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PSHE and RSE

An individual’s physical, mental and social attributes affect all aspects of their lives, both as a child and as an adult. At The Lea we fervently believe that the personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) of our children underpins all their learning and is central in preparing our children so that they are afforded the greatest opportunity to reach their full potential and become productive and caring citizens in today’s culturally diverse society. Our PSHE equips children with the knowledge, understanding, skills and strategies required to live healthy, safe, productive, capable, responsible and balanced lives. It encourages them to be enterprising and supports them in making effective transitions, positive learning and career choices, and in achieving economic wellbeing. A critical component of PSHE provision is providing opportunities for children to reflect on and clarify their own values and attitudes, and explore the complex and sometimes conflicting range of values and attitudes they encounter now and in the future.

Our PSHE curriculum has been designed with our children and our community in mind. The PSHE programme is reviewed and evaluated regularly to ensure provision is relevant, up-to-date and of the highest quality.

In designing our scheme of work we have interlinked our school values with the PSHE Association’s Programme of Study which is supported and recommended by the Department of Education. This Programme of Study incorporates three core themes: Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. Some of the learning opportunities children will have throughout the whole of their time at The Lea will include:

  • Health and Wellbeing:
    The children will learn things like the importance of personal hygiene; what is meant by a healthy lifestyle (physically and mentally) and how to maintain such a healthy lifestyle; the physical differences between boys and girls; road safety and online safety; people who help us and how to respond in an emergency; how to talk about their feelings; and the benefits of physical activity.
  • Relationships:
    The children will learn to recognise that their behaviour can affect others; to listen to other people and work and play cooperatively; to identify special people in their lives (parents, siblings, friends) and how they should care for each other; what physical contact is acceptable; to respect equality and diversity; and how to recognise and deal with bullying situations.
  • Living in the Wider World:
    Some of the things your child will learn include how to make and follow group, class and school rules; what protects and harms the environment; how to make choices about spending or saving money; ways in which we are all unique and the things we have in common; about basic human rights; the jobs people do; and to respect national, regional, religious and ethnic identities. Children will also participate in a citizenship project which helps to give children an opportunity to contribute to wider society.

PHSE is a part of everything we do at The Lea. It is reflected in the ethos of the school and the school environment. PSHE is taught as a discrete lesson as well as indirectly in every lesson and is ‘hidden’ throughout our curriculum, assemblies and time together as a school. There are also overlaps with other curriculum subjects, e.g. PE (learning different ways to keep healthy and active), Computing (keeping safe online) and Science (lifecycles and growing). Nursery and Reception follow the Early Years Curriculum which includes Personal Social and Emotional Development, and this is a central part of the learning opportunities children have throughout the school day in Early Years.

SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) development is recognised by all in school as vital to children achieving and being happy in life. We take every opportunity to support children with this development both informally (in the playground and around school) promoting restorative ways of resolving any issues which arise and through more formal sessions including assemblies, lessons, circle times, interventions, visitors and trips.

We have an active school council which represent the voice of our children. Our school council meet regularly and lead valuable work within school on behalf of our children as well as linking with the local community.

Our long-term curriculum overview can be found on the link below. Please note that this is a working document and is under a state of constant review – this overview was accurate as of Autumn 2022.

PSHE Curriculum

Relationships & Sex Education 

An element of the PSHE curriculum (which overlaps with elements of the Science curriculum) is Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health education. Under 2019 guidance from the Department for Education this became a statutory part of the curriculum from September 2020.

The following government links in relation to this may be of interest:

Our school underwent a period of consultation in relation to RSE, involving staff, parents [and governors]. Following this consultation the school is interlinking the scheme of work developed by  The Christopher Winters Project into its PSHE curriculum.  Click the link here to read more information about this scheme. The resources to be used in class are available should any parents wish to take a look and discuss this area of the school curriculum further.

A key element of learning in relation to RSE is preparing children for life in modern Britain. By the end of our primary curriculum children will have had the opportunity to discuss key issues including:

  • healthy and respectful relationships;
  • what respectful behaviour looks like;
  • consent;
  • stereotyping, equality;
  • body confidence and self-esteem;
  • prejudiced behaviour;
  • that sexual violence and sexual harassment is always wrong.

Citizenship

Citizenship is also an important element of our PSHE curriculum. Children are encouraged to make sensible and informed choices reflecting on their roles as members of a community. Children in every year group will also participate in a citizenship project over the course of the school year in which they have an opportunity to contribute to wider society.

For example, our year 4 class contributed locally – singing a medley of Christmas songs at the Memory Lane Café in Harpenden in support of those with dementia. In year 5, the children contribute at a more international level, being involved in raising funds in order to ‘toilet twin’ with a community on another continent.