Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE)
At Forsbrook Church of England Primary School, our Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) curriculum, including Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), is central to our vision for every child to flourish.
As a Church of England school, our approach is rooted in our Christian belief that every child is unique, known, valued and loved by God. This shapes the way we teach children to value themselves and others and underpins our commitment to creating a school community where everyone experiences belonging, dignity, respect and inclusion.
Through PSHE and RSHE, we want our children to grow into happy, healthy, confident and compassionate individuals who are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values they need to thrive personally and socially, both now and in the future.
Our curriculum is carefully planned to be age-appropriate, inclusive and responsive to the needs of all learners, including children with SEND. It supports children to stay safe, develop healthy relationships, understand themselves and others, and prepare for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.
What are we aiming for?
Our PSHE and RSHE curriculum aims to develop children who:
- understand that they are unique, important, valued and loved
- show kindness, compassion, respect and empathy towards others
- value difference and understand the importance of inclusion and belonging
- can recognise, express and manage their emotions
- develop resilience and strategies to navigate challenges
- are proud of their individuality and confident in who they are
- understand how to stay healthy and safe — physically, emotionally, mentally and online
- build and maintain positive, respectful relationships
- understand appropriate boundaries and know how to seek help
- can resolve disagreements and conflict appropriately
- are prepared for the responsibilities and opportunities of modern life
- recognise their responsibility to care for others and contribute positively to their community
Through this learning, we seek to nurture children who recognise both their own God-given worth and the worth of others, enabling everyone within our community to flourish.
How do we achieve this?
PSHE is taught weekly across the school by class teachers using the Jigsaw PSHE programme, which provides a comprehensive and progressive framework covering Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education alongside statutory Relationships and Health Education.
Learning is carefully sequenced from Reception to Year 6. Key ideas are revisited as children grow, with teaching becoming more detailed and appropriate to their age and stage of development.
The Jigsaw curriculum is structured around six core themes, known as ‘puzzles’, which are taught across the year:
- Being Me in My World
- Celebrating Difference
- Dreams and Goals
- Healthy Me
- Relationships
- Changing Me
Lessons include discussion, reflection, role-play and mindfulness activities. Children are never required to share personal experiences, and clear expectations help to create a classroom environment in which children feel safe, listened to and respected.
Teaching is adapted where appropriate so that all pupils, including those with SEND, can access and participate meaningfully in learning.
Our Christian ethos is woven through our approach. Children are encouraged to show kindness and compassion, respect the dignity of others, celebrate difference and understand that everyone has a place within our school community.
PSHE is further embedded through:
- collective worship and our school’s Christian values
- our commitment to inclusion, belonging and the dignity of every individual
- cross-curricular links with Science, P.E. and Computing, including health, fitness and online safety
- special events and themed days, including charity work, Anti-Bullying Week and mental health awareness
- opportunities for children to serve and contribute to their school and wider community
- a whole-school ethos that promotes emotional wellbeing, kindness, respect and positive relationships
- What do children learn?
- Our PSHE curriculum covers a broad range of areas, including:
- families and friendships
- kindness, respect and caring relationships
- recognising and celebrating difference
- personal boundaries and consent
- bullying and how to get help
- mental wellbeing and emotional health
- online safety and digital awareness
- physical health and healthy lifestyles
- growing and changing, including puberty
- resilience and managing challenges
- aspirations, goals and preparing for later life
Children learn that people may have different experiences, circumstances and family structures. We teach pupils to approach these differences with kindness, understanding and respect.
We actively challenge bullying and harmful stereotypes and seek to ensure that every child feels safe, represented, respected and included.
Inclusion, respect and celebrating difference
Our commitment to inclusion is an important expression of our Christian ethos.
We believe that every person is unique and precious in the sight of God and should be treated with dignity, compassion, kindness and respect.
Our PSHE curriculum helps children to understand that people and families may have different experiences and circumstances. Children learn that families can take different forms and that all pupils and their families should be treated with respect.
We want every child to know that they belong at Forsbrook.
Teaching therefore promotes inclusion, challenges bullying and harmful stereotypes, and helps children learn how to listen to others, appreciate difference and disagree respectfully.
Our aim is to provide a safe and supportive environment in which every child is known, valued, included and able to flourish.
Safeguarding and keeping children safe
PSHE plays an important role in our approach to safeguarding.
Through age-appropriate learning, children are taught to:
• recognise situations that may be unsafe
• understand personal boundaries and consent
• recognise that their own and other people’s boundaries should be respected
• know which trusted adults they can speak to
• feel confident asking for help when something does not feel right
• understand how to stay safer online
All staff are trained in safeguarding procedures. Any concerns that arise through PSHE lessons are managed in accordance with the school’s safeguarding and child protection procedures.
What difference is this making to our pupils?
Our PSHE curriculum supports children to develop a strong sense of their own worth while learning to recognise and respect the worth of others.
Children develop important skills in managing emotions, building relationships, resolving conflict, making healthy choices and asking for help when they need it. Through exploring real-life issues within a safe, supportive and inclusive environment, they develop resilience, empathy, compassion and confidence.
Our Christian values help children understand that flourishing is not only about themselves, but also about how we treat, care for and serve others.
By placing personal development at the heart of our curriculum, we aim for every child to leave Forsbrook increasingly confident in who they are, respectful of others, equipped to make safe and healthy choices and prepared for the responsibilities and opportunities ahead.
Ultimately, we want our children to become confident, compassionate and responsible individuals who know that they are valued and loved, recognise the value of others, and are equipped to flourish and help others flourish too.
Working in partnership with parents and carers
We recognise parents and carers as important partners in their children’s personal development and want families to feel informed, listened to and included in our approach to PSHE and RSHE.
We support this partnership by:
- sharing information about PSHE and RSHE learning
- providing curriculum maps and knowledge organisers
- holding parent information and consultation sessions where appropriate
- welcoming questions, discussion and feedback
Find out more
Parents and carers can find further information through our:
- PSHE & RSHE Policy
- PSHE curriculum map
- Learning overviews each half-term’s Jigsaw puzzle (theme)
- Statutory guidance on the delivery of
If you have any questions, would like to view the materials we use or would like to discuss any aspect of PSHE and RSHE, please contact:
Mrs Shaw – PSHE Lead, via the school office.