At Alkerden C of E Primary Phase, we believe that PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) and RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) are fundamental to helping learners grow into confident, responsible, caring and informed young people. Rooted in our Christian ethos and delivered through our curriculum, our intent is to provide a progressive and inclusive programme that supports every learner to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to thrive both now and in the future.

Our curriculum aims to support learners to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society, equipping them to understand how they are developing personally and socially, and enabling them to tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up.

Through our PSHE & RSE curriculum, we aim to:

• Help learners develop self-awareness, self-esteem and resilience, so they understand themselves, their feelings and their strengths, and can manage challenges with confidence
• Equip learners with the knowledge to develop safe, healthy relationships, with peers, family and within the wider community, based on respect, empathy and understanding
• Teach learners how to manage physical and emotional health, including mental wellbeing, healthy lifestyle choices, personal hygiene, safety, and knowing how and when to seek help
• Build learners’ understanding of diversity, equality and community, promoting respect, kindness, inclusion and appreciation of difference, in line with both British Values and our Christian vision
• Provide opportunities to develop key social skills, including communication, teamwork, cooperation, conflict resolution, responsibility and decision-making
• Develop age-appropriate economic and financial awareness, including understanding the value of money, saving, budgeting and making responsible choices
• Prepare learners for the challenges of growing up, including changes in their bodies and emotions, understanding consent, boundaries, privacy, and how to keep themselves and others safe

Through our PSHE & RSE curriculum, we aim to nurture well-rounded, responsible, thoughtful and morally aware individuals who are equipped to make informed decisions, build healthy relationships and contribute positively to their community. By the time they leave Alkerden CE Primary Phase, learners will be prepared for the next stage of their education as confident, respectful and compassionate young people.

At Alkerden CE Primary Phase, PSHE and RSE are taught regularly and systematically across all year groups, from Early Years through to Year 6, using the Kapow Primary scheme. This provides a carefully sequenced, progressive curriculum that reflects the growing understanding, maturity and needs of learners as they move through the school.

The curriculum is structured into key strands, including families and relationships, health and wellbeing, safety and the changing body, citizenship and economic wellbeing. These are delivered through a spiral approach, ensuring that key themes, such as mental wellbeing, relationships, safety, financial awareness and social responsibility, are revisited and built upon over time so that learning is embedded and internalised.

PSHE & RSE is taught through discrete, timetabled lessons on a weekly basis, supported by high-quality resources including videos and structured activities. Teachers adapt lessons to meet the needs of all learners, ensuring that differentiation and support are in place so that every learner, regardless of background, ability or need, can access the curriculum meaningfully.

A range of teaching strategies is used to support engagement and understanding, including discussion, role play, circle time, group work, stories, real-life scenarios and wellbeing activities. Lessons are delivered in a safe, respectful and supportive environment where learners are encouraged to share ideas, ask questions and explore sensitive topics with confidence. Clear ground rules are established, and sensitive content is handled with care, with additional support provided where needed.

Relationships and Sex Education is delivered in line with statutory guidance and is carefully tailored to each age group. In Early Years and Key Stage 1, learning focuses on friendships, family, respect and personal boundaries. As learners progress, they explore changes in their bodies and emotions, consent, diversity and how to make informed and safe choices.

Assessment is ongoing and formative, with teachers using questioning, discussion and observation to monitor understanding and inform future teaching. Key vocabulary and concepts are revisited regularly to ensure progression and retention.

Where appropriate, external visitors and specialists, such as health professionals and community services, are used to enrich the curriculum and provide expert knowledge, ensuring learning is accurate, relevant and engaging.

PSHE & RSE is further strengthened through the wider school ethos. It is embedded beyond lessons through daily interactions, Collective Worship, pastoral support and the promotion of Christian values such as respect, kindness, dignity and compassion. Learners are encouraged to understand moral and ethical issues, including fairness, justice, empathy and responsibility, enabling them to become thoughtful and active members of the community.

Through this consistent and inclusive approach, learners develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to understand themselves, build positive relationships and navigate the wider world safely and responsibly.

The impact of our PSHE & RSE curriculum is reflected in the development of confident, respectful and emotionally literate learners who are well prepared for the next stage of their education and for life in modern Britain. Through our progressive and carefully sequenced curriculum, learners build a deep and secure understanding of how to manage themselves, their relationships and their place within the wider world.

By the time learners leave Alkerden CE Primary Phase, they will:

• Understand themselves, including their emotions, strengths and challenges and be able to manage feelings in healthy, constructive ways
• Have the knowledge and confidence to build and maintain safe, respectful relationships, based on empathy, trust, kindness and understanding
• Make informed and responsible decisions about their health, safety, wellbeing, relationships and personal choices
• Respect diversity and demonstrate empathy, showing understanding and appreciation of people from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs
• Be socially responsible and aware, understanding their role within the community, their rights and responsibilities, and the impact of their actions on others
• Demonstrate resilience, emotional intelligence and self-esteem, enabling them to manage challenges, adapt to change, seek help when needed and support others
• Understand basic financial and economic concepts appropriate to their age, including the value of money, saving and making responsible choices
• Feel well prepared for transition to secondary school and adolescence, confident in themselves, secure in their values and equipped with the skills needed for healthy relationships and responsible decision-making

Our Learners will leave primary education as independent, thoughtful and responsible individuals who can apply their learning in real-life contexts, being able to communicate effectively, reflect on their choices and show increasing independence in managing their wellbeing and relationships.

The impact of our curriculum will be seen in learners who demonstrate kindness, respect and empathy in their interactions with others. They will engage positively within the school community, show confidence in expressing themselves, and approach challenges with resilience and a growth mindset.

Rooted in our Christian values, learners will leave Alkerden CE Primary Phase with a strong sense of moral purpose, social responsibility and care for others and are well-equipped to contribute positively to society, valuing diversity, acting with integrity and making thoughtful, informed choices as they move forward in their education and beyond.

Further PSHE and RSE Help

• RSE: NSPCC Learning
• EverySchool