from myelodysplasia and myeloproliferative diseases

Today, the whole school took part in 'Wear Something Red' in memory of Alan Sergison - our former Chair of Governor - who sadly passed away in 2019. The children helped to support the charity by donating £1 to pass onto the Bright Red Charity.

The Children's Commissioner - The Big Ambition

During Collective Worships this week, Mrs Allan and Mrs Kevan discussed with the children about Rachel, The Children's Commissioner for England and how her role is to promote the rights, views and interests of children in policies or decisions affecting their lives. The children understood that the Big Ambition Survey has been sent to all their parents/carers in England so children to the age of 18, have the opportunity to make their views known and Rachel will use this survey to take our views to the Government.

The survey has seven areas: Better World, Care, Community, Family, Jobs and skills, Health and School. The children discussed how they can decide on what they agree or disagree with, because we all have our own views and there is no right/wrong answer.

We're looking forward to discussing the results!

Bird Feeder Workshop.

RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch: 8^th January to the 19^th February 2024.

During the first week back in January, the local Recycling Centre Coordinator, Laura, worked with the Eco Warriors and then with the School Council to make bird feeders!

Laura discussed the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) Big Schools’ Birdwatch, running from the 8^th January to the 19^th February 2024. We discussed birds we have spotted in the school grounds, at home or Saltwell Park and Laura showed the variety of birds that we could possibly spot.

Making the bird feeders was brilliant: clear steps to follow and all the children were so proud that they made a bird feeder. Some parts were tricky but the Eco Warriors and School Council showed their resilience and successfully completed each step!

The children, Mrs Kevan and Gemma are looking forward to continuing making these, for example, during Golden Day, Wellbeing Wednesdays and using these bird feeders in our Mindful Garden to encourage a variety of birds in our environment.

Mrs Kevan and Gemma.

Brighton's Got Talent! 20th December 2023

Once again, Ant and Dec hosted a fantastic Brighton's Got Talent show along with our Christmas themed judges - Grinch, Angel, Christmas Tree and Elf!  All of the acts were absolutely outstanding! Well done to you all and well done to this years winner, a boy, from Y1B.

Alive Church Carol Service - Tuesday 19th December 2023

On Tuesday, the staff, children and parents will be attending the Alive Church in Gateshead for our annual Carol Service which starts at 10am. 

Wednesday 6th December 2023 - Mr Parkin and his band! 

Today, the whole school had an amazing time rocking along and joining in with Mr Parkin and his band! Take a look at what we got up to!

Bike4health 20th November 2023

Today, all of the Y6 children took part in a cycling course with Stephen from Bike4health. The purpose of this activity was to help the children to use their bikes correctly when out in the community. Take a look at what they got up to!

BBC Children in Need is back this year on Friday 17th November 2023!

This year, we’re going to celebrate the power of positive relationships, and the impact of these relationships in helping to support children and young people throughout the school year. Many children and young people experience some of their first positive relationships with teachers and mentors at school, so we want to celebrate this as a whole school. This year, for a £1 donation, the children can come into school dressed in non-uniform. All donations made will be sent to the BBC Children in Need charity.

Friendship Week 13th - 17th November 2023

To celebrate Friendship week, the children will be learning how amazing it is to be unique and celebrate people’s diversity. Each class will take part in a collective worship to celebrate.

Remembrance Day 2023.

Every year people come together for Remembrance Sunday. A period of silence is held at 11am to remember the people who have died in wars around the world.

Remembrance Day - which was on Friday - marks the actual day World War One ended, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, in 1918. 

Remembrance Sunday is also marked each year, and usually falls on the second Sunday in November.

The royal family will lay wreaths at the Cenotaph and the UK will have a moment of silence at 11 o'clock this morning as part of the commemorations.

To reflect and remember this day in school (Friday 10th November), the children will take part in a two minute silence and carry out an array of activities in their classrooms. 
 

As well as carrying out a range of activities, Y3W and Y6T were invited to Saltwell Park by the British Legion to erect their remembrance crosses in a designated area. The children listened to stories about the poppy and what the different coloured poppies mean. 

Parliament week 6th-10th November 2023

UK Parliament Week (UKPW) is an annual event, spreading the word about what Parliament is, what it does and how children can get involved. It’s a great way to find out new things about UK Parliament or be reminded of things you might’ve forgotten! Across the school, the children will be taking part in a range of activities to take part in.  In KS2, the children will be visited in the near future by Gillian Bell who is the Senior Education & Engagement Officer (North East of England, Yorkshire & Humberside) UK Parliament, Westminster, London to discuss Parliament, laws, passing of Bills and differences between the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

World Mental Health Day 10th October 2023

World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on October 10th. The theme for 2023, as set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is “Mental health is a universal human right”. The day aims to raise awareness of mental health and promote positive change for everyone’s mental health.

To help celebrate World Mental Health Day, the whole school will take part in activities in their classroom and they have all been learning Simon and Garfunkel's 'Bridge over troubled waters' song. The song is a metaphor for people who are living in troubled times and having the perseverance to find a way through these difficulties with people beside them.

Take a look and listen at how amazing the children are!

Coffee Morning - Macmillan Cancer Support Friday 29th September

On the morning of Friday 29th September, Brighton Avenue are hosting a coffee morning in support of MacMillan Cancer Research. All monies raised will support Macmillan's vital work and provide funding for nurses, their continued support line and give financial support to much needed families. Please look at out leaflet for more information. 

RSHE parents and carers workshop.

Wednesday 20th September 2023.

Following the Weduc parents and carers summer survey and information about RSHE (Relationship, Sex and Health Education) curriculum, this afternoon in the school's Community Room, was an RSHE workshop with Richard Palmer, Director Chameleon PDE Ltd, Brighton Avenue Primary staff and a school governor.

Thank you to those parents and carers who attended, the feedback was positive and it was a great opportunity to answer any questions and talk about any parts of the RSHE curriculum. RSHE is enhanced by a supportive school ethos where everyone is valued, positive relationships are promoted and there is a safe learning environment; we believe that RSHE should be taught with a climate of trust, respect and appropriate confidentiality, in which pupils and adults feel able to talk openly and honesty: today again reflected our parents and carers-school partnership.

After the parents and carers workshop, followed a staff workshop after-school and Richard, from Chameleon PDE, said: "I recently attended Brighton Avenue Primary School to deliver a parents and carers workshop on RSE. I was pleased, with the attending staff, to be able to offer reassurance to those who attended about the age-appropriateness of the school's curriculum. This workshop was followed by a whole-staff session; the team were engaged and their discussion was positive about their PSHE+C curriculum."

We will keep parents and carers informed when the DfE make any changes to the RSHE curriculum.

Mrs Kevan,

Deputy Headteacher.

WOW Living Streets Project 2023-2024!

Living Streets is a UK charity for everyday walking. It was founded in 1929 as the Pedestrians' Association and became known as the Pedestrians' Association for Road Safety. The charity is best known for its Walk to School campaign, which has been going for over 20 years and supports over one million children in 4000 schools to walk more. On average, the charity encourages 23% more primary school children to walk to school and reduces congestion by 30% outside the school gates.

This year, we are pleased to announce the children will take part in the Living Streets challenge which sees them rewarded with badges. This project will be a pupil-led initiative where the children self-report how they get to school. The children will record their weekly travel every Friday using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker. If they travel sustainably (walk/wheel, cycle or scoot) once a week for a month, they get rewarded with a badge. It's that easy!

Today, the children attended an assembly lead by Don Kent from Living Streets to introduce the children to their new whole school project for the coming academic year. Take a look at some of the information the children received and what they will be doing!

International Day of Democracy 15th September 2023

To involve the children in the IDoD, the children are taking part in applying for School Council! The interested applicants have to create a manifesto about what will make them the best person for this very important role. These children will  present their thoughts and opinions to their class peers.  All children will then take part in a voting activity to elect their chosen class representatives!

First Aid Day 7th September 2023.

Every year on the second Saturday of September, International Federations, Societies and Charities come together to mark World First Aid Day. The aim of the day is to raise awareness of how first aid saves lives every day, especially in situations of crisis. A first aid emergency can arise anywhere, at any time, and it’s vital that everyone has the confidence and basic knowledge to assist a casualty.  This year's theme is 'First Aid in the digital world'. Technology is a huge opportunity for teaching the children first aid, allowing us to educate the children up to date methods and for them to gain knowledge faster. For this event, each year group will focus on one of their expected activities from the St John's Digital First Aid lessons.  Take a look at what the children have been learning!

Wellbeing Wednesday!

In 2008, the Government Office for Science published the findings of their Foresight Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project (2008) which ‘considered the factors that influence an individual’s mental development and wellbeing’. The project commissioned work to identify the wellbeing equivalent of “5 fruit & veg a day” in order to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in a more accessible way. From reviewing the evidence, they came up with the following suggestions for individual action to improve wellbeing, known as the ‘Five ways to wellbeing’: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give.

Personal Development – Brighton Avenue’s effective curriculum extends beyond the academic, technical or vocational through a range of experiences to provide a quality education. ‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’ focus across the school aims to promote positive mental health amongst primary age pupils, familiarising them with these five ways to wellbeing by revisiting them each year. Pupils also have the opportunity to develop these skills explicitly in class lessons, also with Gemma and to embed them over time at school throughout the day and also at home. For 2023-2024, Wellbeing Wednesday will focus on:

Autumn 1: Discover - Learning to try something new and how to cope with the emotions that new experiences bring. 

Autumn 2:Take notice - Learning to pay attention to the present, be more aware of what is going on around & within them.

Spring 1: Connect - Learning how to develop existing friendships, understand the importance of others’ thoughts and feelings and build new relationships.

Spring 2: Give - Learning to give and be kind while thinking of others and appreciating the gift of giving.

Summer 1: Move - Learning about the importance of being physically active and different ways of doing so.

Summer 2: Transitions and celebrations - Reflecting on the academic year – experiences, emotions, expectations, Wellbeing Wednesday themes – and on the end of year events: productions, sports, experiences and transition to a new class &/ Key Stage or secondary school.

Following this gives coverage of many of the ‘mental health’ objectives, from the statutory Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education published by the Department for Education; for Early Years, our overview shows which Development Matters statements and Early Learning goals each unit is working towards. Full coverage of the statutory guidance, is achieved by following our PSHE+C curriculum to:

- Develop pupils’ confidence, resilience and knowledge so that they can keep themselves mentally healthy.

- Develop pupils’ understanding of how to keep physically healthy, eat healthily and maintain an active lifestyle, including giving ample opportunities for pupils to be active during the school day and through extra-curricular activities.

- Enable pupils to recognise online and offline risks to their wellbeing and making them aware of the support available to them.

- Develop pupils’ age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships through appropriate relationships and sex education.

- Develops pupil to become responsible, respectful and active citizens who are able to play their part and become actively involved in public life as adults.

PSHE+C EVENTS 2022-2023.

WK 28.06.23

A visit from the Mayor of Gateshead! 

Today, we had the honuor of meeting the new Mayor of Gateshead - Eileen McMaster! We are  so lucky as a school to also have Eileen as our school LEA Governor. 

Eileen addressed the whole school with her Mace-bearer in full traditional robes. 

The Mayoral robe and chains are always associated with the town's first citizen. The Mayoral Robe is made from the finest quality wool and is trimmed with artificial fur. The sleeves are also trimmed with artificial fur and a band of velvet. The colour of a Mayor's robe is optional but most Mayors wear a traditional red robe. The Mayor is also recognised by the traditional chains of office that has been worn since 1851. The chains of office is made out of 18 carat gold and features G-shaped links that bear the coat of arms in the centre.

The Mayor's Mace-bearer spoke in detail about their roles within the community and the importance of the Mace. The children were amazed that the  mace - presented to the Gateshead people in 1902- is a form of authority and is always carried in front of the Mayor at any formal meeting.

The Mayor is quoted as saying: "It is an absolute honour to be elected as Mayor of the Borough where I have lived all of my life. I'm proud to be able to represent Gateshead and I, along with the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Kath McCartney look forward to my year ahead and the opportunity be able to meet as many people as possible during our term in office."

We wish our Mayor lots of luck for the upcoming year and thank you so much for your wonderful visit!

Sun Safety Information!

With the summer season upon us, the following image and PowerPoint are here to help you keep yourself and children safe in the upcoming warm period. 

Mental Health Awareness Week 15th - 21st May 2023

In school this week, there will be a variety of activities as we explore the theme of 'anxiety', what can be a trigger and what we can do to help ourselves and support others; everyone can feel anxious and the children and staff explored the strategies and different people who can help.

Please also look on the website 'Children's Class Pages' for more information and photographs of this week in each class.

Mental Health Awareness Week 15th May 2023

Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from Monday 15 – Sunday 21 May 2023. The official theme for this year, as set by the Mental Health Foundation, is ‘anxiety’. Our ‘Just’ Anxiety?’ campaign aims to help people and organisations to understand the difference between anxiety and anxiety disorders and to confidently seek and signpost each other to the right support.

Follow the link below for further information!

Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 - Mental Health UK (mentalhealth-uk.org)

Within school, every class will be carrying out an array of activities throughout the week.  Watch this space to see what we have been up to!

Recycling Whole School Assembly 24th April 2023.

As part of our Eco Team in school, we invited Laura Farell-Pronesti to talk to the children about recycling.  The children were very engaged and knowledgeable!

RED NOSE DAY IS BACK!!

Red Nose Day is back on Friday 17 March 2023. The theme this year is: Together we have the power to change lives. 

For your voluntary £1 donation, your child/children can come into school in their PE kit, take part in sporting activities around the school as well as take part in an array of activities in their classroom. 

Tuesday 14th March 2023 - Connecting Schools To Nature Project.

Our School Council and Eco Warriors were proud to be selected to host a stall to showcase some of the fantastic green transformation work we are doing here at Brighton Avenue Primary School.  The purpose of the Hancock Museum event is to give out prizes and awards to schools, including framed certificates for participation.  Volunteers and staff from the project, hosted this private event along with one of our school govenors, representatives from environmental organisations, universities, funding bodies, the council, local MP and members from the press at this amazing event.

Katie from the British Ecological Society stated 'It was so lovely to see all of the photos and everything the pupils had been up to; I especially loved the '5 ways to wellbeing' work they had been doing.  So amazing and inspiring to see the pupils and staff!'

Children's Mental Health Week 6th-12th February 2023

As the theme of Children's Mental Health Week 2023 is 'Let's Connect', this is a perfect time to explore with your child(ren) about 'connecting' with others, what loneliness is, how it feels and what we can do if we feel lonely.

During Breakfast Club, Collective Worships, outdoor play, Forest School and in each class, Early Years, KS1, LKS2 and UKS2 will engage in lots of activities and games with the focus on improving children's mental health.

Monday - links with Safer Internet Day.

Tuesday - each class, and staff, will virtually take part in yoga with the Yogabugs. 

Friday 10th - we are having a 'Wear your jumper/cardigan inside out day!' - our feelings 'inside' can come out!

Please see 'Class Pages 2022-2023' to see what your child/ren have been up to.

Safer Internet Day - Monday 6th February 2023

This year's Safer Internet Day is based around the theme: Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online and is co-ordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre in partnership with Childnet,

• Internet safety and harms: that the internet has many benefits, but can be a negative place where online abuse, trolling, bullying and harassment can take place.

• Mental wellbeing: knowing when, where and how to seek support and help.

• The rules for keeping safe online: how to recognise risks, harmful content and contact, and how to report them to stay safe.

• Understand that people sometimes behave differently online (including on social media) and may pretend to be someone they are not.

• That the same principles apply to online relationships as to face-to-face ones.

• How to recognise and display respectful behaviour online and recognise similarities and differences between people's values and attitudes.

• How information and data is shared and used online. The importance of keeping personal information private.

• To critically consider online sources of information.

Number Day - Friday 3rd February 2023

In school, we will be having a fun-filled day of Maths - please see 'Class Pages 2022-2023 for the variety of activities and games in Early Years, KS1, LKS2 and UKS2!

STEAM - 'Maths' - the children will also be looking at the future careers, they can have, linked with numbers!

Children In Need 2022

This year, CIN will be on the Friday 18th November. Please click the link for more information to the BBCs events Dress SPOTacular at school - BBC Children in Need. For Children in Need day, it will be a £1 for non-uniform & the children will receive a drink and a biscuit. The theme is 'spots'.

My Money Week 7th-11th November

My money week creates an awareness-raising campaign on the importance of ensuring that young people, from an early age, are financially aware, and are gradually acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours necessary to make sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve financial well-being and financial resilience.

Within the whole school, the children have been carrying out a wide range of money activities to become financially aware and understand what money is and why we use it. Take a look!

Whole School Wellbeing Day 21st October 2022

To celebrate the end of our first half-term, the whole school took part in a wellbeing day. Every class accessed our tuck shop, PE hall slot as well as fun activities within the classrooms.  All the children who accumulated stars for their 'In It To Win It' had the chance to spend their points on amazing prizes!

World Mental Health Day 10th October 2022

For world mental health week, we have been taking part in a number of activities around the school. As a school we believe that mental health is very important. 

World Mental Health Week aims to spread awareness about mental health and the importance of looking after it! The week is a chance for everybody to talk about mental health and emphasise how important it is to reach out if you’re struggling. The day was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, an organisation that advocates mental health education worldwide!

Take a look at what we have been doing!

This Year’s Theme

This year’s theme for World Mental Health Day 2022 is ‘Make Mental Health and Well-Being for All a Global Priority’. In a time of global instability, particularly after the pandemic, this theme gives us an opportunity to re-kindle out efforts to make the world a better place for everyone!

Road Safety Workshop for LKS2 children.

This year, all the LKS2 children are carrying out a road safety course over the next few weeks! This will help to make the children more road safety aware and learn how to cross a number of different roads within our community safely.

September 2022

Please look at the 'Class Pages' and 'Parents, E-Safety' website pages - on our first week back, the children discussed and shared knowledge again about the 'SMART' rules and e-safety to stay safe.

PSHE+C EVENTS 2021-2022

Y5 Bikeability Training!

Our Y5 children will be taking part in the Bikeability workshop in July where they will learn all the skills they need to maintain their own bikes, correct safety wear, how to safely ride a bike in public, on and off the road.  The children will be carrying out the workshop in July where they will be provided a bike and helmet to learn to ride on!

Wrap Splat Hat!

What a year it has been! With the sun finally peeking around the corner and permission to spend more time outside, it’s really important to make sure young explorers are thinking about sun safety this summer and remember to Wrap Splat Hat!

Global Money Week 21st-27th March 2022

GMW is an annual global awareness-raising campaign on the importance of ensuring that young people, from an early age, are financially aware, and are gradually acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours necessary to make sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve financial well-being and financial resilience.

Within the whole school, the children will be carrying out a wide range of money activities to become financially aware and understand what money is and why we use it.

Red Nose Day - Comic Relief (Friday 18th March 2022)

Red Nose Day is coming! Through our £1 donation from each child, we can help people live free from poverty, violence and discrimination. We have the power to help change lives. This years theme is 'It’s All About You’. The people at home, in schools and on the ground.

All of our children can come into school in non-uniform or wear something red. Throughout the day, we will be carrying out a vast range of activities to help support this amazing charity. 

Check out Ted's story from County Durham - Meet Teddy | Red Nose Day 2022 - YouTube

Children's Mental Health Week February 2022

This week is Children's mental health week. The theme is 'Growing Together'.  Across the whole school, each class has taken part in a vast range of activities to support this amazing event. Take a look at our school gallery!

Children in Need 2021 takes place on Friday, November 19th 2021.  In school, we are celebrating by children donating £1 to wear their Pyjamas all day in school. They will all take part in an array of activities in the classroom and have a biscuit and juice as a snack. 

The TV spectacular will air on BBC One and BBC Two. Joe Wicks raised £2 million last year by doing a 24-hour workout (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) The show’s start time is yet to be announced, but it is expected to start at around 7.30pm – the same time as last year. Click the link for more information on celebrities and events on the BBC.

Together we can change young lives - BBC Children in Need

KS2 Parliament Week Activities.Monday 15th November 2021

Today, our KS2 children were visited by Gillian Bell to discuss our British law system.  Gillian was able to inform the children how an idea can be changed into a Bill then Law.  The children also found out that the Queen is only allowed to attend the House of Lords once a year and she is not permitted to attend the House of Commons at all!

UK Parliament Week (UKPW) is a celebration of people power, take action and make an impact on the issues people care about.  This event runs from the 1st - 7th November.

We have Gillian Bell Senior Education & Engagement Officer (North East of England) visiting us in the 15^th November.  In grouped assemblies, Gillian will discuss “From Bill to Law”.   They will discuss how UK laws are made, why we need them and explains the group activity for KS2. The children will be given the task of working in small groups to design their own new law.

ECO-Team and LKS2 project (1st November 2021)

Once again we have our Eco-Team within school. We get together to discuss and suggest ideas on how to improve our school/local environment. 

Our LKS2 children have taken part in a range of presentations. They discussed their knowledge on recycling different materials such as glass, paper, plastic, food waste and metal.

Road Safety Workshop for Y3 children (1st November 2021)

This year, all the Y3 children are carrying out a six week road safety workshop! This workshop will help to make the children more road safety aware and learn how to cross a number of different roads within our community safely.

Walk to school Week (11th October 2021)

This year, our amazing Y1 children have taken part in the 'Walk to school week'. Each child walked into school and received a daily sticker to go onto their own chart.  At the end, the children were given a badge for taking part.  How amazing are they!

On the 1st October, we are so lucky to have the opportunity to be visited by Grant, Lynne and their team.  They will be coming to discuss their role within the community, anti-bullying and the importance of friendship.  The children will have separate assemblies and will also have the opportunity to view the visitors motorbikes afterwards!

Please take a look at our school's bespoke map and information on school starting times, travel information and park and ride information.

WRAP SPLAT HAT!

The Wrap Splat Hat programme features fun lessons and activities that have been designed and written by education experts that will help teach children to Wrap, Splat, Hat! This stands for WRAP up in a t-shirt (and wrap on some sunglasses), SPLAT on some sun cream (ideally SPF50), and of course wear a HAT!

Follow the link below to receive a family pack, competition details and how to stay safe in the sun.

Welcome to the Wrap Splat Hat! Sun Awareness Programme 2021 (boorooandtiggertoo.com)

Comic Relief 2021

This year for comic relief, we have asked parents to donate directly to the charity or purchase noses and other items directly from Sainsbury's and TK Max.  We still took part as a school in a range of activities and wore odd sock. Take a look at what some of the children got up to!

Children's Mental Health Week (WB 01.02.21) 

For CMHW we have been finding positive ways to deal with things that might be difficult, overcoming physical and mental challenges and looking after yourself.  As a school, we have been focusing on our own mental health to help us support Children's Mental Health Week.  We have taken part in lots of activities where our focus was on ourselves both physically and mentally. We have been carrying out activities within school and via Teams to ensure all children were able to take part. Take a look at what we have been doing!

Nursery! 

We did exercise to improve our mental health! Among others, we did a plank and step ups. Well done to everyone!

Y1J & Y1D

This morning we've had a spa morning- with fizzy pop, a foot spa, a meditation room and a mindfulness room. We've had lots of fun!

Y2B & Y2D

We have taken part in lots of activities where our focus was on ourselves both physically and mentally. We have been carrying out activities within school and via Teams to ensure all children were able to take part.

LKS2

We watched a PowerPoint on all of the different ways in which we can express ourselves. We then discussed what makes us happy and we express ourselves in different ways, such as dancing, singing, drawing, colouring, making things etc.

Y5S & Y5M

Throughout the week, the children in our group suggested activities they would like to do for our wellbeing day, two of them being making a rocky road cake and also enjoying some hot chocolate whilst watching a film of choice!

We all had a fab day 🙂 

Year 6

We looked at how we could express ourselves and our feelings in positive ways. We recognised the things in life that are important to us and make us happy: spending time with family, friends or even some time on our own doing things we enjoy like listening to music. We also spent a bit of time focusing on what makes us uniquely amazing and why these qualities are important, we ended the session with some mindfulness colouring.

Friendship Friday 11.12.20

For Friendship Friday as a school we looked at what makes a good friend.  As a school we all took part in a range of activities catered for each Key Stage.  As a school, we have shown that friends can come from different families types, different abilities, disabilities and different religions.  Take a look!

Children In Need 2020!

For Children in need this year, we all wore odd socks! As a treat, every child received a Pudsey biscuit and juice for their very kind donations. They also took part in an array of activities!

Remembrance Day 11.11.2020

On the 11th November all the children in the school took part in the Nova Project to paint a pebble and place it within the school grounds to show our respect to all the men, women, children and animals who lost their lives during the war.  We all took part in a 2 minute silence to remember them.