PSHE stands for Personal, Social & Health Education. This subject includes Relationships and Sex Education (RSE).

Our Vision

This is a planned programme of learning in partnership with JIGSAW through which children acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives – now and in the future. Our curriculum develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society. Jigsaw brings together PSHE Education, emotional literacy, mindfulness, social skills and spiritual development. We have a whole school approach, with all year groups working on the same theme (Puzzle) at the same time. This enables each Puzzle to start with an introductory assembly, generating a whole school focus for adults and children alike. There is a Weekly Celebration that highlights a theme from that week’s lesson across the school, and encourages children to reflect that learning in their behaviour and attitudes. The Jigsaw PSHE relationship and sex education units of work aim to give children their entitlement to information about relationships, puberty and human reproduction, appropriate to their ages and stages of development. This work is treated in a matter-of-fact and sensitive manner to allay embarrassment and fear and helps children to cope with change, including puberty and to learn about families, friendships and healthy relationships.

Overall Aims

Our PSHE curriculum (overview PDF and policy below)

• promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society
• prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life
• promotes British values

Included in our PSHE curriculum are aspects of Relationship and Sex Education. This area of the subject aims to

• enable young people to understand and respect their bodies, and be able to cope with the changes puberty brings, without fear or confusion
• help young people develop positive and healthy relationships appropriate to their age, development etc. (respect for self and others)
• support young people to have positive self-esteem and body image, and to understand the influences and pressures around them
• empower them to be safe and safeguarded

Half Termly Themes (Puzzles)

Being Me in My World covers a wide range of topics, including a sense of belonging, welcoming others and being part of a school community, a wider community, and a global community; it also looks at children’s rights and responsibilities, working and socialising with others, and pupil voice.

Celebrating Difference focuses on similarities and differences and teaches about diversity, such as disability, racism, power, friendships, and conflict; children learn to accept everyone’s right to ‘difference’, and most year groups explore the concept of ‘normal’; bullying – what it is and what it isn’t, including cyber and homophobic bullying – is an important aspect of this Puzzle.

Dreams and Goals aims to help children think about their hopes and dreams, their goals for success, what personal strengths are, and how to overcome challenges, via team work skills and tasks. There is also a focus on enterprise and fundraising. Children learn about experiencing and managing feelings of pride, ambition, disappointment, success; and they get to share their aspirations, the dreams and goals of others in different cultures/countries, and their dreams for the world.

Healthy Me covers two main areas of health: Emotional health (relaxation, being safe, friendships, mental health skills, body image, relationships with food, managing stress) and Physical health (eating a balanced diet, physical activity, rest and relaxation, keeping clean, drugs and alcohol, being safe, first aid) in order for children to learn that health is a very broad topic.

Relationships has a wide focus, looking at diverse topics such as families, friendships, pets and animals, and love and loss. A vital part of this Puzzle is about safeguarding and keeping children safe; this links to cyber safety and social networking, as well as attraction and assertiveness; children learn how to deal with conflict, their own strengths and self-esteem. They have the chance to explore roles and responsibilities in families, and look at stereotypes. All Jigsaw lessons are delivered in an age- and stage-appropriate way so that they meet children’s needs.

Changing Me deals with change of many types, from growing from young to old, becoming a teenager, assertiveness, self-respect and safeguarding. Self and body image, puberty, attraction and accepting change are diverse subjects for children to explore. Each year group thinks about looking ahead, moving year groups or the transition to secondary school. Life cycles and how babies are made and grow are treated sensitively and are designed to meet children’s needs. All year groups learn about how people and bodies change. This Puzzle links with the Science curriculum when teaching children about life cycles, babies and puberty.

Relationships & Sex Education (RSE)

Some key aspects of RSE taught throughout the year in Reception, KS1 and KS2 include

• Life cycles
• How babies are made
• My changing body
• Puberty
• Growing from young to old
• Becoming a teenager
• Assertiveness and self-respect
• Friendship and family life
• Safeguarding
• Family stereotypes
• Self and body image
• Attraction
• Relationship skills e.g. conflict resolution
• Accepting change
• Looking ahead
• Moving/transition to secondary school