PSHE
Intent
At Beeston Primary School, our PSHE curriculum supports pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead healthy, safe and fulfilling lives. We recognise that pupils’ personal development needs change as they grow, so our curriculum responds to the needs of our pupils and the context of our school community.
We aim to help pupils understand themselves and others, build positive relationships, recognise how to keep themselves and others safe, and develop strategies to support their physical and emotional wellbeing. We also help pupils develop an age-appropriate understanding of laws, responsibilities and the choices they make.
The curriculum will demonstrate appropriate subject knowledge, skills and understanding to fulfil the duties of the Relationship and Sex and Education (RSE) and Health Education (HE) statutory guidance, whereby schools must provide a balanced and broadly-based curriculum which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares them for the opportunities and responsibilities and experiences for later life.
Implementation
Our core PSHE curriculum follows the Pol-Ed curriculum, which covers the statutory content for Relationships Education and Health Education. It is organised around four key areas: Relationships, Keeping Safe, Understanding the Law and Wellbeing.
Year groups can adapt the order of lessons to respond to the needs of their pupils and cohort. Teachers use their knowledge of pupils and assessment of their understanding to revisit key topics or draw on learning from previous year groups where appropriate. Coverage and pupils’ understanding are tracked within each year group and monitored by the PSHE lead.
Alongside the core curriculum, teachers develop bespoke learning in response to safeguarding needs and the experiences of pupils and the wider community. This includes lessons about young carers in each year group, as well as further opportunities to explore grief and loss.
MindMate resources are used across Years 1–6 to support pupils’ mental health and emotional wellbeing. Topics include Feeling Good and Being Me; Strong Emotions; Being the Same, Being Different; Solving Problems; Friends and Family; and Life Changes.
Relationships Education is woven throughout the curriculum. Pupils learn about friendships, family relationships, respectful relationships, recognising and responding to inappropriate behaviour, and seeking help. Additional Relationships Education is provided in Years 4 and 5. In Year 6, pupils receive Relationships Education alongside optional Sex Education, in line with the school’s policy and approach.
Impact
Pupils develop the knowledge and confidence to make safe and informed choices, build positive relationships and seek help when they need it. They gain an age-appropriate understanding of their physical and emotional health, the law and their responsibilities, and learn strategies to manage emotions and challenges.
Teachers’ assessment, year-group tracking and the PSHE lead’s monitoring help the school review pupils’ understanding and identify where learning needs to be revisited or adapted. This supports the curriculum to remain responsive to pupils as they grow.
