PSHE and RSHE
​What is PSHE Education?
PSHE Education (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) is a planned programme of learning through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to successfully manage their lives – now and in the future. As part of a whole-school approach, PSHE Education develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.
What do schools have to teach in PSHE Education?
According to the National Curriculum, every school needs to have a broad and balanced curriculum that:
- promotes the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school;
- prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life;
- promotes British values.
From September 2020, primary schools in England were asked to teach Relationships and Health Education as compulsory subjects and the Department for Education strongly recommends this should also include age-appropriate Sex Education.
Schools also have statutory responsibilities to safeguard their pupils (Keeping Children Safe in Education, DfE, 2019) and to uphold the Equality Act (2010).
Our Intent
At Arbourthorne Community Primary School, PSHE is at the core of all we do and enables our children to become independent, confident, healthy, responsible and active members of society, as well as developing the ‘whole child’ intellectually, morally, socially and spiritually.
PSHE is taught across the school from nursery to Year 6 on a weekly basis and the whole school follows the Jigsaw PSHE scheme. This scheme is enhanced through using the Sheffield Primary RHSE Curriculum .
Our PSHE curriculum equips children with relevant and meaningful content, which is supported through a strong emphasis on emotional literacy, building resilience and nurturing mental and physical health.
Through PHSE we are able to provide our children with a strong understanding of the diverse world around them and support them in playing a positive role in contributing to the school and the wider community. We want our children to view themselves as global citizens and aspire for them to leave Arbourthorne Community Primary School as considerate, respectful and resilient individuals. It is important that they are aware, at an appropriate level, of different factors which may affect their world and that they learn how best to deal with these so that they have good mental health and well-being.
A key part of our curriculum is Relationships, Health and Sex Education and our delivery of RHSE enables our children to learn how to be safe, and empowers them to have healthy fulfilling relationships, both now and in their future lives. We aspire for the children to view themselves as lifelong learners who can always aim high. We intend for all pupils to learn how to make more confident and informed choices about their health and environment; to take more responsibility, individually and as a group, for their own learning; and to appreciate the diversity in the world.
Implementation
At Arbourthorne Community Primary School we have adopted the Jigsaw scheme of work which aims to develop the ‘whole child’ through a spiral curriculum. We implement the Jigsaw approach from Nursery to Year 6 and the curriculum is adapt in order to reflect the needs of the pupils. PSHE is taught through Jigsaw’s 6 half termly units with each year group studying the same unit at the same time to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding in:
- Being Me in My World
- Celebrating Difference
- Dreams and Goals
- Healthy Me
- Relationships
- Changing Me
Learning in each topic then takes place during weekly whole class Jigsaw lessons which explore the different themes. Progression in skills and knowledge in PSHE are outlined in the progression grid.
Statutory Relationships and Health Education Map
Its cohesive vision helps children understand and value how they fit into and contribute to the world. With a strong emphasis on emotional literacy, building resilience and nurturing mental and physical health, Jigsaw equips us to deliver engaging and relevant PSHE education. Jigsaw lessons also include mindfulness which allows children to advance their emotional awareness, self regulation and concentration.
We believe that PSHE education plays a vital part in primary education so as well as discrete lessons, it is embedded throughout the curriculum. Key concepts are explored across our broad and balanced curriculum. PSHE is also an important part of school assemblies where children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured. In addition we hold special events such as themed days/weeks, we invite in visitors and have links with our community.
Our PSHE delivery ensures the children explore the diverse beliefs, values and attitudes that individuals and societies hold. It helps pupils to develop themselves, their understanding of the world, and their ability to communicate their feelings. Children at Arbourthorne Community Primary School also acquire an understanding of British values that are necessary if they are to make sense of their experiences, value themselves, respect others, appreciate differences and feel confident and informed as a British and global citizen.
UK-British-Values-in-Jigsaw-by-Lesson.pdf
Impact
At Arbourthorne Community Primary School we are committed to creating a positive, safe and nurturing environment, where all members of the school and wider community will be respected and valued. By the end of Y6 pupils will have developed the vocabulary and confidence needed to clearly articulate their thoughts and feelings openly and know when and how they can seek the support of others whom they trust and respect. They will be able to apply their understanding of society to their everyday interactions, from the classroom to the wider community. Pupils will be prepared for the future and know how to stay safe and respect the world around them.
By the time children leave us they will also be able to:
- Demonstrate kindness and respect towards themselves and others.
- Have the courage and ability to try new things, challenge themselves and persevere.
- Take responsibility for their actions.
- Have a good understanding of how to stay safe, healthy and how to develop positive relationships now and in the future.
- Understand the physical aspects involved in RSE at an age appropriate level.
- Be able to understand and manage their emotions.
- Be able to look after their mental health and well-being.
- Have an appreciation of what it means to be a positive member of a diverse, multicultural society.
- Demonstrate and apply the British Values of Democracy, Tolerance, Mutual respect, Rule of law and Liberty.
- Be able to approach a range of real life situations and apply their skills and attributes to help navigate themselves through modern life.
- Be determined and not fear making a mistake
- Have skills that they can build upon to be employable
- Know how to stay safe online
Assessing the Impact
We continuously assess the implementation and impact of our PSHE curriculum in order to achieve the highest outcomes possible across all year groups and ensure we provide the support that is necessary for all children to achieve. We do this through a variety of ways including observations of peer interactions, pupil voice captured in class books, through the school council, surveys and observations.
What is Jigsaw, the mindful approach to PSHE, and how does it work?
Jigsaw is a whole-school approach and embodies a positive philosophy and creative teaching and learning activities to nurture children’s development as compassionate and well-rounded human beings as well as building their capacity to learn.
Jigsaw is a comprehensive and completely original PSHE Education programme (lesson plans and teaching resources) for the whole primary school from ages 3-11 (12 in Scotland). Written by teachers and grounded in sound psychology, it also includes all the statutory requirements for Relationships and Health Education, and Sex Education is also included in the Changing Me Puzzle (unit).
Jigsaw has two main aims for all children:
- To build their capacity for learning
- To equip them for life
Jigsaw brings together PSHE Education, compulsory Relationships and Health Education, emotional literacy, mindfulness, social skills and spiritual development. It is designed as a whole school approach, with all year groups working on the same theme (Puzzle) at the same time at their own level. There are six Puzzles (half-term units of work) and each year group is taught one lesson per week. All lessons are delivered in an age- and stage-appropriate way so that they meet children’s needs.
Each Puzzle starts with an introductory assembly, generating a whole school focus for adults and children alike. There is also a Weekly Celebration to help children reflect on what they have been learning that week.
Information for parents and career about 'Relationship, Sex and Health Education' answering the following questions:
- What are the statutory requirements for RSHE?
- Why is a RSHE curriculum important?
- What is compulsory in Primary Schools?
- How do we teach RSHE at Arbourthorne?
- How were parents consulted when shaping the RSHE curriculum?
- What do pupils learn about LBGTQ+? (Jigsaw guide)
- What do pupils learn in sex education?
- What other changes are there to the Arbourthorne RHSE curriculum?
