Personal, Social & Emotional Development
At Cherry Garden, a core area of our curriculum is PSED (Personal, Social & Emotional Development), which we refer to in our curriculum subject headings as “My Self”.
The children have timetabled PSED sessions, as well as opportunities for developing independence throughout the day. This may be related to dressing, eating & drinking, toileting or other bathroom skills. There is continuous play provision exploring the different strands of PSED available daily within classes, covering areas such as feelings and emotions, relationships, self-care and body awareness. As pupils grow, they take part in focused group work looking at topics such as puberty and privacy.
We use Intensive Interaction as a technique to develop a child’s early social and communication skills. Our staff receive training in this area and are encouraged to seek opportunities for interactions throughout the day. The skills the children learn are key building blocks in the preparation for more formal communication methods.