Intent

At Swalwell Primary School, we believe that Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education is at the heart of our curriculum and plays a vital role in supporting children to become confident, healthy, respectful and responsible members of society. Through high-quality PSHE and Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), we equip children with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to understand themselves, build positive relationships, stay safe, maintain physical and mental wellbeing and make informed decisions throughout their lives.

Our curriculum is designed to reflect our school values, uphold children's rights and meet the needs of our diverse school community. We aim to develop children's emotional literacy, resilience, self-esteem and understanding of equality, enabling them to celebrate difference, challenge stereotypes and contribute positively to their communities. Through an inclusive and progressive curriculum, children develop the confidence to communicate, seek help when needed and understand their responsibilities as local, national and global citizens.

Implementation

PSHE and RSHE are taught through the Jigsaw PSHE programme, a carefully sequenced and progressive scheme of work that supports children's personal development from Nursery to Year 6. The curriculum is organised into six half-termly units:

• Being Me in My World
• Celebrating Difference
• Dreams and Goals
• Healthy Me
• Relationships
• Changing Me

These units provide opportunities for children to develop knowledge, skills and understanding relating to wellbeing, relationships, health, safety, emotional literacy, citizenship and economic awareness. Content is revisited throughout school, enabling children to build upon prior learning and deepen their understanding as they mature. 

PSHE is taught through weekly timetabled lessons by class teachers and is reinforced through assemblies, themed events, pupil leadership opportunities, educational visits, visitors and everyday interactions across school. There are always occasions where teachers may feel it necessary to teach PSHE as a result of an issue arisen in their own class. PSHE is delivered with opportunities for reflective learning activities in every session, which support emotional regulation, communication skills and positive relationships.

As an inclusive school, we adapt learning to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND, ensuring every child can access and engage with the curriculum through appropriate support, visual resources, communication strategies and differentiated activities. Pupil voice is used to shape and enhance provision, ensuring the curriculum remains relevant and responsive to the needs of our learners.

PSHE Champions work alongside the subject leader to promote the subject across school, gather pupil views, support assemblies and help to develop whole-school initiatives that contribute to children's personal development and wellbeing.

Impact

Children leave Swalwell Primary School with the knowledge, understanding and confidence needed to navigate an increasingly complex and everchanging world. They are able to identify and manage emotions, build positive relationships, make informed choices about their health and wellbeing, and recognise how to stay safe both online and offline. Through the progressive Jigsaw curriculum, pupils develop resilience, empathy, respect and self-awareness. They understand the importance of diversity and inclusion, can discuss issues thoughtfully and respectfully, preparing them for the next stage of their education and life beyond primary school.

Assessment is ongoing and informs future teaching. Teachers gather evidence through discussion, observation, pupil reflection, floor books, learning activities and end-of-unit assessments. Pupil voice, learning walks, book scrutiny and curriculum monitoring provide additional evidence of impact and help ensure high-quality PSHE provision across the school. PSHE Champions also contribute to evaluating the curriculum and identifying ways to further strengthen pupils' personal development.

The impact of our PSHE curriculum can be seen beyond lessons through the confidence, resilience, kindness, respect and sense of belonging demonstrated by our pupils throughout school life.

PSHE Champions

We currently have 6 PSHE Champions, who support their peers, promote confidence within PSHE, discuss plans and ideas for the subject, share their views and help to deliver assemblies.