The Social, Personal, and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum is designed to equip children with essential life skills that promote their overall well-being. Introduced as a core part of the Irish primary curriculum, SPHE focuses on fostering the social, emotional, and physical development of children from junior infants to sixth class. The curriculum encourages students to develop a positive sense of self, build respectful relationships, and make informed decisions regarding their health and well-being.
SPHE is organised around three main strands: Myself, Myself and Others, and Myself and the Wider World. These strands help children explore various aspects of personal development, including self-awareness, communication, and civic responsibility. The curriculum also addresses important issues such as mental health, healthy living, and personal safety, providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the challenges of growing up in a complex and changing world.
Central to the SPHE curriculum is the creation of a safe and supportive learning environment, where children can express themselves freely and reflect on their experiences. By promoting empathy, respect, and responsibility, the SPHE curriculum aims to nurture well-rounded, confident individuals who can contribute positively to their communities and society at large.
The SPHE Curriculum
- fosters children’s well-being, self-confidence and sense of belonging
- develops children’s sense of personal responsibility for their own behaviour and actions
- promotes children’s self-awareness and understanding by helping them to manage their own feelings, to recognise and appreciate individual abilities, and to cope with change of various kinds
- supports children to become active and responsible citizens.