The BIG 5 programme is underpinned by 5 BIG PSHE themes - Onboard Safeguarding, Respectful Relationships, Equality, Health & Wellbeing and Global Goals that enable learners (and staff!) to practise and embed the BIG 5 SEL skills of self-awareness, self-regulation, building relationships, responsible decision-making and social awareness through a BIG story, values inquiry or dialogue, meditation, song and journal reflection.
5 BIG Values, 5 BIG SEL Skills
PEACE - Being - Self-Regulation skills
TRUTH - Doing - Self-Awareness skills
LOVE - Caring - Building Relationship skills
RESPONSIBILITY - Responsible decision-making skills
COMMUNITY - Social awareness skills
There are 120 values-themed session kits across KS1 (60 for ages 5-7) and KS2 (60 for ages 7-11).
TB5 is delivered as a weekly themed session involving a 20-minute key-stage Assembly followed by a 45-minute lesson back in class.
Building Human Connection
TB5 sessions develop life skills needed to thrive in this BIG World.
They involve: Silent Sitting meditation, BIG question, BIG Story, Values Inquiry dialogue, BIG Song and BIG Journal Reflection.
They link to your school values and key global events such as Anti-bullying Week, Mental Health Week or Recycling Week.
Onboard Safeguarding For All
TB5 is a holistic, preventative PSHE programme for the whole-school that removes the need for stressful, reactive, firefighting on key human issues such as Sex Education, LGBTQ+ inclusion, gender equality, faith or social media.
Weekly sessions on everyday consent, healthy relationships and responsible decision-making will support the school community to make healthy choices daily (even when alone or online) and ask for support when needed.
Silent Sitting Meditation
All TB5 sessions start with a Silent Sitting.
The BIG 5 Values In Action
Communicating in a safe and inclusive way using our BIG 5 Values in Action poster.
The BIG Story
Real life stories to practise building empathy and experience. See the stories here.
Values Inquiry
Relevant scenarios to practise responsible decision-making every day.
My BIG Feelings Compass
BIG Feelings wheel helps pupils consider a range of complex feelings that could be felt in different situations.
My BIG Journal
Pupils build a BIG Journal of reflections they collate over their Primary years.
The BIG Song
5 BIG Values Songs to link to the key themes, performed by The BIG Thinkers Band.
Children, practitioners and leadership that we've worked with say a resounding yes!
We've also partnered with the Education Endowment Foundation to build on this feedback towards an evidence base.
“I love the way The Big Think combines oracy development and social and emotional learning – both incredibly powerful ways of increasing children’s attainment and life chances.”
Jean Gross, education expert in SEL and Early Language development. Creator of SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning)
