PSHE

Intent

PSHE stands for Personal, Social, Health, and Economic education.

The aim of our PSHE curriculum is to provide all children with the knowledge, skills, and strategies they need to lead healthy, safe, and responsible lives. We are committed to making PSHE education accessible to everyone.

At Park Spring, we strive to create an inclusive community where every individual aspires to achieve their best, embraces positive values and beliefs, fosters a sense of well-being, and shows care and respect for others. High-quality PSHE education not only supports children in their personal development but also enhances their ability to reach their academic potential.

Through PSHE, we aim to build pupils' understanding of how to contribute positively and successfully to society, both now and in the future. Our curriculum encourages children to take active roles in school life and within the wider community.

At Park Spring, we aim to equip pupils with knowledge about their world while instilling the confidence to address the moral, social, and cultural challenges they will face as they grow. We provide opportunities for children to learn about their rights and responsibilities and to appreciate the value of being part of a diverse society.

Implementation

At Key Stages 1 and 2, PSHE is delivered through a well-structured and comprehensive scheme of work aligned with the National Curriculum. It encompasses the learning opportunities outlined in the PSHE Association’s Programme of Study, ensuring thorough coverage of the statutory Health Education and Relationships Education guidelines. Key areas of focus include Health and Well-Being, Relationships, and Keeping Safe and Managing Risk.

PSHE is taught in weekly, timetabled lessons using a spiral, progressive curriculum designed to build on prior learning each year. This approach aims to prepare children for life by helping them understand and appreciate their own identity and how they connect with others in a constantly evolving world. The curriculum emphasises emotional literacy, resilience, and nurturing both mental and physical health.

In coordination with the science curriculum, which addresses the physical and biological aspects of puberty, the RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) component of PSHE equips pupils with essential knowledge to navigate the emotional and physical changes of growing up. In Key Stage 1, children explore themes of growth and change, such as the new abilities and opportunities that come with getting older. In Key Stage 2, the focus shifts to understanding and managing the physical and emotional changes of puberty, the evolution of relationships, and the processes of conception and reproduction. By balancing science lessons with RSE in PSHE, pupils gain insights into the social and emotional dimensions of growing up, addressing their broader concerns beyond biological changes.

The content studied in KS1 and KS2:

relationship and sex education
drug, alcohol, and tobacco education
keeping safe and managing risk
mental health and emotional wellbeing
physical health and wellbeing
careers
financial capability and economic wellbeing
identity, society, and equality

PSHE and EYFS:

Relevant statements are taken from the Early Learning Goals in the EYFS statutory framework and the Development Matters age ranges, for Three and Four-Year-Olds and Reception, to match the programme of study for relationships and health education in addition to the non-statutory guidance of PSHE.

Impact

By the time our pupils leave Park Spring, they will:

Confidently approach a variety of real-life situations, applying the skills they have learned to navigate modern life effectively.
Be on the path to becoming healthy, open-minded, respectful, socially and morally responsible, and active members of society.
Value and appreciate difference and diversity in the world around them.
Understand and embody the British Values of Democracy, Tolerance, Mutual Respect, Rule of Law, and Individual Liberty.
Have the ability to understand and regulate their emotions.
Prioritise their mental health and well-being, recognising when and how to seek support if needed.
Build and maintain positive, healthy relationships with their peers, both now and in the future.
Possess age-appropriate knowledge of the physical aspects of RSE.
Show respect for themselves and others in their actions and attitudes.
Hold a strong sense of positive self-esteem.