Personal Development

Whitehill Primary School has personal development at the heart of our school learning journey.

We support children to acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. As part of a whole-school approach, personal development education develops the qualities and attributes children need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.

Personal development prepares our pupils to manage many of the most critical opportunities, challenges and responsibilities they will face growing up in such rapidly changing and challenging times. It also helps them to connect and apply the knowledge and understanding they learn in all subjects to practical, real-life situations while helping them to feel safe and secure enough to fulfil their academic potential.

We offer many enriching personal opportunities both within our curriculum and alongside it. We encourage our children to think about the wider world at every opportunity and celebrate their many successes both in school and beyond.

Please click here to view the Quality Matters for Children document by Children’s Rights Alliance England.

Please click here to view a video clip describing young people’s rights under international human rights law (the Convention on the Rights of the Child or CRC for short) in friendly language.

Safety in the Community

At Whitehill Primary & Nursery School, the safety and wellbeing of our children is everyone’s responsibility. We are committed to helping children develop the knowledge, awareness and confidence they need to keep themselves safe, both in school and within the wider community.

Through assemblies, lessons, workshops and visits from external agencies, we provide opportunities for children to learn about different aspects of personal safety. We also encourage parents and carers to reinforce these important messages at home so that children understand how to make safe and responsible choices.

Travelling Safety to School

We encourage families to consider safe and sustainable ways of travelling to and from school, including walking, cycling, scooting, car sharing and using public transport.

Children who cycle or scooter should be taught how to use roads and pavements safely, with appropriate supervision according to their age and ability. We encourage the use of helmets and appropriate safety equipment.

For families travelling by car, we ask parents and carers to park considerately and safely, showing respect for local residents, pedestrians and other road users. Please avoid parking on pavements, blocking driveways or obstructing access for emergency vehicles.

Working together helps to keep the area around our school safe for everyone.

Bikeability – Level 1 and Level 2 Cycle Training

Our Year 6 pupils have the opportunity to take part in Bikeability cycle training. Bikeability equips children with valuable skills to help them become safer and more confident cyclists.

Through practical training, children develop their cycling ability, learn to recognise and respond to potential hazards and understand how to make safer decisions when using their bikes.

The benefits extend beyond cycling. Developing independence, confidence and an understanding of personal safety helps children acquire important life skills.

Find out more about Bikeability:

Cycle Training for Everyone – Bikeability

Scootability Training

We want children to enjoy active travel while understanding how to keep themselves and others safe.

Whitehill supports opportunities for children in Key Stage 1 to access Scootability training. This fully funded course, provided through Kent County Council, helps children develop the practical skills and awareness needed to use scooters safely, particularly around roads and busy pedestrian areas.

Children learn about safe scooter use, awareness of other road users and the importance of being considerate towards pedestrians.

Useful resources:

THINK! – Road Safety Education Resources

Brake – Road Safety and Safer Journeys

Water Safety

Gravesend is situated on the south bank of the River Thames, meaning that open water is an important part of our local environment. The Thames is a tidal river, with strong currents and steep embankments, presenting significant risks to anyone entering or approaching the water.

Many families also enjoy visiting local swimming pools, beaches and coastal areas, particularly during the warmer months. It is therefore essential that children understand how to stay safe in and around water.

We encourage parents and carers to reinforce water safety messages at home, particularly before family visits to rivers, lakes, swimming pools and the coast.

Useful information:

Whitehill Water Safety Information

RoSPA – Water Safety Code

Rail Safety

Whitehill is situated close to Gravesend railway station, and many children live within easy reach of local railway lines and stations. Teaching children about rail safety is therefore an important part of our safeguarding and personal safety education.

We regularly provide rail safety assemblies and talks to help children understand the dangers associated with railway lines, stations and level crossings.

Children are taught that railway tracks and railway property are never places to play or explore. They should always follow safety signs, use designated crossings and listen to instructions from railway staff.

We ask parents and carers to reinforce these messages at home, helping children understand that railway environments can be extremely dangerous.

Useful information:

Network Rail – Safety Education

Community Rail Network – Keeping Children Safe on the Railways

Community Support for Young People

We want every child to feel safe, supported and valued within their community. It is important that children and families know where to turn if they need help or advice.

There are a range of local services and organisations that provide advice, guidance and support around community safety and young people’s wellbeing.

Further information can be found through:

Kent County Council – Community Safety

Safer Parenting and Online Support

Keeping children safe is a shared responsibility between home, school and the wider community. Parents and carers play a vital role in helping children understand potential risks, develop healthy relationships and know who they can turn to if they are worried.

The NSPCC provides helpful advice and guidance for parents on a range of safeguarding topics, including keeping children safe as they grow and develop.

NSPCC – Support for Parents

Safety in the Home

Children’s safety also begins at home. We encourage families to talk regularly with their children about everyday risks and how to prevent accidents.

The following organisations provide practical advice on creating a safer home environment, including guidance on preventing accidents, recognising potential hazards and keeping younger children safe.

Useful information:

NSPCC – Keeping Children Safe in the Home

Child Accident Prevention Trust – Preventing Accidents in the Home

Button Battery Safety Poster

Fire Safety

Understanding fire safety and knowing what to do in an emergency are important life skills.

At Whitehill, we regularly provide opportunities for children to learn about fire prevention and staying safe through assemblies and talks delivered by local fire services.

Our children have also enjoyed educational visits to the Kent Firefighting Museum, where they have been able to learn about the history of firefighting, explore emergency equipment and experience sitting inside a real fire engine.

We encourage families to discuss fire safety at home, including the importance of smoke alarms, safe behaviour around electrical equipment and knowing what to do if a fire occurs.

For further advice and information:

Kent Fire and Rescue Service – Home Fire Safety Visits

Children’s Fire Safety Information

Working Together to Keep Our Community Safe

At Whitehill, we believe that keeping children safe is a partnership between school, families and the wider community. By working together, sharing important safety messages and helping children develop the confidence to make positive choices, we can support them to become safe, responsible and independent members of our community.

Protected Charateristics

Legal Duties

As a school we welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010. The general duties are to:

• eliminate discrimination;
• advance equality of opportunity;
• foster good relations.

To help us deliver our policy and meet our duties, we are:

• promoting equal opportunities for all;
• opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage by reducing inequalities that limit children’s life chances;
• making sure our workforce reflects our community;
• providing inclusive, accessible and excellent provision for all.

Our policy statement applies to all nine protected equality characteristics under the Equality Act 2010:

• age;
• disability;
• gender reassignment;
• marriage and civil partnership;
• pregnancy and maternity;
• race, religion or belief;
• sex and sexual orientation.

LGBTQ+

LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning. The ‘+’ represents other sexual identities.

At Whitehill Primary School & Nursery, we celebrate that children come from a range of diverse families. We know that like many other schools in the UK, some children have a mum and a dad, some children live with just one parent, some children live with their grandparents and some children have two mums or two dads. Many children will have or know relatives, family friends or neighbours who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans. It is important to us that we represent different families in our community as we know that children who see their families reflected in class and around the school will grow up to be confident, respectful and successful citizens.

Aside from our moral duty, it is also our statutory duty to teach children about different families and relationships and therefore all primary schools in England are expected to teach relationships education. In teaching relationships education, we ensure that the needs of all pupils are appropriately met, and that all pupils understand the importance of equality and respect. We ensure that all of our teaching is sensitive and age appropriate in approach and content.

In order to prepare children for the diverse society they live in and to prevent bullying and discrimination, it is important to talk about difference in general and different families in particular. Children learn about and celebrate different family structures primarily through our PSHE scheme of work, our work linked to famous scientists and during our celebration of LGBT+ History Month. In addition, our school library and class book corners are stocked with books that represent different family structures and some of the texts we use within our English lessons feature an LGBT character. All children are encouraged to talk positively about their own and each other’s families and the school does not tolerate any homophobic, biphobic or transphobic language.

Below are some useful links if you would like to find out more, including some recommended books:

Diversity Role Models Website

Pop’n’Olly Website

LGBTQ+ books for kids 

Cultural Capital, Trips and Enrichment

At Whitehill, we believe that keeping children safe is a partnership between school, families and the wider community. By working together, sharing important safety messages and helping children develop the confidence to make positive choices, we can support them to become safe, responsible and independent members of our community.

Experiences across the year groups

Throughout their journey at Whitehill, children take part in a wide range of visits, workshops and enrichment opportunities. These experiences are linked to their learning and provide opportunities to explore history, geography, science, the arts, faith, culture and the wider world.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

• Develop confidence, independence and resilience.
• Experience different cultures, faiths and traditions.
• Develop an appreciation of history, the arts and the natural world.
• Build friendships and learn to work collaboratively.
• Develop curiosity, ask questions and discover new interests.
• Make meaningful connections between classroom learning and real-life experiences.
• Create special memories that they will carry with them beyond Whitehill.