Launched in response to the worrying increase in growing threats and pressing public health concerns around issues such as knife crime, childhood obesity and poor mental health, Lessons4Life is a campaign that hopes to reassess, rebalance and reinvest PSHE education as we know it.
Introduced at time when the new Labour government outlines its commitment to delivering the “best life chances for every child”, L4L asks for community help and support to project voices and these important topics into Westminster.
What we’re talking about
- What is Lessons4Life?
- The Three Asks for Lessons4Life
- Reprioritising Personal Development in Primary Schools
- How to Support & Participate
What is Lessons4Life?
Lessons4Life is a newly launched initiative that aims to highlight areas for change in personal development education and help communicate the real-life needs of pupils and the future generation.
While the campaign hopes to expose the difficulties and gaps within life skills’ education, importantly, it also adopts a solutions-focused approach.
What are the Three Asks for L4L?
The Lessons4Life campaign has three asks
- The first is to introduce an assessment to gather children’s personal development knowledge towards the end of primary school.
- The second ask is to find a way to rebalance primary curriculum priorities to make space for teaching personal development effectively.
- The final recommendation is to reinvest attributable cost savings on related societal issues made in the longer term into personal development education.
Lessons4Life stands for a rebalancing of primary curriculum priorities to make space for teaching personal development effectively; and for longer term investment in personal development education, including teacher training and ongoing professional development.
Teach Young
“Waiting until secondary school is too late”, explains Hayley, CEO of 1decision, who is leading the Lessons4Life campaign. “More early education for primary school children, including additional life-focused lessons will significantly help to address these issues.”
Assisting children with personal development is crucial as it nurtures emotional resilience, healthy relationships and essential life skills.
It empowers them to face life’s challenges, make informed choices, and become well-rounded individuals who contribute positively to society, setting the foundation for a fulfilling and successful future.
Reprioritise Personal Development
Personal development needs much greater prioritisation than it currently receives, and there is a strong case that progress and attainment in this area can - and should - be measured.
Focus on Prevention
“This is because we need to focus more on prevention, not cure, to reduce the significant societal issues we are facing in this country. Our children are vulnerable, and we should be doing everything we can to protect them from growing threats in society. PSHE, RSE, British Values, Protected Characteristics and Character Education have all been thrown at schools with too many grey areas around assessment and curriculum coverage”, continues Hayley.
“Our position is that ‘better’ resourced personal development will directly impact on these issues – but that schools need even more support to inform their focus.”
How to Support Lessons4Life
The supporters and leaders of this campaign believe that together we are stronger.
Lessons4Life is for headteachers, SLTs, teachers and all who work in the education sector. It’s organised and driven by those same people; you. And we’ll do our upmost to ensure it’s your voices that are heard by those in power.
We’re looking for solidarity in numbers so we can project your voices and convey the relevant real-life needs and adjustments required to improve the way our schools are funded and ultimately improve the wellbeing of our society.
By reassessing how we’re working, where we’re spending, what we’re teaching and why, we can rebalance and reinvest into brighter futures for the next generation.
Join the Conversation and Use Hashtags:
We’re encouraging the conversation across all social media platforms and PSHE community groups (you’ll find these on LinkedIn and Facebook). Join us and remain in the loop, by using these hashtags:
#L4L #lessons4life #pdq #RRR
We’ll let you know when the petition is open and as soon as we’ve published new campaign assets and material.
In the meantime, thanks for taking the time to find out about Lessons4Life. Your support is greatly appreciated. #L4L
