PSHE and RSE

Intent

PSHE and RSE underpins the curriculum at Becket Primary School. All stakeholders realise the importance and value of individual pupils and respond to their needs so that they are ready to learn.

We provide opportunities to develop children’s understanding of relationships, physical health and mental wellbeing. Each year group develops a progression of skills, values and attitudes appropriate to their age and maturity. Individual pupil’s needs are recognised, acknowledged and supported as they arise. Visitors to school and enrichment opportunities enable children to embed all aspects of the PSHE and RSE curriculum.

A consistent approach to PSHE and RSE throughout the school provides the children a foundation that gives them confidence to tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. By the time pupils leave our school we aim for them to be healthy, independent and responsible members of our society.

Implementation

At our primary school, the implementation of PSHE and RSE is guided by a holistic, inclusive and child-centred approach, underpinned by the Kapow Primary scheme of learning. PSHE is delivered through a carefully structured spiral curriculum, which builds on prior knowledge year on year, allowing children to revisit key themes at increasing levels of depth and complexity as they move through the school. This approach ensures that all children develop essential life skills, emotional literacy, and an understanding of themselves and others in a safe and supportive environment.

Key Themes of Learning (KAPOW)

• Families and relationships

• Health and wellbeing

• Safety and the changing body

• Citizenship

• Economic wellbeing

PSHE within the Curriculum

Our curriculum is enriched and embedded through various whole-school initiatives and policies. Class rules are co-created at the beginning of each year, promoting respect, kindness, and responsibility. Our Healthy Eating Policy supports our PSHE lessons on nutrition and well-being, reinforcing healthy lifestyle choices in daily school life. Forest School sessions promote resilience, teamwork, and self-esteem, while our Character Curriculum, delivered through Commando Joe’s, supports the development of core values such as empathy, determination, and integrity.

In the Foundation Stage, PSHE begins with the Early Learning Goals (ELGs) through areas such as Self-Regulation, Managing Self, Building Relationships, People, Culture and Communities, Listening, Attention and Understanding, and Speaking. This early focus lays a vital foundation for children’s emotional and social development, preparing them to access the broader PSHE curriculum in Key Stages 1 and 2.

We are committed to delivering a PSHE and RSE curriculum that is inclusive and reflective of the diverse society we live in. Our teaching explicitly promotes British Values and in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, we ensure that all protected characteristics are respected and positively represented across our curriculum and school life.

Through Kapow’s comprehensive programme, supplemented by our whole-school values and initiatives, pupils are taught how to stay safe, build positive relationships, understand and manage emotions, and respect differences. Regular circle times, assemblies delivered by school staff, through Picture News and the NSPCC, and cross-curricular links with subjects such as PE, Computing, and Science further embed the key principles of PSHE and RSE throughout school life. We have also developed partnerships with a range of agencies and visitors to classes include the Fire Brigade, Cycle Derby, the Red Cross, school nurses, Mini First Aid and a local farmer to promote healthy eating.

Ongoing formative assessment during PSHE lessons informs the next steps for all, and pupils with additional needs are fully included in all lessons. Learning journals in Foundation Stage have observations and records of the children’s learning. In Key Stage One and Two, PSHE is taught in different ways including drama, discussion, group activities and written work is evidenced in floor books (KS1) or PSHE books (KS2).

Impact

Our teaching of PSHE and RSE will lead to children meeting the standards of attainments across the school and those that are expected of our children nationally. Children will each make progress relative to their own individual starting point.

We strive to ensure that by the end of their time with us at Becket Primary School, each child will:

Recognise and apply the British Values
Be able to recognise, understand and manage their own emotions
Understand who they can rely on and ask for support.
Look after their own mental health and ask for support where necessary.
Be on their way to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Recognise differences and have an understanding of diversity.
Apply learnt skills in real life situations
Demonstrate self-confidence and self-esteem.
Have developed and maintained healthy relationships with peers and adults.
Understand the physical aspects involved in the teaching of RSE at the level appropriate to them as an individual.
Show respect to themselves and others.

Once taught the Kapow scheme, children will have met the objectives set out within the Relationships and Health Education statutory guidance and will be able to utilise their learning within their daily lives, from dealing with friendship issues to resilience to making healthy choices and knowing where and how to get help when needed.