What PSHE and RSE look like at St Laurence
At St Laurence, Personal, Social, Health and Economic education is an important part of our whole curriculum and everyday school life.
Our PSHE curriculum helps children to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy and independent lives. It prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences they face now and as they grow older.
We use Kapow Primary to support the planning and teaching of PSHE and Relationships and Sex Education. Learning is carefully sequenced so that children revisit important themes and develop increasingly mature understanding throughout Key Stage 2.
Our curriculum aims
Through our PSHE and RSE curriculum, children will:
• develop positive relationships with others
• understand and manage their emotions
• recognise their own strengths and qualities
• make informed and responsible choices
• understand how to keep themselves physically and emotionally healthy
• recognise safe and unsafe situations
• know when and how to seek help
• respect differences between people
• understand that actions and choices have consequences
• develop the skills needed to become responsible and active citizens
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How we teach PSHE and RSE
PSHE is taught through regular lessons as well as through wider school life, collective worship, pastoral support and opportunities for pupil leadership.
Lessons provide a safe and supportive environment in which children can explore ideas, ask questions and consider different situations. Teachers establish clear expectations so that pupils can participate respectfully without being expected to share personal information.
Teaching may include:
• class discussion
• stories and scenarios
• role play
• paired and group activities
• reflection
• problem-solving tasks
• practical activities
• opportunities to consider different viewpoints
Children are taught to listen carefully, disagree respectfully and recognise that people may have different experiences, beliefs and family circumstances.
What children learn
Throughout Key Stage 2, children develop their understanding across the main areas of PSHE and RSE.
• Families and relationships
• Health and wellbeing
• Safety and the changing body
• Citizenship
• Economic wellbeing
• Transition and personal development
Relationships and Sex Education
Relationships Education is statutory in primary schools and forms an integral part of our PSHE curriculum.
Children learn about caring friendships, respectful relationships, families, personal boundaries and how to seek help when something does not feel right.
Sex Education is taught in an age-appropriate and sensitive manner, following the school’s agreed RSE Policy. Teaching builds upon learning in Science and helps pupils understand changes associated with growing up and puberty.
Families are informed about the content of the curriculum and can find further information in our RSE Policy.
Keeping children safe
An important part of PSHE is helping children recognise how to keep themselves and others safe. Children learn about:
• trusted adults and support networks
• personal boundaries and consent
• safe and unsafe secrets
• responding to peer pressure
• basic first aid and emergencies
• road, water and fire safety
• online safety
• harmful substances
• recognising worrying behaviour
• reporting concerns and asking for help
Key safety messages are revisited regularly and taught in language appropriate to the children’s age and stage of development.
By the end of Year 6
By the end of Key Stage 2, children will be able to:
• recognise the features of healthy and respectful relationships
• communicate their feelings, needs and boundaries appropriately
• identify strategies for managing emotions and setbacks
• make informed choices about their health and wellbeing
• recognise risks and know how to seek support
• understand physical and emotional changes associated with growing up
• respect differences between people and families
• understand their rights and responsibilities
• make thoughtful decisions about money
• contribute positively to their school and wider community
• approach transition with increasing confidence and independence
Enrichment and wider opportunities
Children develop their personal and social skills through a wide range of experiences beyond individual PSHE lessons.These may include:
• School Council and Eco Warriors
• Worship Shepherds
• House Captains and prefect roles
• charitable and community projects
• Agents of Change activities
• workshops and visitors
• online safety activities
• mental health and wellbeing events
• transition activities
• residential visits and educational trips
These opportunities help children practise leadership, teamwork, responsibility and active citizenship.
Supporting mental health and wellbeing
PSHE forms part of our wider approach to supporting children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Children are taught to recognise and name emotions, identify strategies that may help them regulate and understand that everybody needs support at times. They learn how trusted adults, friendships, routines and healthy choices can contribute to wellbeing.
Our wider provision includes approaches and support such as Thrive, Zones of Regulation, ELSA and nurture-based interventions for children who may benefit from additional help.
Supporting all learners
Our PSHE curriculum is adapted so that every child can participate safely, make progress and experience success.
Teachers may use visual supports, carefully chosen vocabulary, social stories, role play, pre-teaching and opportunities to revisit learning. Sensitive topics are introduced thoughtfully and adapted to children’s developmental and communication needs.
Where appropriate, staff work with families and other professionals to ensure that teaching is accessible, respectful and suitable for individual pupils.
Personal and spiritual development
PSHE encourages children to reflect on who they are, how they relate to others and the contribution they can make to their community.
Children consider questions of identity, belonging, fairness, responsibility and compassion. They learn to recognise the value of every person and understand the importance of treating others with dignity and respect.
Through discussion, reflection and practical action, pupils develop the confidence and character needed to become hopeful, joyful and resilient members of their communities.