Kentisbeare C of E Primary School

Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education

At our school, PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) education plays a vital role in supporting pupils’ personal development, wellbeing and preparation for life in modern Britain. To ensure high-quality, age-appropriate and inclusive provision, we use the PSHE Association Programme of Study as the foundation for teaching PSHE across the school.

What is the PSHE Association?

The PSHE Association is the national subject association for PSHE education in England. It provides a well-researched, progressive framework that supports schools in delivering effective PSHE, including Relationships Education and Health Education, in line with statutory guidance from the Department for Education.

Our Approach to Teaching PSHE

We follow the PSHE Association’s Programme of Study, which is structured around three core themes:

• Health and Wellbeing
• Relationships
• Living in the Wider World

These themes are revisited each year so that learning builds progressively as children move through the school. Lessons are carefully planned to be age-appropriate, inclusive and sensitive to the needs of all pupils.

PSHE is taught regularly as a discrete subject and is also reinforced through assemblies, themed days, and the wider life of the school. This ensures that pupils have consistent opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to thrive both now and in the future.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In our Preschool (Acorn Class) and Reception (Ash Class), children’s personal, social and emotional development is supported through the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework.

PSHE learning in the Early Years is embedded primarily within the Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) area of learning, alongside elements of Understanding the World and Physical Development. Teaching focuses on helping children to:

• Develop confidence and independence
• Build positive relationships with adults and peers
• Understand and manage their feelings and behaviour
• Learn how to keep themselves healthy and safe

Learning is play-based, practical and carefully planned to meet the needs and developmental stages of each child. As children move into Key Stage 1, this early foundation supports a smooth transition into the PSHE Association-based curriculum.

What Children Learn

Through our PSHE curriculum, pupils learn to:

• Understand and manage their emotions and mental wellbeing
• Develop positive, respectful relationships with others
• Keep themselves physically healthy and safe
• Build resilience, confidence and self-esteem
• Understand diversity, equality and respect
• Learn about money, responsibility and the wider world

Our teaching encourages open discussion, critical thinking and reflection, while establishing clear ground rules so that pupils feel safe and respected when sharing ideas or asking questions.

Relationships and Health Education (RSHE)

In line with statutory Government requirements, Relationships Education and Health Education are fully embedded within our PSHE curriculum and taught using PSHE Association guidance. This includes learning about family and friendships, respect, online safety, physical health, mental wellbeing and keeping safe.

As a Church of England school, we also follow guidance developed by the Church of England Education Office to ensure our RSHE curriculum is faith-sensitive, inclusive and respectful of Christian values. You can explore these principles and resources here:

• Church of England Relationships, Sex and Health Education guidance and charter – official information and downloadable resources from the Church of England Education Office:
  Church of England: Relationships, Sex & Health Education guidance and resources (Church of England)
• Church of England “Relationships and Education” overview – outlining the place of healthy relationships and personal development in Church school education:
  Church of England: Relationships & Education overview (Church of England)
• Church of England RSHE Charter and supporting resources – including principles for faith-sensitive RSHE and suggested policy templates for schools:
  Church of England RSHE Charter and resources (Church of England)

These documents support our development of a PSHE and RSHE curriculum rooted in values such as respect, dignity and care for others, while ensuring statutory requirements are met.

Parents and carers are informed about the content taught in each year group and are welcome to discuss any aspect of the curriculum with the school.

Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment

We are committed to creating a supportive learning environment where all pupils feel valued and listened to. Teachers use inclusive language, respond sensitively to questions, and signpost pupils to further support when needed. Safeguarding is central to our approach, and any concerns raised during PSHE lessons are handled in line with our safeguarding policies.

Working in Partnership

We believe PSHE education is most effective when schools and families work together. We encourage parents and carers to support learning at home and to engage with the school about PSHE topics and resources.

By using the PSHE Association Programme of Study and aligning our teaching with Church of England guidance, we ensure that our PSHE provision is high-quality, consistent and equips our pupils with the skills and understanding they need to lead happy, healthy and responsible lives.