Take a look at this week’s assembly and classroom resources here We all need help sometimes. Whether it comes from family, friends, professionals or our wider community, there are moments when we cannot solve a problem alone. But when someone else needs support, where does our own responsibility begin and end? This week’s Picture News story explores a new pledge to offer everyone sleeping rough in England a safe place to stay by Christmas, alongside practical support for those who need it. It provides an age-appropriate starting point for a much wider question: do we all have a part to play in helping those in need? Exploring homelessness through a primary school assembly discussion Homelessness is something children may see in their own communities, hear about in the news or, for some, experience within their own lives. This week’s assembly provides an age-appropriate way to build understanding of a complex issue, focusing on the people behind the story and the different types of support they may need. The discussion then widens beyond rough sleeping, encouraging children to think about times when people need the help of others and what that help might look like. By connecting the news story to the wider idea of giving and receiving support, children can consider the roles that individuals, communities, charities, professionals and governments can play. Assembly resource supporting age-appropriate discussion about rough sleeping, helping others and the different forms support can take. PSHE, British Values and Protected Characteristics classroom discussion in primary schools Helping someone does not always mean solving their problem yourself. Children are encouraged to consider different ways people can offer support, as well as why asking for help and telling a safe adult when we are worried about someone can matter. The wider resources extend this thinking through British Values, Protected Characteristics and the UN Rights of the Child. Children can explore the roles of government and communities, consider why people experiencing homelessness should be treated with dignity and without discrimination, and reflect on every child’s right to a safe and secure home. Together, these activities help children consider responsibility, fairness and respect while forming and sharing their own views. British Values, Protected Characteristics and UN Rights of the Child resources extend discussion around homelessness, support, rights and responsibility. Questions to support classroom discussion · What kinds of support might be helpful to someone who is sleeping rough? · When might someone need help from other people? · Why can asking for help sometimes be difficult? · Why is it important to know when we should ask a safe adult for help? · Should governments and leaders take action to help people in need? Why? · Do you think everyone has a responsibility to help others? Using current events in primary school assemblies and lessons We will all experience times when we need the support of others, but who provides that support and what it looks like will depend on the situation. Do we all have a part to play in helping those in need? Using a current story about rough sleeping as a starting point, this week’s resources encourage children to consider where help can come from, the different responsibilities people may have and why both offering and asking for support can matter. The reflection page supports the final part of the assembly, helping to draw together learning Explore this resource further here!
