The review highlights key areas of importance for teachers of personal, social and health education (PSHE) to consider, as parents often do not feel equipped to help their children. This is compounded by a risk-averse culture where parents are inclined to keep their children indoors. The report says: "While children are confident with technology, they are still developing critical evaluation skills and need our help to make wise decisions."
The PSHE: Personal Wellbeing curriculum can have a major impact on children and young people's understanding of the key concept of risk. It is an important part of everyday life, as having the confidence to take risks is essential to enjoying and learning in life. However, the ability to recognise, assess and manage risk is essential to safety.
We need pupils to consider the risks associated with the internet and video games, which has implications for the essential skills and processes in personal wellbeing. The key process of decision making and managing risk will give children, and their parents and carers, the confidence they need in our complex digital world. It will also contribute to the requirement placed upon schools to promote the wellbeing of all pupils, and help them stay safe.
As Dr Byron maintains, "at a public swimming pool we have gates, signs, lifeguards and shallow ends, but we also need to teach the children to swim". PSHE is central to this teaching, and to children and young people's learning as a whole.
For the full response and more about the PSHE Association visit www.psheassociation.org.uk.
