Health and wellbeing
Capacities
Developing successful learners
Through this area of the curriculum children and young people develop an understanding of the physical, social and emotional factors that influence their health and wellbeing. As well as acquiring a wider range of physical skills and abilities, they learn the social and emotional skills which can help them to embrace change and challenge with optimism, develop emotional resilience in dealing with competitive and challenging situations, and express themselves creatively individually and in groups. It enables them to develop their interests and preferences and to set and review personal goals for achievement in their lifestyle, learning and development.
Developing confident individuals
If children and young people are healthy and emotionally secure they will be more able to develop the capacity to live a full life. With a sense of wellbeing they will be better able to deal with the unexpected and cope with adversity. This sense of wellbeing encompasses many aspects including resilience, fitness, confidence, a sense of mastery and control, optimism and hope, and the ability to sustain satisfying personal relationships.
The health and wellbeing curriculum area should provide opportunities for children and young people to develop these attributes. It should equip them with skills, such as practical food preparation, which will enable them to live as independently as they can. It should also enable them to recognise and deal with the many different pressures in life, and identify when they need support. They should learn to find appropriate sources of information and help to make informed choices and live a healthy, fulfilled life.
Developing responsible citizens
Children and young people need to learn to respect and value other people and to develop an understanding of their beliefs and feelings. This will help them to develop positive relationships, promote equality and fairness and counter discrimination. Developing children and young people’s awareness of healthy diet, activity, positive relationships and risks to health lays important foundations for their future life, including parenting. From an early age, children can develop an understanding of how their actions and decisions are affected by and affect others, recognising how important it is to behave in ways that can have a positive effect on other people and the environment.
Developing effective contributors
Through their learning in health and wellbeing, children and young people can have opportunities to engage positively in experiences that are fun, enjoyable, exciting and challenging in a variety of settings including the outdoors. They can make positive contributions to the wider life and health of the school and community through involvement in activities such as running a healthy tuck shop, helping younger children through buddying, or organising dance classes for relatives and friends. Very importantly, young people should be equipped to explore different options for life beyond school and be supported so that they can make successful transitions into work, education or training.