PSHE Education Policy  

2024-2025

What is PSHE Education? 

‘Personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE education) is a planned programme  of learning opportunities and experiences that help children and young people grow and  develop as individuals, as members of families and of social and economic communities.’ (PSHE Association)

PSHE uniquely aims to develop the whole child including their knowledge, understanding,  skills, strategies, beliefs, values and attributes. At Co-op Academy Broadhurst, we place a  high value on the development of the ‘whole child’. The teaching of Personal, Social, Health  & Economic (PSHE) education underpins children’s development as people and supports their  learning capacity. PSHE forms part of our wider, holistic approach to addressing sensitive  subjects and protect our pupils.

As part of our whole school approach, PSHE develops the qualities and attributes that children  need to manage opportunities, challenges and responsibilities as they grow up, enabling them  to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society. By teaching pupils to stay safe and healthy, and by building self-esteem, resilience and empathy, our effective PSHE  programme enables staff to tackle barriers to learning and raise aspirations for our pupils.  

Statement of Intent 

It is our intent to provide all children with a broad and balanced curriculum that aims to assist  children and young people to prepare for adult life by supporting them through their physical,  emotional and moral development, and helping them to understand themselves, respect others and form and sustain healthy relationships.

At Co-op Academy Broadhurst we teach discrete PSHE lessons through the iMatters Curriculum designed by Manchester Healthy Schools Programme, which follows the Department of Education’s updated Statutory RSE and Health Education Guidance as well incorporating recommended content from the PSHE Association. In addition to these discrete lessons, we endeavour to embed the knowledge and skills throughout many aspects of school life as well as filtering through other curriculum areas.

There are four core themes of our PSHE programme of study focuses on:

- Mental and Emotional Health

- Keeping Safe

- Healthy Lifestyles

- Living in the Wider World

Relationships and Sex Education is an additional integral aspect of our curriculum which is  taught discretely. From September 2020, all primary schools are required by the government to teach Relationship and Sex Education. Relationship and Sex Education is designed to help children to have positive and safe relationships with family, friends and online (more  information on this can be found in our Relationship and Sex Education Policy).

As a result of our PSHE programme of learning, pupils will:

- Develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy,  independent lives and to become informed, active and responsible citizens who make a  positive contribution to society.  

- understand and respect who they are, to empower them with a voice and to equip them  for life and learning.

Implementation through Teaching and Learning 

Co-op Academy Broadhurst we seek to provide a safe, secure learning environment for PSHE  that enables children and young people to gain accurate knowledge, develop their own values  and attitudes, and develop skills to grow into happy confident successful adults.  

At the beginning of each year, every class sets ground rules that children must follow during  PSHE lessons. This creates a safe and supportive learning environment and allows children  to feel comfortable and to speak openly and honestly. We promote the needs and interests of  all pupils, irrespective of gender, culture or background and all teachers take into account the  children’s age, ability and readiness. PSHE will be provided through discreet curriculum time, assemblies, class discussions/circle time, P4C, as and when issues arise, ensuring time is made within the curriculum to meet the needs of the children and through extra-curricular activities. These include mental health awareness week, safer internet day and walk to school week. We respect pupils’ unique starting points by providing learning that is suitable to their level, taking into account their age, maturity and how emotionally secure they are.

The PSHE curriculum links closely to our Rights Respecting work and we teach elements of  PSHE through the Articles in the Convention of the Rights of the Child.

Early Years Foundation Stage 

In Early Years, PSED (Personal, Social and Emotional Development) is a prime area of learning therefore an integral aspect of daily planning, teaching and learning.

- Making relationships

- Self-confidence and self-awareness

- Managing feelings and behaviour

Planning is through the progression documents and the needs of the children. Children take part in circle time and discuss topics and themes that are at their level. Teachers look at the core themes and take aspects of these to inform their planning. PSED is a fundamental building block in a child’s development and underpins the whole curriculum.

Key Stage One and Two 

Key Stage One and Two PSHE is embedded into a range of curriculum areas, however a one hour lesson of discrete PSHE is delivered every fortnight, following the iMatters PSHE Curriculum. This follows the four core themes (five when including RSE) which have been adapted specifically for the children of Manchester Schools. Children have the opportunity to form and share opinions, value differences, recognise feelings and emotions as well as identify what makes relationships healthy.

All year groups cover all four areas; mental and emotional health, keeping safe, healthy  lifestyles and living in the wider world in an age appropriate way. Each year the skills,  knowledge and understanding progresses and builds on the year before. The key learning  objectives are detailed in the table below:

Implementation through inclusion, including meeting the needs of SEND pupils 

Our teachers provide learning opportunities matched to the individual needs of all children  including those with special educational needs and disabilities. PSHE is taught inclusively to  all children regardless of their race, religion and gender, whilst at the same time addressing  the need for equal opportunity. The PSHE curriculum is in line with the single equality duty policy. Staff will ensure that no judgement will be passed on the lifestyles and choices made  by others. If a safeguarding issue is raised, staff are required to follow the correct safeguarding  procedure and safeguarding policy.  

Implementation through Professional Development and Training 

The PSHE Co-ordinator ensures they are kept informed of relevant changes to aspects of  PSHE by attending local cluster meetings, Healthy Schools and PSHE network meetings. The Co-ordinator will support colleagues in the teaching of PSHE by giving them information about current developments in the subject and providing a strategic lead and direction for the  subject in school.

Implementation through Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation 

Teachers assess the children’s work in PSHE by making informal judgements as they observe  them during lessons. We have clear expectations of what the pupils will know and understand  at the end of each year and key stage. Assessment should offer the children the opportunity  to reflect on their own progress. Within the Foundation Stage, PSHE objectives are documented within ‘big books’ which include specific focussed PSHE objectives and circle  time activities. Similar to this, Key Stage One and Two also have a class ‘big book’ where circle time discussions are recorded, pictures of activities that are completed during PSHE  lessons and any comments made by children that are relevant to the topic are included. The PSHE subject leader is responsible for monitoring the standards of children’s work and the quality of teaching. The subject leader will monitor plans, teaching and learning in order to evaluate strengths and weaknesses in the school and indicate areas for improvement. The subject leader will regularly evaluate the scheme of work to ensure that the needs of the pupils are being met and that there is progression and continuity of learning through the school.

Confidentiality and handling disclosures 

Staff will ensure that no judgement will be passed on the lifestyles and choices made  by others. If a safeguarding issue is raised, staff are required to follow the correct  safeguarding procedure and safeguarding policy

Impact 

As a result of our detailed PSHE Curriculum the children will have developed and practised  our Co-op Values:

- Self-help

- Self-responsibility

- Democracy

- Equality

- Equity

- Solidarity

Throughout our whole curriculum we encourage our children to be resilient and be able to persevere; be reflective and take responsibility; be resourceful, question and demonstrate  inquisitiveness and creativity; show reciprocity and be able to co-operate, empathise and  respect others.

Involving parents and carers 

We are committed to working with parents and carers and will communicate with them  through the Class Dojo system, text message and letters home when necessary. We will offer support from our  and Parent Support Advisor and DSL Michelle Stacey, if and when issues arise.

Links to additional policies 

Our PSHE Curriculum is supported by the following whole-school policies:

• Child Protection and Safeguarding

• Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)

• Online Safety

• Behaviour

• Anti-bullying

• SEND inclusion

• Healthy Schools

Written and Review Date 

This policy has been written by the PSHE Co-ordinator in discussion with the Head Teacher,  staff and governors.

Approved by Governors: Yes

Date:  12/10/22

Review Date(s): September 2025