Life skills curriculum

The intent of the Life Skills curriculum is to equip all pupils with the practical skills, confidence and independence they need to manage everyday life safely and successfully. Through a carefully sequenced and progressive approach from Reception to Year 6, pupils develop essential skills for personal care, organisation, healthy and safe lifestyles, financial literacy, online safety and everyday independence. The curriculum is designed to support pupils to become increasingly independent, responsible and well prepared for the next stage of their education and life beyond school.

Life Skills are taught through a planned and integrated approach, ensuring that pupils have regular opportunities to learn, practise and apply skills in a range of contexts.

At the start of the academic year, pupils participate in a dedicated Life Skills unit, which explicitly introduces key expectations, routines and foundational skills appropriate to their age and stage. This provides a strong baseline for independence, safety and self-management and supports a smooth transition into the school year.

The majority of Life Skills are then developed and embedded across the curriculum and school day:

• PSHE lessons explicitly teach areas such as personal hygiene, healthy lifestyles, online safety, financial literacy, wellbeing and safety.

• Design and Technology supports the development of food preparation, cooking skills, tool use and hygiene.

• Other curriculum areas provide meaningful opportunities to practise organisation, responsibility, teamwork and problem-solving.

• Daily routines, such as getting changed for PE, managing belongings, eating at lunchtime and moving safely around school, are used intentionally to reinforce independence.

• Lunchtime and enrichment activities support social skills, responsibility, healthy choices and real-life application of learning.

Further opportunities for teaching and reinforcing Life Skills are built into transition days, where pupils practise skills linked to change, independence and readiness for new routines or environments.

By the time pupils leave the school, they will have developed a broad range of essential life skills that prepare them effectively for secondary education and life beyond primary school.

Pupils will:

• Demonstrate increasing independence in personal care, organisation, daily routines and decision-making.

• Show a clear understanding of how to keep themselves safe, both online and offline, and know how and when to seek help.

• Make informed choices that support a healthy body and mind, including food, hygiene, activity and wellbeing.

• Apply financial awareness skills such as budgeting, saving and responsible spending in real-life contexts.

• Display confidence in managing change, transitions and new situations.

• Take responsibility for their actions and belongings and show respect for themselves and others.