PSHE

‘All children are different, all are welcome.’- No Outsiders

Subject Overview

In September 2020, the DfE Statutory Relationships and Health Education Guidance became statutory. The Jigsaw scheme, which has been introduced at Cordwalles Junior School this year has enabled us to be compliant with the new guidance. We are continuing to use aspects of the No Outsiders scheme of work to help educate children on the British Values and the Protected Characteristics.

In accordance with the guidance, we have revised our RSHE policy, which has been reviewed by the School Governors. This policy sets out the rationale for the subject, defines relationships, health and sex education, and sets out how it is taught at Cordwalles Junior School, including where the Jigsaw scheme has been adapted to the needs of our school. 

This year, wellbeing has been a focus across the school and is a key part of Jigsaw PSHE. For example, every lesson has a time for ‘Connect Us’ and ‘Calm Me’. During the Coronavirus pandemic, wellbeing has been of critical importance and has been fully promoted by the school. 

Curriculum Intent

Our PSHE lessons are designed to assist students to improve their emotional literacy and social skills by helping them become more aware of their own thoughts and feelings as they occur and creating techniques to help them manage them. We follow the Jigsaw scheme of work, and by doing so, we hope to equip them with a valuable tool for life, one that will help them regulate their emotions, build emotional resilience, and improve their capacity to focus and concentrate, all of which will help them learn more effectively. Pupils will work toward two learning intentions over the course of each unit, one based on specialised PSHE learning and the other on emotional literacy and social skills. We want to make sure that when students graduate from Year 6, they have the skills they need to succeed in today's world and in their next phase of study.

Curriculum Implementation

The PSHE program is designed to be a whole-school approach, with all classes working on the same theme at the same time. The jigsaw is divided into six puzzles (units), each with six pieces (lessons). Our revised PSHE policy highlights how we've changed and relocated several units to ensure they're taught at the most appropriate time for our students. Lessons can be customised to the needs of the students in the year group or class, and there is some flexibility in planning, such as compressing units. We also decided to transfer several lessons from Year 4 to Year 5 within the Changing Me jigsaw piece.

The 6 units we cover are:

Autumn 1:  No Outsiders - The British Values

Autumn 2:  Being Me in My World  

Spring 1:  Relationships 

Spring 2:  Celebrating Difference (including anti-bullying) 

Summer 1:  Changing Me (including Sex Education in years 5 and 6) 

Summer 2:  Healthy Me 

Long term planning is overseen by the subject lead and, in each year group, one teacher is responsible for planning of the PSHE lessons.

Much of the time in PSHE is spent in conversation or doing practical activities, with the goal of building skills that may be seen in action throughout the school day.  Pupils self-assess their skill progression maps by using traffic lights.  At the end of each lesson, they are given the opportunity to reflect on what they have learnt as well as how this has made them feel.  With wellbeing at the centre of PSHE lessons, we make sure that students have plenty of time to talk to us about anything after they've had a chance to think about it.

Outside of the Jigsaw scheme, many other aspects of the school help develop well-rounded and equipped individuals; positive relationships with staff, celebration of achievements, outdoor learning and opportunities to share pupil views via Pupil Parliament.

Curriculum Impact

The scheme of work is designed to enable skills to be acquired throughout the course of the year and be built upon as each year progresses.  Each puzzle focuses on different key skills to be acquired by the end of the year, some examples are -

No Outsiders - Accepting others and understanding of differences in race, religion, gender and sexuality.

Being Me in My World - Recognising their own worth. Recognising that their actions have consequences. Understanding the importance of being part of a team.

Relationships - Know how to make and develop appropriate relationships.

Celebrating Difference - Developing empathy for others. Recognising how to appreciate the differences in people.

Changing Me - Recognise what changes they are looking forward to in their next academic year and how to manage change. Understand how their body is changing and how to deal with it.

Healthy Me - Know how to keep themselves safe. Understand which foods constitute a healthy diet.

Teaching & Learning

PSHE is taught explicitly once a week, but it is also blended into other subjects such as RE, Science, English, and PE.  PSHE is integrated into all sections of the curriculum as well as the school's overall ethos.  Our PSHE classes encompass relationships, social skills, and personal identity as part of the RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) curriculum.