SPHE Online Resource Portal

Welcome to the SPHE section of our website.

It consists of a range of resources and supports to assist SPHE Departments as they strive to enhance teaching and learning in SPHE both at junior and senior cycle levels.

                          

SPHE and Wellbeing

SPHE provides students with a unique opportunity to develop the skills and competence to learn about themselves and to care for themselves and others and to make informed decisions about their health, personal lives and social development.

Education, when viewed through a holistic lens, acknowledges that education must extend further than the academics. A holistic vision of health acknowledges all of the dimensions of life including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social and environmental and the complex interplay between each of these dimensions.

 

Out of this holistic vision of the person, which is at the heart of our understanding of education and health, emerges a growing recognition that the social, personal and health education offered to our young people is as important as any other area of the curriculum. Just as support for personal and social development contributes to self-fulfilment, it is also a pre-requisite for successful learning.

 

The Wellbeing Framework 2017 states that teachers can play a particularly important role in raising children’s self-esteem, motivation and confidence by the way they organise teaching and learning. In other words, how teaching happens matters! The Wellbeing Guidelines place a strong emphasis on the importance of the SPHE curriculum/ specification in supporting students' understanding about wellbeing and for wellbeing.

 

Through the use of experiential methodologies including group work, SPHE aims to develop students’ positive sense of themselves and their physical, social, emotional and spiritual health and wellbeing. It also aims to build the student’s capacity to develop and maintain healthy relationships. Through studying aspects of SPHE, students have time to focus on developing personal and social skills including self-management, communication, coping and problem-solving.

In School Support in the area of SPHE  Health and Wellbeing Twitter 

 

 

 

 

 

SPHE Essentials  Teaching and Learning in Junior Cycle SPHE
Teaching and Learning in Junior Cycle RSE RSE Fundementals
Experiential Learning Cycle  Policy Review & Development 

 

NCCA Curriculum Online Resources for teaching and learning in SPHE/RSE at both junior and senior cycle.

Junior Cycle SPHE Resources 

Senior Cycle SPHE Resources 

 

 

 

 

Below are a selection of resources. Please click on the images below to navigate to each individual section.

 

Post Primary SPHE Curriculum Resources 

 

Junior Cycle SPHE Handbooks

These handbooks provide comprehensive information and advice on best practice approaches to teaching, learning and assessment in junior cycle SPHE

 

 

 

 

  SPHE Syllabus 2000 2016 Short Course Specification CBA Guidelines 

 

Senior Cycle SPHE Handbooks 

These handbooks provide comprehensive information and advice on best practice approaches to teaching, learning and assessment in senior cycle SPHE

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Cycle

SPHE Curriculum 2011

 

 

 Relevant and up to date Research related to SPHE at Junior and Senior Level

 

 

 

 

My World Survey 2

2019

Talking about Sex and Sexual

Behaviour of Young People

in Ireland

2020

Storm and Stress

An Exploration od Sexual 

Harassment Among Adolescents

2021

BelonG To Youth Service 

School Climate Survey

2019

 

 

 

 

 

Growing Up in Ireland 

The Lives of 17-18 year olds

 

Growing Up in Ireland 

Cohort '08 13 year olds

 

Health Behaviour in

School Aged Children 

HBSC Spotlight on Adolescent 

Health & Wellbeing 

 

Resources to support four strands of the Short Course Specification 

HSE First Year SPHE Lessons

Click on the image below to access the resource.

  1. Understanding Ourselves
  2. Being Healthy 1
  3. Healthy Choices 1
  4. Relationships and Sexuality Education 1
  5. Emotional Wellbeing 1
  6. As Gaeilge versions available here. 

 

Anti Bullying Resources

 

PDST Support Booklet  Anti Bullying Procedures Bullying Teacher Advice ISPCC Shield My School RU Being Bullied

 

 

   

#UpToUs

Cool School's Programme       

 

Internet Safety
Please visit www.webwise.ie to order hard copies of these resouces and to access the range of videos that complement each resource. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updated (2021) Lockers English Version Lockers Irish Version BinCTRL English Version BinCTRL Irish Version Connected English Version

 

 

 

   
Connected Irish Version Parents Guide to A Better Internet  Guidelines for teachers on tackling disinformation and promoting digital literacy    

 

Mental Health Resources

Jigsaw's 'Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools'

Course description 

Promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing in schools is a self-directed course. It is presented in four distinct modules, each module takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. Throughout the modules, there are opportunities for reflection and application of learning.

To access the course click on the image to the right of the page. 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

Physical and Mental Health  Mental Ill Health 

Mental Illness

Treatment Care

 

 

 

Society and Mental Health Attitudes  Mental Health and You   Supplementary Resources

Building Resilience and Wellbeing

Mental Health Resource for Youth Workers and Volunteers

 

 

 

 

 

  #MoreThanASelfie Programme is suitable for 1st, 2nd and 3rd yr SPHE students

Dove Self Esteem Project. Lessons for first years

The Jigsaw toolkit is made up of interactive activities and multimedia videos, for group and individual work, to explore mental health and wellbeing The Jigsaw toolkit is made up of interactive activities and multimedia videos, for group and individual work, to explore mental health and wellbeing (Gaelscoláistí)

     
Resources and classroom lessons on the topic of mental health developed by the Royal College of Surgeons      

 

On My Own Two Feet

 

 

School Handbook Assertive Communication Consequences Decison Making Identity and Self Esteem

 

 

 
Feelings Understanding Influences Workcards

PDST Graphic Organiser with AFL Strategies in Teaching and Learning

*Role cards included on page 69-70*

 

 

Personal Safety

 

 

 
Chid Protection Procedures 2017 Junior Cycle Personal Safety Lesons Senior Cycle Personal Safety Lessons United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the work of the Ombudsman for Children’s Office in protecting and promoting those rights resource  

 

Relationship and Sexuality

Access to the GULGBT Videos are available by clicking on this link here.

 

 

 

 

B4udecide Resourc 

Growing Up LGBT as gaeilge

Growing Up LGBT Busy Bodies

 

 

 

Spunout.ie Website RSE SEN Resource List RSE:Mild Learning Difficulties

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resource for Mums & Dads

Developed by B4udecide

BodyWhys : #morethanaselfie campaign

University of Limerick

Gender Identity and Gender Expression

E-Book 

 

The Sexuality Wheel

Tusla Healthy Sexuality & Relationship Development Resource

 

Substance Use

The videos for the Know the Score resource is availabe on hse.ie. Click here for the link

 

Junior Cycle-On my Own Two Feet- Consequences Resource Ask About Alcohol: A Parent's Guide Crosscare Don't Lose Your Head- support booklet for parents Senior Cycle Substance Use Resource: Know the Score Straight Talk: A guide for parents on teenage drinking

       

NYCI Support Manual

       

 

Websites These are suggested websites to support teaching and learning in the SPHE classroom. Identifying which supports are suitable is at the discretion of the SPHE Teacher

 

Mental Health

 

Substance Use 

Relationships

& Sexuality

www.sphe.ie

www.pdst.ie

www.webwise.ie

www.scoilnet.ie

www.reachout.com

www.spunout.ie

www.letsomeoneknow.ie

www.healthpromotion.ie 

www.jigsaw.com

https://tacklebullying.ie/

www.pietahouse.ie

www.belong2.org

www.sexualwellbeing.ie 

www.healthyschools.org.uk

www.tes.co.uk

https://www.barnardos.ie/resources/young

-people/well-being

https://www.barnardos.ie/resources/heart

-body-and-mind

https://turn2me.org/

http://www.samaritans.org/

https://www2.hse.ie/looking-after-your-mental-

health/

https://www.walkinmyshoes.ie/campaigns/

mindyourselfie/

mindyourselfie-resources

www.mentalhealthireland.ie 

https://headspace.org.au/assets/Uploads

/Resource-library/Family-and-friends/Grief-FAF-web.pdf

https://www.bodywhysbodyimage.ie/

https://www.alustforlife.com

www.spunout.ie

www.askaboutalcohol.ie

www.drugs.ie

www.quit.ie

www.healthpromotion.ie

https://www.clondalkindrugstaskforce.ie/

https://www.aldp.ie/

https://www.citywide.ie/

http://www.fsn.ie/

https://www.barnardos.ie/resources/substance-misuse

https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/

https://nwdrugtaskforce.ie/

http://www.ndublinrdtf.ie/

http://www.tallaghtdtf.ie/

www.hse.ie/knowthescore

https://alcoholireland.ie/

https://nonameclub.ie

https://planetyouth.ie

www.b4udecide.ie

www.scoilnet.ie 

www.webwise.ie

https://www2.hse.ie/services/healthpromotion/

www.sexualwellbeing.ie

www.spunout.ie

https://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/

https://www.childline.ie/sexuality-and-

relationships/

http://www.drcc.ie/

http://www.reachout.com/

http://www.bodywhys.ie/

https://www2.hse.ie/services/unplanned-pregnancy-support-services/my-options-freephone-line.html

https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/

sexhealth/

https://www.pshe-association.org.uk/

https://www.drcc.ie/assets/files/pdf/

15901555072

4472171.pdf

 

 

Physical Health and Nutrition 

 

Internet Safety SEN/ EAL 

https://www.peai.org

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/hl/youth/

https://spunout.ie/health/category/exercise

https://www.safefood.net/home

http://health.gov.ie/

https://www.bda.uk.com/

https://www.incredibleedibles.ie/

http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/

http://www.nourishinteractive.com/

https://irishheart.ie/

http://www.getirelandactive.ie/

http://www.indi.ie/

www.healthpromotion.ie

www.webwise.ie

https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/be

-safe-online/

https://cybersafeireland.org/schools/

resources/

https://www.childline.ie/online-safety/

http://www.betterinternetforkids.eu/

https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people

https://www.childnet.com/teachers-and-

professionals

https://www.internetmatters.org/resources

/social-media-advice-hub/

https://tacklebullying.ie/

https://www.drcc.ie/assets/files/pdf/drcc_

resource_pornography_what

_do_i_need_to_know.pdf

 

http://www.thecommunicationtrust

.org.uk/media/600899/

personal__social__health_and

_economic_education.pdf

 

https://www.pdst.ie/sites/default/files

/SPHE%20Supporting

%20Students%20with%20Mild%20

General%20Learning%20Disabilities.pdf

 

https://ncca.ie/media/2509/sen_

introduction.pdf

 

https://ncca.ie/media/1980/overview

_guidelines.pdf

 

http://www.sphe.ie/downloads/rse/rse-learning_diff.pdf

 

https://jct.ie/l2lp/resources

 

https://ncse.ie/

 

https://life-skills.middletownautism.com/

 

https://reachoutasc.com/resources/

downloadable-resources/

 

 

Resources for Policy Development and Review
Acceptable Use Policy

 

 

 

 

 

 

​​

​​

Webwise AUP Guidelines  Webwise Sample AUP 1 Webwise Sample AUP 2  DES Internet Safety Guidelines DES Internet Safety Template

 

Anti-Bullying Policy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Anti Bullying Procedures 2013 Action Plan on Bullying 2013 Anti- Bullying Policy Template    

 

Child Protection/ Child Safeguarding Statement 

 

 

 

 

 

Child Protection Procedures 2017 Child Protection Circular 81 2017 Mandatory Child Safeguarding Statement Template Mandatory Risk Assessment  Mandatory Template Checklist Review

 

 

       
Children First 2015        
 Additional Child Protection information available here

 

Code of Behaviour 

 

 

 

​​

     
NEWB Guidelines  Circular 33 1991      

 

RSE Policy 

 

 

  RSE Policy Guidelines Circular 43 2018 A Guide to CPSI Inspections  

 

 

 

   
RSE Policy Development Guidelines RSE Policy Sample Template Tips for developing an RSE Policy    

 

Substance Use Policy 

 

 

 

   
Guidelines for developing a Substance Use Policy Sample SU Policy Substance Use Policy Template    

 

Planning Resources 

 

Wellbeing Guidelines available here 
Key Skills for Junior Cycle Framework available here 
Wellbeing Indicators available here 
Statement of Learning; Junior Cycle Framework available here 
Junior Cycle Framework Key Skills available here 
A-Z of Assessment in SPHE available here
Junior Cycle Short Course Planning Booklet available here 
JCT Learning Outcomes Poster available here
Junior Cycle SPHE Short Course Planning Template available here 
SPHE Senior Cycle Curriculum Booklet available here 
Planning a Senior Cycle SPHE Curriculum available here 
Supporting Students with Mild General Learning Disabilities available here 
Guidelines for Teachers of Students with General Learning Disabilities here 

 

NCCA Focus on Learning Booklets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning Intentions and Success Criteria Effective Questioning  Formative Feedback Students reflecting on their Learning Learning Outcomes Ongoing Reporting