Life Skills covers a range of topics that help support pupils to acquire and develop necessary and practical life skills such as: greater independence, health and safety awareness and to help equip them in society.

The Department of Education states that pupils should learn about:

• Developing a healthy lifestyle
• What is a healthy diet? (including calories and nutrition)
• How to plan and prepare a range of healthy meals 
• Health impact of a poor diet and risks associated with unhealthy eating
• How to maintain healthy eating and the links between diet and health including tooth decay and cancer    
• Personal hygiene and handwashing (germs, bacteria, viruses, how they are spread and prevention)
• Basic first aid and how to call emergency services giving information

Department of Education (2019 p34, 37) Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education Statutory guidance for governing bodies, proprietors, head teachers, principals, senior leadership teams, teachers Crown Copyright 2019

Teaching the benefits of a healthy lifestyle became compulsory in September 2020 following the proposals from the publication of the government’s Childhood Obesity Plan: A Plan for Action 2017.

Life Skills lessons at Meadowside helps to support the delivery of these teaching requirements.

Life Skills Curriculum                                                                           

The Life Skills curriculum aim is to help pupils to build and develop skills to prepare them for life both during their time at Meadowside and for their future. 

This focus aims:

• To help equip pupils to make healthier choices
• To help pupils be aware of safety issues and prevention
• To help pupils develop self-confidence, self-esteem and greater independence and responsibility
• To help pupils appreciate, accept and respect the differences between people
• To help pupils make the most of their abilities
• To help equip pupils with skills to live within society

In addition, Life Skills aims to:

• To provide a broad and well-balanced curriculum
• To support and link to other subjects in Meadowside School’s curriculum in particular: PSHE, Maths, English, Science and Careers

Pupils are encouraged to participate in activities and develop a wide variety of skills to support them to develop their own greater independence. 

Life Skills and S.M.S.C (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural)

Life Skills support S.M.S.C. and British values. It encourages respect towards one another through teamwork and appreciation of their own and other cultures. Lessons encourage independence, team and leadership skills. Life Skills helps to develop personal development and to support pupils with skills to assist college courses, voluntary or paid employment associated with the hospitality industry and to help equip them for society (Cultural Capital).

For further information see attachments below: Life Skills Roadmap and Long Term Planning (KS3, KS4 and Post 16). 

If parents/carers have any questions about the Life Skills lessons that are taught at Meadowside or you have an area that you would like your child to work on or to develop I will be happy to discuss with you.

Please contact the school to arrange an appointment

Mrs Jones