PSHE Education Curriculum Statement

Intent

At Healey Junior, Infant and Nursery School, Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education is central to our curriculum and plays a vital role in preparing learners for life in modern Britain and the wider world. Our aim is to ensure that all learners develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and attributes they need to lead happy, healthy, safe and successful lives.

Our PSHE curriculum is designed to support learners in making informed decisions, managing risk, building positive relationships and developing resilience and self-awareness. It underpins personal development and supports learners in becoming confident, respectful and responsible citizens.

In line with statutory requirements (Children and Social Work Act 2017), we provide high-quality Relationships Education and Health Education, alongside teaching in economic wellbeing and careers education. Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is taught in an age-appropriate and developmentally suitable way. Parents and carers retain the right to withdraw their child from aspects of Sex Education in line with statutory guidance, and procedures are outlined in our RSE policy.

We follow the PSHE Association Programme of Study, ensuring coverage of the three core themes:

• Relationships
• Health and Wellbeing
• Living in the Wider World

We also use Pol-Ed resources to support the teaching of safeguarding, safety and citizenship.

We aim for all learners to:

• Develop the knowledge and understanding to keep themselves safe, healthy and well.
• Build positive, respectful and healthy relationships.
• Understand how to manage emotions and develop emotional literacy.
• Develop resilience, self-esteem and self-worth.
• Understand how to stay safe online and offline.
• Make informed choices about health, wellbeing and lifestyle.
• Develop an understanding of rights, responsibilities and British Values.
• Recognise and respect diversity within modern society.
• Develop the skills needed for transition into further education and adult life.
• Know how and when to seek help and where to access support.

Our curriculum is inclusive, carefully sequenced and designed to ensure that all learners can access learning and make progress. Through high expectations and consistent teaching, learners will know more, remember more and be able to apply their learning in real-life situations.

Implementation

PSHE Education is delivered through a carefully planned, progressive and whole-school approach. Learning is structured using the PSHE Association framework and supported by Pol-Ed resources to ensure consistency, accuracy and coverage of key knowledge and skills.

The curriculum is organised into key themes, which are revisited and built upon each year to deepen understanding and support long-term learning:

• Families and friendships
• Safe relationships
• Respecting ourselves and others
• Belonging to a community
• Media literacy and digital resilience
• Money and work
• Physical health and mental wellbeing
• Growing and changing
• Keeping safe

Learning is delivered through weekly timetabled lessons, ensuring regular opportunities for discussion, reflection and skill development. Teaching is carefully sequenced so that knowledge builds progressively from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to Year 6.

The curriculum is designed to be age-appropriate, inclusive and sensitive to the needs of all learners. Teachers create a safe and supportive environment in which learners feel confident to express views, ask questions and develop understanding.

PSHE Education is embedded across the wider curriculum and school life. Strong links are made with subjects such as Science, Computing, Religious Education and Physical Education. Learning is reinforced through assemblies, enrichment activities and whole-school initiatives.

The curriculum promotes the development of key personal attributes, including:

• Self-respect and self-worth
• Empathy and respect for others
• Resilience and perseverance
• Honesty and integrity
• Cooperation and responsibility

Learners are encouraged to explore and reflect on a range of values, beliefs and viewpoints, developing an understanding of diversity and equality in modern society.

British Values (democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs) are explicitly taught and embedded throughout the curriculum.

SMSC (spiritual, moral, social and cultural development) is developed through discussions, enrichment opportunities, visitors, school trips and participation in community activities. Learners are encouraged to take an active role in their school and wider community through charity work, fundraising, community support and participation in national events such as Anti-Bullying Week, Safer Internet Day and Children in Need.

The curriculum also promotes physical health and mental wellbeing, encouraging learners to make informed choices about lifestyle, exercise, nutrition and emotional wellbeing. Oracy is a key feature of PSHE, enabling learners to articulate feelings, express opinions and engage in meaningful discussion.

Assessment is ongoing and based on teacher judgement, discussion, observation and pupil voice. This ensures that teaching is responsive and meets the needs of all learners.

Impact

The impact of our PSHE Education curriculum is evident in learners’ attitudes, behaviour, wellbeing and ability to make safe and informed decisions.

As learners progress through school, they develop a strong understanding of how to stay safe, healthy and emotionally resilient. They become increasingly confident in managing relationships, recognising risk and making responsible choices.

By the end of Key Stage 2, learners will:

• Demonstrate understanding of how to maintain physical and mental wellbeing.
• Build and maintain positive, respectful relationships.
• Show awareness of how to stay safe online and offline.
• Understand rights, responsibilities and British Values.
• Demonstrate resilience, empathy and emotional awareness.
• Make informed decisions about health, safety and wellbeing.
• Understand diversity and show respect for others in society.
• Know how to seek help and support when needed.

Learners leave Healey as confident, respectful and responsible individuals who are well prepared for the opportunities, responsibilities and challenges of later life. They are equipped with the personal development skills needed to thrive in a diverse and changing world.

The effectiveness of the PSHE curriculum is monitored through lesson observations, pupil voice, work scrutiny, safeguarding reviews, curriculum evaluation and engagement in enrichment activities. This ensures that the curriculum remains relevant, inclusive and effective.

PSHE Education in the Early Years Foundation Stage

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, PSHE Education is embedded within the prime area of Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED). This area is fundamental to learners’ wellbeing and underpins all other areas of learning.

PSED is structured around three key strands:

• Self-regulation
• Managing self
• Building relationships

From the earliest stages, learners are supported to develop confidence, independence and positive relationships. They learn how to manage feelings, understand emotions and develop self-awareness.

Learning is delivered through play-based experiences, adult-led activities, stories, role play and daily interactions. Learners are encouraged to develop communication skills, take turns, share, cooperate and make positive choices.

Stories and discussions are used to support understanding of emotions, behaviour and relationships. Key texts such as The Colour Monster are used to help learners explore feelings and develop emotional vocabulary.

Learners are supported to understand routines, expectations and boundaries, and begin to develop an awareness of safety, including online safety and appropriate behaviour.

They are encouraged to understand that everyone is unique and to celebrate similarities and differences within their community.

Learning also supports understanding of health and wellbeing, including hygiene, healthy routines, physical activity and personal care.

Strong links are made with the wider curriculum, including Expressive Arts and Design and Understanding the World, supporting holistic development.

By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage, learners are well prepared for Key Stage 1, demonstrating confidence, emotional awareness, positive relationships and a strong foundation for future PSHE learning.