Wellbeing in Irish Primary Schools — NCCA Curriculum Guide
A practical guide to the Wellbeing curriculum area in the NCCA Primary Framework — what it covers (PE + SPHE), key principles, Active School Flag, and how wellbeing integrates across all curriculum areas.
Preview
Page count: 2. Print-ready PDF — letter / A4 friendly. Click image to see all pages.
Wellbeing in the NCCA curriculum
- 1 Wellbeing curriculum area One of the six curriculum areas in the new NCCA Primary Framework. Encompasses both Physical Education (PE) and Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE). Broader than either subject alone.
- 2 The four domains of wellbeing 1. Physical health and fitness; 2. Mental health; 3. Spiritual, moral, and emotional development; 4. Social wellbeing. The curriculum addresses all four.
- 3 Active School Flag (Vleatach Scoile) An award scheme run by the Department of Education encouraging schools to become more physically active. Involves a school-wide audit, an action plan, and embedding physical activity beyond PE lessons.
- 4 SPHE in the NCCA framework Social, Personal and Health Education — covers relationships, mental health, substance use awareness, and online safety. Taught through the class teacher. Often uses Wellbeing for Life programme.
- 5 Physical activity guidelines Irish primary children should have 60 minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity daily. Schools are recommended to include at least 30 minutes within the school day.
- 6 Cross-curricular wellbeing The NCCA framework expects wellbeing to be threaded through the whole curriculum — not just delivered in PE and SPHE periods. Active learning strategies, relationships in the classroom, and positive school climate all contribute.
Learning objective
Describe the four domains of wellbeing in the NCCA framework; plan physical activity and SPHE within the Irish primary timetable; and understand the Active School Flag process.
About this resource
Wellbeing and SPHE resources
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For Irish primary schools
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W Wellbeing for Life SPHE programme Veritas
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A Active School Flag toolkit (free at activeschoolflag.ie)
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