Title: Social, Personal and Health Education Whole School Plan
Introductory Statement and Rationale
(a) Introductory Statement
The staff of Garrydoolis N.S. formulated this school plan for SPHE, in consulation with our Board of Management, 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.
(b) Rationale
SPHE has been taught in Garrydoolis N.S. for many years on a whole-school basis 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. We now wish to review practice and the associated policy.
Vision and Aims
(a) Vision:
It is envisaged that the teaching of SPHE at Garrydoolis NS will promote the personal development, health and wellbeing of the child and therefore help him/her to create and maintain supportive relationships and to become an active and responsible citizen in society.
(b) Aims:
The pupils of Garrydoolis 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
1. 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.
Garrydoolis NS 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. Garrydoolis NS have created this timetable to reflect this approach:
| Strand | Strand Units (Year 1) | Strand Units (Year 2) |
| Myself | Self-identity (Sept.–Oct.) | Safety and Protection (Jan-Feb)-Stay Safe |
| Taking care of my body(Jan-Feb) | Making Decisions (March-April) *This strand unit is for third to sixth only. Infants to second complete the Safety Issues section of Safety and Protection |
|
| Growing and Changing (Mar-April) | ||
| Myself and others | Myself and My Family (Nov.-Dec.) | My friends and other people (May-June) |
| Relating to others (Sept-Oct.) | ||
| Myself and the wider world | Developing Citizenship (May-June) | Media Education (Nov-Dec.) |
Stay Safe
October: Topic 1
December: Topic 2
February: Topic 3
April: Topic 4
June: Topic 5
2. Contexts for SPHE:
SPHE will be taught in Garrydoolis NS through a combination of the following contexts:
1. Positive School Climate and Atmosphere
Garrydoolis 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
- fostering respect for diversity
- fostering inclusive and respectful language
- developing appropriate communication
- developing a school approach to assessment
2. Discrete time for SPHE
SPHE is allocated ½ hour per week on each teacher’s timetable in Garrydoolis NS. However teachers may allocate 1 hour per fortnight to allow for more indepth 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, Active Schools Project, Amber Flag Project, Catholic Schools Week, etc. are integrated with the SPHE theme.
3. Approaches and Methodologies:
Garrydoolis NS 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
- co-operative games
- use of pictures
- photographs and visual images
- written activities
- use of media
- information technologies and looking at children’s work
4. 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.
Garrydoolis NS uses the following recommended informal tools for assessment in SPHE:
- Teacher observation
- Teacher-designed tasks and tests
- Portfolios and projects
Each child will keep an SPHE copy 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.
5. Children with Different Needs:
Teachers will endeavour to adapt and modify activities and methodologies in SPHE to encourage participation by children with special needs. The special education teacher will supplement the work of the class teachers where necessary. Garrydoolis NS will liasise with trained professionals/appropriate agencies when dealing with sensitive issues such as bereavement or loss to ensure that the children involved are fully supported.
6. Equality of Participation and Access:
Garrydoolis NS 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 vertical 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. Garrydoolis NS is under Roman Catholic school management, and we endeavour to provide for all pupils and to meet individual needs.
Organisation
7. 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 Useage
Programmes
- Active School Flag
- Health Promoting Schools
- Food Dudes
- Green Flag
- Friendship/ Anti-Bullying Week
- Amber Flag
- Catholic Schools Weeks and Grandparents Day
8. Homework:
SPHE homework, if prescribed in SPHE, will reflect the active learning approach and will reinforce information already taught during class.
8.1 Programmes and Resources:
| Books for Pupil | Books for Teacher | Audio / Visual | Posters | Media & ICT |
| RSE Manuals Walk Tall Stay Safe Bi Follain |
Busy Bodies Food Dudes |
Various posters throughout the school | Busy Bodies |
8.2 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. We invite Mary Dillon to present “In My Own Shoes” to fifth and sixth class pupils each year during the final term (RSE).
9. 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.
10. Staff Development:
Training opportunities will include the following areas and this training will support an effective implementation of the SPHE programme:
- training in Safe
- training in Walk Tall
- training in the Relationships and Sexuality Education programme /R.S.E.
- PDST Advisor support and modelling of lessons
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.
11. Parental Involvement:
Parental involvement is considered an integral part to effectively implementing SPHE as Garrydoolis NS believe that SPHE is a shared responsibilty. This plan and the curriculum documents are available for parents to inform them of the programme for SPHE and they are requested to sign consent, on enrolment, for their child to participate in these lessons.
12. Community Links:
Garrydoolis NS believe that the local community has a very important role to play in supporting the programme in SPHE and endeavour to liasise with the members such as the Dental Hygienist, Public Health Nurse, Fireman, Vet, Local Business People.
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:
Garrydoolis NS believes that the school community must be involved to successfully implement SPHE. Therefore the teaching staff will implement this plan with the support of the Board of Management, Parents and the Local Community.
(b) Timeframe:
Review of this plan has been implemented since 2017.
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 principal is responsible for co-ordinating this review.
Those involved in the review will include:
- Teachers
- Pupils
- Parents
- BoM/DES/Others
(b) Timeframe:
This plan will be reviewed regularly or as the need arises.
Ratification and Communication
The Board of Management of Garrydoolis NS ratified this plan on ________________
Signed _________________________
Date ___________________________
This plan is available to view at the school by the parents on request.