PSHE & RSHE
Overview
The PSHE and RSHE curriculum is carefully sequenced to provide a coherent subject scheme that develops children’s knowledge, skills and understanding of personal, social, health and economic education over time. Using the Jigsaw PSHE programme, learning is structured to ensure that key concepts are revisited and developed across each year group, building progressively on prior knowledge.
The curriculum is organised around six key units, which are taught each year:
- Being Me in My World
- Celebrating Difference
- Dreams and Goals
- Healthy Me
- Relationships
- Changing Me
These units ensure full coverage of statutory Relationships Education and Health Education, alongside broader personal development. They provide a clear progression from early understanding of self and relationships through to more complex concepts such as identity, responsibility, mental health and growing independence .
Key themes such as self-awareness, respect, resilience, wellbeing, relationships and personal responsibility are revisited and developed throughout the curriculum. Children are supported to understand themselves, build positive relationships and make safe, informed choices.
Where appropriate, learning is linked to wider school values of Courage, Compassion and Community, ensuring that PSHE and RSHE are lived experiences across the school, not just discrete lessons.
Early Years Foundation Stage
In the Early Years, children begin to develop the foundations of PSHE and RSHE through carefully structured learning linked to the six Jigsaw units.
Through:
- Being Me in My World
- Celebrating Difference
- Dreams and Goals
- Healthy Me
- Relationships
- Changing Me
children learn to:
- Recognise and talk about their feelings and emotions
- Understand what it means to be part of a class and follow simple rules
- Begin to build friendships and show kindness towards others
- Recognise similarities and differences between themselves and others
- Understand basic concepts of health, safety and self-care
Children explore:
- Self-identity and belonging
- Families and relationships
- Being gentle and respectful
- Simple goal setting and perseverance
- Early understanding of growing, changing and their bodies
Learning is practical, play-based and rooted in children’s experiences, ensuring they feel safe, valued and ready to learn.
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1, children continue to develop their understanding of themselves and their place within the world.
Through the six units, children learn to:
- Recognise and manage their feelings
- Understand what it means to belong to a class and community
- Build positive friendships and relationships
- Understand similarities and differences between people
- Begin to keep themselves healthy and safe
Children explore:
- Rights and responsibilities
- How to deal with friendship challenges and bullying
- Goal setting and perseverance
- Early understanding of growth, life cycles and body changes
Learning remains practical and discussion-based, building confidence, empathy and a strong sense of belonging.
Lower Key Stage 2
In Lower Key Stage 2, children build on their understanding and begin to explore more complex aspects of relationships, identity and responsibility.
Through the six units, children learn to:
- Develop a stronger sense of self-identity and self-worth
- Understand family relationships and different types of families
- Recognise and challenge bullying and stereotypes
- Set and work towards personal goals
- Make healthy and safe choices, including online safety
Children explore:
- The impact of their choices on others
- How to manage emotions and resolve conflict
- Respect, fairness and inclusion
- Changes in their bodies and increasing independence
They are encouraged to reflect on their behaviour, understand consequences and take increasing responsibility for their actions.
Upper Key Stage 2
In Upper Key Stage 2, children deepen their understanding and apply their learning with increasing independence and maturity.
Through the six units, children learn to:
- Understand their role as active and responsible citizens
- Explore issues such as equality, diversity and inclusion
- Develop resilience and manage more complex emotions
- Make informed choices about health, relationships and wellbeing
- Understand how their bodies change during puberty
Children explore:
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing
- The influence of peers, media and online environments
- Healthy and unhealthy relationships
- Respect, consent and personal boundaries
- Preparing for transition to secondary school
By the end of Key Stage 2, children have developed the knowledge and confidence to navigate relationships, manage change and make safe, responsible decisions.
Implementation
PSHE and RSHE are taught through the Jigsaw programme, which provides a structured and progressive sequence of lessons across all year groups.
Lessons are:
- Carefully sequenced across the six units each year
- Discussion-based and reflective in nature
- Designed to build knowledge, skills and emotional understanding over time
Teaching includes:
- Opportunities for discussion and reflection
- Collaborative learning and group work
- Real-life scenarios to support understanding
- A focus on emotional literacy and wellbeing
A safe and supportive environment is prioritised so that children feel confident to share their thoughts and experiences. Teachers adapt lessons to meet the needs of their class while ensuring full coverage of statutory requirements.
Impact
By the time children leave St Paul’s, they have developed:
- A strong sense of self-awareness and self-worth
- The ability to build and maintain positive relationships
- Understanding of how to keep themselves healthy and safe
- Confidence to manage change and face challenges
Children can:
- Recognise and manage their emotions
- Show empathy and respect towards others
- Make informed and responsible decisions
- Understand and apply key concepts related to relationships and health
Children show clear progression over time, developing from early awareness of self and others to becoming confident, respectful and responsible individuals.
Most importantly, children develop the knowledge, skills and values they need to live well within their community and beyond.
Information for parents