Citizenship

Curriculum Overview

We recognise the role of values in providing our children with an understanding of what it means to be a good citizen. Values are at the heart of our school and guide our actions and decision making. We chose the Jammie Dodger biscuit as a symbol to help the children to remember them. The biscuit represents all our learning but the jam is the heart of the school.

Intent

At Banstead Infant school, we provide children with the knowledge and skills to ensure appropriate development of their emotional literacy and social skills. We create a positive culture around difference and diversity, equipping children with the vocabulary necessary to express themselves emotionally. We want to ensure that children develop a sense of who they are and how they belong within the community and their own families. We encourage children to be aware of their own thoughts and feelings as they happen, supporting them in finding strategies to manage them so they can become more independent in regulating their emotions and build emotional resilience. Effective citizenship at Banstead Infant School is essential to safeguard and equip children to deal with situations they might encounter throughout their lives and acts as a building block to the next step in their school journey.

The National Curriculum for PSHE aims to ensure that all children:

• Develop confidence and responsibility and make the most of their abilities
• Are prepared to play an active role as citizens in the wider world
• Develop a healthy, safer lifestyle
• Develop good relationships and respect the differences between people

Implementation

At Banstead Infant School the citizenship curriculum covers all areas of the subject. We use core themes from the PSHE Association scheme of work which are health and wellbeing, relationships and living in the wider world. We also teach the school values : respect, co-operation, honesty, patience, responsibility and trust. The British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith, run alongside our school values. The whole school uses an agreed language and links are made across subjects where appropriate.

Children learn about their place in the community and the world and they discuss and celebrate how people are different to each other.  They learn the importance of keeping healthy, both physically and mentally. Children learn about friendships and family relationships and think about how they themselves change and develop over time. 

The children learn about how to respect and protect the school environment and the wider world.  How to keep safe is a theme taught across the year groups which includes online safety and an awareness of how to keep safe on the road, in water and around medicines. The children also learn some basic first aid following the curriculum provided by The British Red Cross.

In KS1 the children are taught metacognitive strategies through real life application. This gives the children the skills and resilience they require to tackle everyday problem solving situations. Through these experiences the children have opportunity to practise self regulation techniques.

PSHE is taught through weekly Citizenship lessons and assemblies. Each lesson begins with a circle time where the week’s topic is discussed. This is then followed by learning activities related to the topic which include games, drama, craft and physical activities. Other class citizenship lessons usually involve learning through a story and or a discussion.

We ensure that the citizenship curriculum is relevant to our children by recognising that opportunities are sometimes spontaneous, following the children’s experiences, ideas and learning.

Lessons for each year group are planned using our termly grids to ensure that children develop the necessary skills to deepen their understanding and knowledge in citizenship. The planning grids are reviewed prior to each term by teachers and advanced teaching assistants who lead citizenship lessons and adaptations made where necessary.  Some themes are covered in each year group. This mean some of the learning will be ‘taught’ in one year group and ‘recalled’ in later year groups, ensuring learning takes place as it is moved from the short-term memory to the long term.

Impact

We will be able to see that the children know more and remember more in citizenship, through being able to recall prior learning and apply it. For example, in Early Years, children show sensitivity to others’ needs, which then allows them in KS1 to recognise and manage emotions within a range of relationships. Children will start their next year of learning with the necessary skills and knowledge to build upon. 

We have a whole school inclusive ethos (staff, governors, parents and children which allows for acceptance of diversity and difference. 

Children are equipped to keep themselves safe: physically, emotionally and whilst navigating the online world; knowing where to get help if needed.

Children use correct vocabulary to effectively communicate their feelings to others, recognising how others show their feelings.

Children are able to approach new challenges with greater confidence and resilience.

If you were to walk into a citizenship lesson at Banstead Infant School you would see:

• Collaboration and opportunities for children to develop discussions through their learning.
• Children who are polite, well-mannered and considerate to others, cooperating together as a whole class or in small groups.
• Engaging activities enabling children to deepen their understanding of the world, relationships and health and wellbeing.
• Respectful children who listen to others.
• Excellent learning behaviours and positive attitudes towards themselves, life and learning