PSHE

Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education and Relationships and sex education (RSE)

At Moordown St John's, we aspire for all pupils to ‘be the best me’ through a broad and balanced curriculum, which provides rich learning opportunities to develop subject knowledge alongside fundamental skills. We believe that a comprehensive and effective PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education) and RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) curriculum is essential in equipping our children with the knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary to navigate the challenges and opportunities of their lives. By providing a strong foundation in PSHE and RSE, we aim to empower our students to become their blossoming best version of themselves, promoting their emotional well-being, resilience, and positive relationships.

Intent: What we expect children to learn

Our intent is to deliver a comprehensive PSHE and RSE curriculum that supports the holistic development of all pupils across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Key Stage 1 (KS1), and Key Stage 2 (KS2). We recognize that the developmental needs and capabilities of pupils vary at different stages, and thus our curriculum is tailored to be age-appropriate, progressive, and responsive to their changing needs.

In the EYFS, our primary focus is on nurturing pupils' personal, social, and emotional development. We provide a nurturing environment that promotes positive relationships, self-confidence, and emotional resilience.

As pupils progress into KS1, our curriculum expands to encompass a wider range of topics and themes. We introduce pupils to concepts such as healthy lifestyles, relationships, and diversity. We aim to develop their understanding of personal well-being, including physical health, emotional well-being, and mental health.

In KS2, we build upon the foundations established in earlier stages, addressing more complex issues and challenges that pupils may encounter as they transition into adolescence. Our curriculum covers topics such as consent, personal identity, financial literacy, and the importance of making responsible choices.

Implementation: How we teach the subject

To achieve our intent, we use the SCARF programme — Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience and Friendship — as the principal framework for teaching PSHE and RSE. 

Lessons are taught using a range of engaging approaches, including class discussions, paired and group work, role-play, case studies, problem-solving activities and opportunities for personal reflection. These approaches encourage pupils to participate actively, think critically, consider different viewpoints and develop empathy for others.

Teachers establish clear ground rules so that pupils feel safe and respected when discussing sensitive or personal issues. Questions are answered honestly and,in an age-appropriate manner. Pupils are also reminded that they should not share personal information in whole-class discussions and that trusted adults are available if they wish to discuss a concern privately.

Teaching is adapted to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. Staff take account of pupils’ individual circumstances, prior knowledge, maturity and emotional needs so that learning is accessible, inclusive and appropriately challenging.

PSHE is afforded a high priority at Moordown St John’s. It provides important opportunities to promote our Christian vision and values, British values, character development, and pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Meaningful links are made with other curriculum subjects, including:

• Computing, particularly online safety and digital resilience
• Science, including healthy bodies, growth and reproduction
• Physical Education, including healthy and active lifestyles
• Religious Education, including relationships, beliefs, values and respect
• English, through discussion, debate and the exploration of different perspectives

Although PSHE is taught through planned lessons, relevant objectives may also be addressed through collective worship, assemblies, pastoral support, school responsibilities, visits, visitors and wider curriculum experiences.

Our curriculum remains flexible so that staff can respond appropriately to issues arising within a class, the school community or wider local, national and global events. Planned learning is complemented by key campaigns and events throughout the year, including Anti-Bullying Week, Safer Internet Day, Children’s Mental Health Week and other relevant health and safeguarding initiatives.

We foster strong partnerships with parents and carers. Families are informed about the curriculum and are given opportunities to understand and discuss the school’s approach, particularly in relation to Relationships and Sex Education. This helps ensure that pupils receive consistent messages and support regarding their relationships, safety, health and emotional wellbeing.

Impact: How we evaluate the knowledge and skills they have learnt

Regular monitoring and assessment of pupil progress enables us to evaluate the impact of our PSHE and RSE curriculum. Through ongoing reflection and feedback, we ensure that pupils are acquiring the knowledge, skills, and understanding outlined in our Blossoming Best Curriculum. We celebrate and recognise the achievements of our pupils, both academically and in their personal growth, fostering a positive and inclusive school culture that values their well-being and development.

Moreover, our PSHE and RSE curriculum have a wider impact on the school community, contributing to the promotion of a positive school culture and the well-being of our staff and pupils. By equipping our pupils with essential life skills, knowledge, and attitudes, we empower them to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, enabling them to lead fulfilling and purposeful lives both now and in the future.

Progression Map:

 

msj pshelong termcurriculumoverview 1 .pdf

Relationships, Sex and Health Education