PSHE/RSE

The Intent of our PHSE and RSE Curriculum

At St Joseph’s School, we are committed to supporting the personal development, wellbeing and safety of every child. Our Personal, Health, Social and Economic Education (PHSE) and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum is designed to help pupils grow into confident, respectful and healthy individuals who are prepared for life in modern Britain.

We aim to create a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment where children feel valued, listened to and supported. Through PHSE and RSE, children learn how to understand themselves, build positive relationships with others, manage their emotions, stay safe and make informed choices. We place a strong emphasis on respect, kindness, equality and responsibility, ensuring that children understand their rights and the importance of respecting the rights of others.

PHSE and RSE are lifelong learning subjects that support children’s physical, emotional, social and moral development. Our curriculum equips pupils with the knowledge, skills and vocabulary they need to navigate friendships, family relationships, health, wellbeing and the wider world, both now and in the future.

Our intention is that when children leave our school, they will:

Have a strong sense of self-worth and confidence
Understand how to build and maintain positive, healthy relationships
Be able to keep themselves safe, including online
Know how to look after their physical and mental health
Be prepared to play a positive and active role in society

A Community of LOVE

The Implementation of our PHSE and RSE Curriculum

To deliver our RSE curriculum, we use TenTen Resources. TenTen provides a comprehensive, age-appropriate Relationships and Sex Education programme that meets statutory requirements and supports children to understand relationships, health and wellbeing in a sensitive and respectful way. The programme uses a spiral curriculum approach, meaning key themes are revisited and built upon as children progress through the school.

Alongside TenTen for RSE, we use the Twinkl PSHE Scheme of Work to deliver PHSE across Reception to Year 6. The Twinkl PSHE units ensure full coverage of the statutory PHSE curriculum, including health and wellbeing, relationships, living in the wider world and economic wellbeing.

PHSE and RSE lessons are taught explicitly through planned sessions and are also reinforced through:

Whole-school and class assemblies
Circle time and class discussions
Cross-curricular links
The wider ethos and daily life of the school

Together, TenTen and Twinkl provide a coherent, progressive and inclusive curriculum that supports all learners.

Curriculum Structure and Progression

Our PHSE and RSE curriculum follows a spiral approach, ensuring that children revisit key concepts at an age-appropriate level as they move through the school. Learning deepens over time, allowing children to build on prior knowledge, skills and understanding.

The curriculum is organised across the following stages:

Early Years Foundation Stage (Reception)
Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)
Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4)
Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6)

Early Years Foundation Stage (Reception)

In Reception, PHSE and RSE focus on helping children understand themselves and their relationships with others in a practical and meaningful way. Children learn to:

Recognise and celebrate what makes them unique
Understand and name their feelings and emotions
Develop positive friendships and social skills
Learn about family and different types of relationships
Understand how to look after their bodies, including basic hygiene and healthy choices
Begin to learn about keeping safe, including knowing who can help them

Learning is delivered through stories, play-based activities, discussion and role play.

Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)

In Key Stage 1, children build on their early understanding of themselves and others. They learn to:

Recognise similarities and differences between people
Name body parts and understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle
Identify and manage a range of emotions
Develop positive friendships and understand how to resolve conflict
Learn about trusted adults and how to ask for help
Understand basic online safety, including good and bad secrets
Learn about physical boundaries and personal safety
Be introduced to the effects of harmful substances and basic first aid

Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4)

In Lower Key Stage 2, learning becomes more detailed and reflective. Children are taught to:

Respect similarities and differences and understand the importance of community
Develop healthy habits and understand how to care for their bodies
Use correct terminology for body parts, including genitalia
Learn about some of the physical and emotional changes during puberty
Understand different family structures and healthy relationships
Develop strategies for managing thoughts, feelings and behaviour
Learn about bullying, including how to seek help and support
Explore the risks associated with drugs, alcohol and tobacco

Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6)

In Upper Key Stage 2, children are prepared for the transition to secondary school and adolescence. They learn to:

Understand physical and emotional changes during puberty in more depth
Learn about menstruation, personal hygiene and emotional wellbeing
Develop strategies for maintaining mental health and resilience
Understand consent, personal boundaries and peer pressure
Explore healthy and unhealthy relationships
Learn about online safety, including sharing information and online communication
Understand different forms of abuse and how to seek help
Explore their role in the wider world, including responsibilities, diversity and respect

The Role of Parents and Carers

We recognise that parents and carers play a vital role in supporting children’s personal development and wellbeing. We value open communication and work in partnership with families to deliver PHSE and RSE effectively.

Parents are kept informed about what their children are learning through curriculum information shared by the school. TenTen also provides an Online Parent Portal, which allows parents to view lesson content and access resources to support conversations at home.

Further information can be found in our PHSE and RSE policies on the school website.

The Impact of our PHSE and RSE Curriculum

Through our PHSE and RSE curriculum, children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to make positive choices throughout their lives. By the time they leave our school, pupils are better equipped to:

Stay safe physically, emotionally and online
Understand how to live a healthy lifestyle
Build resilience and manage challenges
Develop and maintain positive relationships
Show respect for themselves and others
Contribute positively to their community and society

Our PHSE and RSE curriculum also supports British Values and promotes pupils’ Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development.