PSHE & RSE

STATEMENT OF INTENT

Our PSHE Curriculum forms a fundamental part of our whole school curriculum and an essential part of a child’s education. PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) Education and RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) helps children to stay healthy, safe and prepared for life and to achieve their academic potential. It gives children access to critical information about themselves and the many facets of the diverse world around them.

At Sylvester Primary Academy, we aim to promote children’s knowledge, self-esteem, emotional wellbeing and resilience, and to help them to form and maintain worthwhile and positive relationships. Children will be taught to have respect for themselves, and for others, within out local, national and global communities. It is the intent of our PSHE curriculum to maximise the outcomes for every child by providing them with the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live healthy, safe, productive, and fulfilled lives, both now and in the future. Our children are encouraged to become critical thinkers and develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community.

HOW WE TEACH PSHE AND RSE

To support our delivery of the PSHE/RSE curriculum we follow ‘Kapow!’ This helps to ensure that we offer a progressive curriculum which is enhanced with teaching from No Outsiders: Everyone Different, Everyone Welcome and LifeSavers. The curriculum is split into five key themes; Family and Relationships, Health and Wellbeing, Safety and the Changing Body, Citizenship and Economic Wellbeing. We ensure that all lessons are appropriate for the age and cultural or religious backgrounds of the children in the class and that support is available with a trusted adult for any children that need to discuss the topic of the lesson.

PSHE is fundamental within school assemblies, where children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured. We also have visitors into school to raise the awareness of key issues through theme days/workshops. The delivered curriculum reflects the needs of our pupils and is adapted to meet specific needs. Our PSHE and RSE curriculum equips children with the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe and informed decisions.

WEEKLY PSHE AND RSE LESSONS

PSHE is integral to the development of children’s values in order for them to become a positive citizen in a forever changing community, therefore it is taught once per week by the class teacher, to pupils in years 1 – 6 and embedded in the interactions and play happening in EYFS. Alongside teaching the five key themes we also ensure that children are aware of and follow the British Values and the Protected Characteristics in all lessons and life around school.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

Please view our long-term whole school overview for PSHE and RSE.

RELATIONSHIP AND SEX EDUCATION

In September 2021 the Department for Education announced changes to relationships and sex education following a nationwide consultation.

The statutory guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education

The statutory guidance focuses on healthy relationships and keeping children safe in the modern world. It also covers a wide range of topics relating to the physical and mental health, wellbeing, safeguarding and healthy relationships.

Where schools provide sex education at key stages 1 and 2, parents will have the right to withdraw their child from sex education but not from statutory relationships education, health education or what is taught in the science national curriculum. A copy of our policy can be found on ‘policies’ under ‘school info.’

SEND ADAPTATIONS

At Sylvester, Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) lessons are discussion-based and we recognise the importance in ensuring that all children are represented and heard, fostering the belief that their voice matters. We strive to provide our PSHE lessons in an inclusive environment where all learners have the opportunity to explore and reflect upon issues that affect them and can develop strategies and skills to manage different real-life situations. PSHE plays a vital role for all pupils, particularly those with SEND, allowing them to rehearse and embed the practical skills and understanding they need to lead fulfilling lives that have safe and healthy relationships. In order to support this, staff incorporate a wide range of strategies to help SEND children reach their full potential. In order to support children with cognition and learning needs teachers use social stories to help children understand key concepts and routines, for children who have communication and interaction needs adaptations are made such as pre-teaching new vocabulary, using visual supports and prompts and providing sentence starters to support children in their discussions. Children’s physical and sensory needs are also met by ensuring that our curriculum represents diversity of all needs and differences and making alternatives to activities that may be particularly challenging for children with sensory audits such as those that include food, smells or textures. PHSE is paramount in supporting children who have social, emotional and mental health needs and we give advanced warning to families of particular topics that may be challenging and ensure that a trusted adult is available after the lesson if there is anything that they wish to discuss. Teachers will also provide children with opportunities to develop their social skills and discuss healthy relationships, promote well-being and explore emotive topics within the learning.