Personal Development

Personal Development and Wellbeing at Upwell Academy

We aim to nurture confident, resilient, and responsible individuals who are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values to thrive in modern society. Our curriculum is designed to promote character development, emotional wellbeing, and cultural awareness, ensuring that every child understands the importance of respect, empathy, and positive relationships.

Implementation

We embed personal development across all aspects of school life. This includes a carefully planned PSHE curriculum, enrichment opportunities, and assemblies that reinforce our core values. Staff receive ongoing training in areas such as mental health, safeguarding, and inclusive practice to ensure consistency and expertise. We work closely with families and external agencies to provide targeted support where needed, and we create a culture where pupil voice is valued and celebrated. Our distinctive approach integrates wellbeing strategies into daily routines, fostering a safe and supportive environment for all.

Impact

As a result, pupils demonstrate strong social and emotional skills, resilience, and a clear understanding of British values. They are well-prepared for the next stage of education and life beyond school, showing confidence in decision-making and respect for diversity. Our commitment to personal development ensures that every child leaves Upwell Academy not only academically successful but also equipped to lead fulfilling, healthy lives using the skills outlined below:

EYFS

Hold a pencil correctly, with a pincer grip
Write their first and surname
Know their middle name if they have one
(Most children) copy the date independently, correctly
Know the road and village they live in (verbal)
Independently dress and undress (ideally on entry, but definitely by the end)
Know their mum and dad’s names
Eat appropriately with cutlery (knife, fork and spoon)
Have an opportunity to speak to an audience (in class or assembly)
Know some of their personal details (birthday, shoe size etc.)
Use the toilet independently
Skip without a skipping rope
Reliably, take a simple, verbal message to someone
Ask and answer appropriate questions, confidently
Draw line using a ruler
Sit attentively for 15 minutes on the carpet
Know that there are: 7 days in a week, 12 months in a year, 52 weeks in a year
Know and remember their house team
Begin to be responsible for their possessions
Talk about their play
Name the 7 continents in the world

Year 1

Copy the date (and other info) from the board accurately and most should be able to write the date independently
Verbally, know their complete address (inc. postcode and telephone number)
Most children should be able to write their address
Know they live in Norfolk/Cambridgeshire
Know we are part of England, which is part of the UK
Know how to/be able to tie shoelaces
Know and order: 7 days in a week, 12 months in a year, 52 weeks in a year
Know primary and secondary colours
Know how to dial 999/112 in an emergency, and reinforce this through other years
Speak to an audience
Reliably, take a verbal message to someone
Have knowledge of personal information, i.e. hair colour, eye colour, shoe size, birthday, etc
Throw and catch a bean bag (confidently)
Begin to find out about telling o’clock times
Be responsible for their own possessions (including kit for clubs etc.)
Know the coins and notes used in the UK
Tell the time with o’clock and half past
Understand where Upwell lies on a map of Norfolk
Know all countries of the UK and their capital city
Identify the UK on a world map and know it is part of Europe
Know the number of days in each month (know the rhyme/system on hands)
Know colour mixing theories: primary, secondary and neutral
Be part of a club
Know about the 7 continents in the world
Know the coins and notes used in the UK
Have an awareness of local and national politics – ie who our local MP/Prime Minister is
Know some of the key members of the Royal Family (names) and that Buckingham Palace is a key home for them.

Year 2

Write the date independently
Write their name and address in full
Most children should know their telephone number (90%)
Run 600m (1 lap of the field)
Have up-to-date knowledge of personal information (names, shoe size, eye/hair colour)
Confidently (with an audible voice) speak out to the class in response to questions or showing items of interest/response to a story.
Give a mini-presentation on an appropriate topic (in class/assembly)
Throw and catch a large ball, confidently
Skip with a rope
Know that we are part of the Eastern-Multi Academy Trust
Actively promote British Values across the school

Year 3

Pinpoint home on a map of the UK (village or town)
Revise time facts: 60 seconds in a min, 60 mins in an hour, 24 hours a day and o’clock, half past ad quarter to/past time.
Be able to resolve conflict peacefully (consistently)
Name some of the main instruments in an orchestra
Keep an awareness of personal information (ie height and weight etc.)
Confidently talk on a prepared subject for 2 minutes, with and without a partner/group.
Be able to throw, catch and kick a large ball
Be able to throw and catch a small ball, confidently
Name the top 5 rivers in Britain, top 3 in the world
Name 10 countries in Europe

Year 4

Name the bordering counties to Norfolk and locate them
Name 10 major cities in Britain
Name 15 capital cities in the world
Say and write their full postal address
Confidently talk on a prepared subject for 5 minutes, with and without a partner/group
Give a confident presentation as part of a group, having researched and put together notes
Be able to throw and catch a small/large ball, confidently, in a variety of situations
Be able to tell the time with digital and analogue clocks, using 5-minute intervals
Be able to run 2 laps of field

Year 5

Know the top 5 mountain ranges in the world
Name the top 10 rivers in the UK and top 5 in Europe
Keep an awareness and up to date knowledge of personal information, i.e. shoes size etc
Have an awareness of local and wider politics – i.e. in addition to Y4 skills, know the president of the USA, what the European Union is, United Nations, the Red Cross etc
Know some of the world’s currency and which countries in Europe use the Euro.
Be responsible for their own possessions, homework, kit for clubs etc. consistently
Know what a C.V. is and begin to think about their own in a school context
Achieve cycling proficiency
Be responsible in school and take advice – demonstrate this in their work
Name 10 landmarks in the UK
Be a monitor in school, show responsibility for the role
Have the opportunity to be a play leader
Play a tuned instrument

Year 6

Have the opportunity to be part of the Pupil Leadership Team
Demonstrate mature behaviour and control at all times (self-management)
Have the opportunity to be a house captain
Be able to support a younger member of school, appropriately
Know more of the local geography and how places link (where the High Schools are, other nearby schools, where King’s Lynn, Wisbech and Downham Market are)
Know their home on What Three Words
Have an understanding of the University system, naming 2 top Universities