What is Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Relationship and Sex Education (RSE)?

INTENT

At Bracebridge Infant and Nursery School, Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is at the heart of what we do in our school. PSHE and RSE helps to give children the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to develop as confident, healthy and independent individuals. Our PSHE and RSE curriculum intends to promote physical and emotional well-being for all of our children through a planned programme of learning which allows them to acquire knowledge, understanding and skills they need to successfully manage their lives- now and in the future.

As part of a whole-school approach, PSHE Education develops the qualities and attribute pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society

From September 2020 the Department for Education has made RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) compulsory for primary school pupils.  At Bracebridge Infant and Nursery School we agree that Relationships Education (RSE) is a ‘lifelong learning about physical, moral and emotional development’. It is about the understanding of the importance of: marriage for family life, stable and loving relationships, respect, love and care.’ (DfE July 2000).

In addition RSE will promote self-esteem and emotional health and well-being to help children form and maintain worthwhile and satisfying relationships, based on respect for themselves and for others, at home, school, work and in the community.

IMPLEMENTATION

According to the National Curriculum, every school needs to have a broad and balanced curriculum that:

• promotes the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school;
• prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life;
• promotes British values

Here at Bracebridge Infant and Nursery school our PSHE and RSE curriculum has been created using statutory guidance and other supporting documentation based on the Jigsaw, mindful approach to PSHE. 

Jigsaw is a whole-school approach and embodies a positive philosophy and creative teaching and learning activities to nurture children's development as compassionate and well-rounded human beings as well as building their capacity to learn. 

Jigsaw is a comprehensive and completely original PSHE education programme which caters for children from the age of 3 and also includes all of the statutory requirements for Relationships and Sex Education.

Each of the 6 units  taught throughout the year is introduced as part of a whole school Together Time which  focussed on the rules, routine, content and Jigsaw characters that help us with our PSHE teaching and learning.

Each class has these characters and themes on display along with a floor book for evidencing children's knowledge within their classroom as part of a dedicated display.

Through the use of weekly Jigsaw lessons, daily together times, values lesson and daily circle time sessions, our PSHE covers a range of topics including Being me in my World, Celebrating Differences, Dreams and Goals, Healthy Me, Relationships and Changing Me.

Jigsaw uses these themes to meet its two primary aims:

• To build children's capacity for learning
• To equip them for life

In EYFS, PSHE is also an integral part of the topic work covered throughout the entire year. Many aspects of the Early Learning Goals are steered towards children’s physical and emotional development and wellbeing.  The PSHE curriculum in our EYFS incorporates the new RSE requirements. This includes teaching the children what a being a good friend consists of, how to share and take turns and being kind. These aspects form elements of our weekly PSHE sessions, but are also discussed, highlighted, referenced and role-modelled daily. Furthermore, a weekly PSHE lesson is taught in reception.

British Values are promoted within our school in order to help prepare our children for life in modern Britain. This is done through Jigsaw PSHE lessons, across the whole curriculum and through the use of the school council. The children explore democracy, rights and responsibilities, respect and tolerance of those of different faiths, beliefs and opinions.

In order to ensure all of our children are able to manage and develop their emotional well-being a current member of staff within school has undertaken the ELSA training and runs sessions to support such individual children who may need additional support. Furthermore, we offer a lunchtime Nurture club and Lego Therapy  for various children to help them build their resilience and confidence

IMPACT

We passionately believe that a meaningful PSHE and RSE curriculum is the key to children becoming confident, kind, tolerant and well-rounded individuals.

Progress is monitored during weekly Jigsaw PSHE sessions to gauge the children’s understanding on what knowledge they have learnt. Learning tasks will be recorded in floor books linked to the topic being taught and teachers will be able to further monitor children’s understanding and knowledge of a particular topic. Normal everyday discussions with individual children and class groups will continue to take place to highlight any areas within the curriculum that may need to be covered more in-depth to ensure children are continually to develop in well-rounded individuals.

We at Bracebridge Infant and Nursery school have every child’s best interest at heart. Our daily practice centres around the children being happy, well looked after and ready to learn. Our ultimate aim is to ensure every child is able to succeed and ‘Be the best they can be1’.

The PSHE/RSE Coordinator in our school is Mrs J. Gilbert