PERSONAL, SOCIAL and HEALTH EDUCATION CURRICULUM

 

Our Vision for PSHE

At St Mary’s, PSHE underpins everything we do. It equips pupils with the knowledge, skills and values to become healthy, confident, resilient and responsible members of society.

Through SCARF, Votes for Schools and Think Equal (EYFS) , our curriculum nurtures self-esteem, respect and empathy while ensuring that every child’s voice is heard. Pupils learn to make informed choices, celebrate diversity, and contribute positively to their community.

Our vision is that all children leave St. Mary's with the emotional literacy, confidence and moral awareness to thrive both now and in the future.

Curriculum Intent

At St Mary’s Primary School, our Christian Vision and our Core Values of Love, Equality, Hope and Forgiveness underpin the design and delivery of our PSHE curriculum. These values guide us in creating a curriculum that nurtures pupils academically, spiritually and personally, ensuring that every child is equipped to flourish.

Our PSHE provision aims to help children become healthy, independent and responsible members of society. We support pupils in understanding their personal and social development while exploring the moral, social and cultural issues that form an essential part of growing up. Through this, we provide the knowledge, understanding and skills needed for pupils to lead healthy, meaningful and fulfilling lives—both now and in the future.

We want pupils to understand their rights and responsibilities, appreciate diversity, and recognise the contribution they can make to the school community and the wider world. By engaging in opportunities to contribute positively to school life, children develop a strong sense of self-worth, confidence and agency.

Aims of the PSHE Curriculum

Our PSHE curriculum aims to:

·         Promote emotional wellbeing, safety and resilience, supporting pupils’ personal development and readiness for life.

·         Teach pupils to understand and manage relationships, health, safety, finances and media influence, helping them navigate the modern world confidently and safely.

·         Foster British Values, active citizenship and democratic participation, supported through weekly Votes for Schools debates.

·         Provide a spiral curriculum in which key knowledge, skills and concepts are revisited, reinforced and deepened year on year.

·         Ensure that all statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) requirements are taught sensitively, inclusively and in an age-appropriate way.

·         Reflect the Curriculum and Assessment Review 2025 priorities, including character education, wellbeing and civic responsibility.

·         Guarantee equality of access for all learners, with adaptive provision to support SEND and EAL pupils.

Curriculum Structure

Our curriculum is organised around the SCARF thematic framework:

1.    Me and My Relationships

2.    Valuing Difference

3.    Keeping Myself Safe

4.    Rights and Responsibilities

5.    Being My Best

6.    Growing and Changing

Weekly Votes for Schools sessions enrich these themes by introducing current social, ethical and environmental issues, enabling pupils to apply their PSHE learning to real-world contexts and engage thoughtfully as young citizens.

Curriculum Implementation

PSHE is taught as a discrete, timetabled subject each week and reinforced across the wider curriculum and daily life of the school.

EYFS:
Children explore feelings, friendships, turn-taking and making choices through play and discussion.

KS1:
Pupils learn how to build positive relationships, recognise and manage emotions, and keep themselves safe at home and school.

Lower KS2:
Pupils develop awareness of rights, responsibilities, diversity and community roles. They begin to understand body changes, peer influence and online safety.

Upper KS2:
Pupils explore complex topics such as puberty, mental health, discrimination, finance, and the media. They learn about democracy and ethical debate through Votes for Schools, building confidence in expressing and justifying viewpoints respectfully.

Teaching Model:

  • Active, discussion-based pedagogy using scenarios, role-play and reflection journals.
  • Retrieval opportunities through vocabulary walls, wellbeing displays and circle-time revisits.
  • Integration with assemblies, pupil leadership programmes and themed events (Anti-Bullying Week, Children’s Mental Health Week, Safer Internet Day).

Specialist and Community Links:

  • Coram Life Education visits reinforce SCARF messages.
  • Collaboration with school nurse, local police, NSPCC Speak Out Stay Safe and community organisations.
  • Votes for Schools provides weekly national topics linked to UN Sustainable Development Goals and British Values.

Inclusion:
Lessons are differentiated through visuals, structured talk frames and social stories. Staff receive training in trauma-informed and emotionally literate practice.

Curriculum Impact

We measure impact through:

  • Pupil voice showing understanding, empathy and ability to discuss feelings and values.
  • Class books and reflection journals evidencing progress in emotional literacy and decision-making.
  • Behaviour and safeguarding data indicating positive relationships and resilience.
  • Votes for Schools participation demonstrating confidence, respect and democratic engagement.
  • Staff observation and feedback confirming inclusion and quality of discussion.

“I like PSHE because we can talk about what matters and everyone’s opinion counts.” – Year 5 pupil

By the end of KS2, pupils can articulate their values, manage emotions effectively, and contribute constructively to the world around them.

How Parents and Carers Can Support Learning

  • Talk regularly with your child about feelings, friendships and online activity.
  • Encourage healthy routines — sleep, exercise, balanced diet and screen time limits.
  • Discuss current issues at home; listen to your child’s perspective from Votes for Schools sessions.
  • Model positive relationships and respectful debate.

Recommended home links:

Further Information and Useful Documents

For further information about our PSHE curriculum, please contact our PSHE Lead, Mrs Jenkins, via our school email address info@st-marys-cadishead.salford.sch.uk 

Curriculum Overview Long-term Map - what is taught when

Growing and Changing Learning Journeys - what is taught when

Progression Map

Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE) Policy 

Relationship, Sex Education (RSE) Policy 

Think Equal Overivews

Nursery               Reception

SCARF Knowledge Organisers - what is covered in each topic in each year group 

Year 1          Year 2          Year 3          Year 4          Year 5          Year 6

 

PSHE Leader: Mrs Michelle Jenkins
Last reviewed: November 2025
Next review: September 2026

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