Our PSHE and RSE Curriculum

Through our PSHE programme, we aim to provide children with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives and to become informed, active and responsible citizens. In providing children with an understanding of healthy and respectful relationships and appropriate boundaries, we consider effective RSE to be a fundamental part of our approach to supporting pupils to grow into confident, caring, responsible and respectful young citizens. At Ash Primary School, RSE is taught within the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education curriculum. In addition, some aspects of the RSE programme will be covered through:

 Science curriculum

 Computing

 Circle times

 Assemblies

 Stories

 PE in the context of health and hygiene

RSE is lifelong learning about personal, physical, moral and emotional development. It should teach children and young people to develop and form positive values, attitudes, personal and social skills, and increase their knowledge and understanding of how to make informed decisions and life choices. We aim to:

 Provide a consistent standard of relations, sex and health education across the school

 Help pupils develop feelings of self-respect, confidence and empathy

 Promote responsible behaviour

 Create a positive culture of communication around issues of relationships

 Teach pupils the correct vocabulary to describe themselves and their bodies

 Provide a framework in which sensitive discussions can take place

 Prepare pupils for puberty, and give them an understanding of sexual development and the importance of health and hygiene

 Give pupils an understanding of reproduction and sexual development

 Ensure that all pupils, by the time they reach secondary school age, are well equipped to access the secondary RSHE curriculum.

 To provide all pupils with knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will enable them to make positive and healthy choices concerning relationships as they grow up and deal with risk.

 Combat exploitation.

These aims complement those of the Science curriculum in KS1 and KS2.

Intent

Our PSHE and Citizenship scheme of work aims to equip children with essential skills for life; it intends to develop the whole child through carefully planned and resourced lessons that develop the knowledge, skills and attributes children need to protect and enhance their wellbeing. Through these lessons, children will learn how to stay safe and healthy, build and maintain successful relationships and become active citizens, responsibly participating in society around them. Successful PSHE curriculum coverage is a vital tool in preparing children for life in society now and in the future. Lessons in this scheme of work have their foundations in seeing each and everybody’s value in society, from appreciation of others in units such as Diverse Britain, to promoting strong and positive views of self in Think Positive and Be Yourself. Our PSHE and Citizenship units aim to cover a wide range of the social and emotional aspects of learning, enabling children to develop their identity and self-esteem as active, confident members of their community. The themes and topics support social, moral, spiritual and cultural development and provide children with protective teaching on essential safeguarding issues, developing their knowledge of when and how they can ask for help.

Our PSHE and Citizenship resources are fully in line with the Learning Outcomes and Core Themes provided by the PSHE Association Programme of Study which is widely used by schools in England and is recommended and referred to by the DfE in all key documentation relating to PSHE provision in schools. This scheme of work covers all of the required objectives and follows the three core areas of Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. The scheme of work fulfils the requirements of 2020 Statutory Relationships and Health Education, setting these learning intentions in the context of a broad and balanced PSHE curriculum.

Implementation

Our teaching in PSHE builds over time and is revisited. This enables children to recall and build upon previous learning, exploring the underlying principles of PSHE education regularly at a depth that is appropriate for the age and stage of the child. Lessons also signpost key words, building a rich vocabulary to develop understanding. In our lessons, we use role play, discussion and games with groups of various sizes. These activities enable children to build confidence and resilience.  Assessment for learning opportunities are built into each lesson and enhanced by the Learning Journey Records included in each unit, which enable self-evaluation and reflective learning and allow teachers to evaluate and assess progress. Each lesson begins with a discussion of children’s existing knowledge and experience, providing an opportunity for baseline assessment. 

Children are enabled to develop the vocabulary and confidence needed to clearly articulate their thoughts and feelings in a climate of openness, trust and respect, and know when and how they can seek the support of others. They will apply their understanding of society to their everyday interactions, from the classroom to the wider community of which they are a part. Our work supports the active development of a school culture that prioritises physical and mental health and wellbeing, providing children with skills to evaluate and understand their own wellbeing needs, practise self-care and contribute positively to the wellbeing of those around them. Successful PSHE education can have a positive impact on the whole child, including their academic development and progress, by mitigating any social and emotional barriers to learning and building confidence and self-esteem. Evidence suggests that successful PSHE education also helps disadvantaged and vulnerable children achieve to a greater extent by raising aspirations and empowering them with skills to overcome barriers they face. Our PSHE and Citizenship scheme of work is part of our whole-school approach to positively impact wellbeing, safeguarding and SMSC outcomes. This can ensure that all children are able to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to succeed at school and in the wider world.

Early Years Foundation Stage

In the Early Years, PSHE and relationships education are embedded in all our provision. We use a variety of materials to develop children's skills and abilities, so that they can achieve the early learning goals in this area by the end of the reception year. We teach these skills in all our daily routines, as well as during discrete PSHE sessions in our weekly timetable. We support independence and choices at every opportunity and expose pupils to a wide range of texts and information on families, communities and ideas. 

Children are confident to try new activities, and say why they like some activities more than others. (Self-confidence and self-awareness)

Children are confident to speak in a familiar group, will talk about their ideas, and will choose the resources they need for their chosen activities. (Self-confidence and self-awareness

Children say when they do or don’t need help. (Self-confidence and self-awareness

Children talk about how they and others show feelings, talk about their own and others’ behaviour, and its consequences, and know that some behaviour is unacceptable. (Managing feelings and behaviour)

Children work as part of a group or class, and understand and follow the rules. (Managing feelings and behaviour)

Children adjust their behaviour to different situations, and take changes of routine in their stride. (Managing feelings and behaviour)

Children play co-operatively, taking turns with others. (Making relationships)

Children take account of one another’s ideas about how to organise their activity. (Making relationships)

Children show sensitivity to others’ needs and feelings, and form positive relationships with adults and other children. (Making relationships)