Our Life skills curriculum at Cookham Rise Primary School is taught via Kapow PSHE. Here is a summary of the content for parents across each age group.

We want our children to SHINE as informed, caring and healthy members of the community 

Life Skills at Cookham Rise Primary - Intent Statement 

“Life skills as a subject is not only about making good decisions, it’s about being able to act on them. To be effective it must be grounded in an understanding of what enables us to act in real life situations, and this includes knowledge, but also skills and personal qualities.” The PSHE Association 

We fully recognise the link between pupil health, wellbeing and attainment. Our intent is that through our spiral life skills curriculum, all children are empowered to observe and regulate their own thoughts and make conscious decisions about their own learning, behaviour and life choices both now and in the future. 

Life Skills at Cookham Rise Primary - Implementation Statement 

Our Life Skills curriculum is relevant to our both our locality and the wider world, it is exciting and in line with National Guidance. Each year group benefits from formerly taught weekly lessons. Within the subject, children develop their skills and knowledge on matters of health (physical and mental), relationships, diversity, safety, personal goals and challenges. At Cookham Rise Primary, class teachers observe, reflect upon and develop a detailed knowledge of their own cohort. Teachers use their professional judgement to adapt the programme in line with their pupils’ needs. 

Relevant skills and personal attributes are also developed through our wider school ethos, including how the school community treats each other. Our ambitious and sequential curriculum is underpinned by our three school rules - ready, respectful and safe. Life skills are also enhanced through our ‘MindUp’ mindfulness programme which develops metacognition skills. Both the formal lessons and our wider ethos contribute to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of all pupils. 

Life Skills at Cookham Rise Primary - Impact Statement 

Our children receive a progressive curriculum designed for citizens of the 21st century. It develops skills and knowledge which promote resilience and well being both now and for the rest of their lives. Topics such as democracy and community, diversity, facing challenges, fostering good physical and mental health and understanding physical changes enable our children to take responsibility for their own wellbeing. Teachers give verbal feedback and collect data in order to maximise learning. 

Cookham Rise Primary School's Lifeskills in action

Our gifted Emotional Literacy Support Assistant, Alison Deeley, creates a wonderfully positive and warm environment to support pupils.