PATHS

Programme for promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies

At Broad Oak,  we incorporate the PATHS programme into our curriculum daily. The PATHS programme , which has been developed by Barnardos is designed to facilitate the development of self-control, emotional awareness and interpersonal problem solving skills in children.

•There are four major factors that are addressed by the programme which focus on self-control, emotional understanding, problem-solving skills and creative self-expression.

•First, we teach children to “Stop and Think”, a response that facilitates the development and use of verbal thought.

•Second, we provide children with enriched experiences which will help mediate understanding of self and others.

•Third, we teach the children to integrate emotional understanding with cognitive skills to analyse and solve problems.

•Fourth, and very critically, we encourage the development of verbal self-control over behaviours.

What are the main aims of PATHS? 

PATHS Improves 

•Self-Esteem

•Self Control

•Emotional Intelligence

•Classroom Behaviour

•Conflict Resolution

•Academic Engagement

PATHS Reduces

•Aggressive Behaviour    

•Emotional Distress

•Conduct Problems

Intent, Implementation, Impact of the PATHS curriculum

Intent

At Broad Oak Community Primary School, we aspire to be kinder people, take responsibility for our own actions and to be empathetic towards others. We respect the world we live in by recognising and being tolerant of those who are different or have different faiths and beliefs, celebrating our differences and treating everyone equally. PATHS intends to encourage children to become confident Social and Emotional Learners (SEL) building on self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, responsible decision making and relationship skills. Our teachings are underpinned by the PATHS Golden Rule – treat others how you want to be treated - which will empower all our children to develop the fundamental social and emotional learning skills that will enable them to make positive choices throughout life.

Implementation

At Broad Oak, PATHS is a key part or our school curriculum, from EYFS through to Year 6. It is a year-by-year programme which develops and builds on previous skills that have been mastered. The programme, which has been developed by Barnardo's, empowers all our children to develop the fundamental social and emotional learning skills, which will enable them to make positive choices throughout life. PATHS is explicitly taught two times per week for a minimum of 20-30 minutes per session.

Impact

Teaching PATHS will give pupils the knowledge, understanding, attitudes, values and skills they need in order to reach their potential as individuals and within the community. It will enhance the social competence and social understanding of our pupils, as well as to facilitate educational processes in the classroom, regardless of subject. As the PATHS activities become a regular part of the school day, less instructional time will need to be used for correcting behaviour, therefore, classroom environment will be improved. Pupils will be able to take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and beyond the curriculum, contributing fully to the life of their school and communities. In doing so, they will develop further skills to enable them to self-regulate their emotions, work well with others, have a more positive attitude to their learning and recognise their own worth. They will become increasingly responsible for their own learning. PATHS will help equip pupils with the vocabulary and skills to recognise their own and each other’s feelings and emotions and as a result, pupil’s will then be able to reflect on their experiences and understand how they are developing personally and socially, tackling many of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. All pupils will grow confident within themselves and recognise that not only are all feelings okay but that often we can feel more than one feeling at once – and that too is okay. By integrating PATHS into the school day and considering the needs of the whole class we will arm our children with lifelong skills that support their current and future mental health and well-being.

Occasionally data is collected for a sample of children to analyse the impact of PATHS accross school. Please see the attached PATHS Privacy Statement and inform us if you wish for your child to opt out of data collection.