PATHS Curriculum
PATHS Curriculum
At our school, we are committed to supporting not only children’s academic success, but also their emotional wellbeing and social development. One of the ways we do this is through the PATHS curriculum (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies), which we deliver once a week in a dedicated 45-minute session.
What is the PATHS Curriculum?
PATHS is a structured programme designed to help children develop essential life skills such as emotional awareness, self-control, problem-solving, and positive relationships. Through a series of engaging lessons, stories, discussions, and activities, children learn how to recognise and manage their feelings, understand the perspectives of others, and make thoughtful, responsible choices.
The programme is carefully sequenced and age-appropriate, ensuring that children build on their skills over time. Lessons often include opportunities for role play, reflection, and collaborative learning, helping children to practise what they learn in a safe and supportive environment.
Why Do We Use PATHS?
We believe that children learn best when they feel safe, understood, and confident. The PATHS curriculum supports this by:
- Developing emotional literacy: Children learn to identify and name their feelings, which is the first step in managing them effectively.
- Encouraging self-regulation: Pupils are taught strategies to pause, think, and respond calmly in challenging situations.
- Building positive relationships: PATHS helps children develop empathy, communication skills, and respect for others.
- Supporting problem-solving skills: Children are guided to think through problems, consider consequences, and make positive choices.
- Enhancing readiness to learn: When children can manage emotions and relationships well, they are better able to focus, engage, and succeed in the classroom.
How PATHS Benefits Your Child
By taking part in weekly PATHS sessions, children gain tools that support them both in school and beyond. These skills contribute to improved confidence, resilience, and cooperation, helping children navigate everyday challenges more successfully.
We also encourage children to apply their learning throughout the school day, so the principles of PATHS become part of our wider school culture.
Working Together
We recognise that developing these skills is most effective when school and home work together. You may hear your child talking about strategies or ideas from PATHS, and we encourage you to support these conversations at home.
Through PATHS, we aim to equip every child with the emotional and social skills they need to thrive—both now and in the future.
If you would like to learn more about the PATHS curriculum or how it is taught in your child’s class, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Lane.
PATHS® Childhood Development Programme for Schools | PATHS® UK | PATHS