Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
At St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that education is about developing the whole child. Alongside academic achievement, we want every pupil to develop the knowledge, confidence, character and life skills they need to flourish.
Our PSHE curriculum helps children understand themselves, build positive relationships, make healthy and safe choices and develop the confidence to participate positively in their school and wider community.
Rooted in our Catholic mission to “Let Your Light Shine”, our approach is underpinned by our values of being kind, being respectful, making a difference and being passionate about learning.
A Curriculum for Life
Our PSHE curriculum is carefully planned and sequenced from the Early Years through to Year 6. Children revisit important ideas as they grow, developing their understanding in an age appropriate way.
Pupils learn about:
• relationships and friendships
• physical and mental health
• emotional wellbeing
• keeping safe
• online safety
• personal boundaries and consent
• respect and equality
• diversity and inclusion
• rights and responsibilities
• money and financial awareness
• making positive choices
• growing and changing
• citizenship and the wider community.
We want children to have the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions and recognise when they may need help or support.
Relationships and Respect
Positive relationships are at the heart of our PSHE curriculum.
Children learn how to develop healthy friendships and relationships based on kindness, respect, honesty and trust. They explore how to communicate effectively, manage disagreements and recognise behaviours that are helpful or harmful.
Pupils learn about personal boundaries and the importance of respecting themselves and others. They are taught that everyone has the right to feel safe, valued and respected.
Our Catholic values provide a strong foundation for understanding the dignity and uniqueness of every individual.
Health and Wellbeing
We want children to understand how they can look after their physical and emotional health.
Pupils learn about healthy lifestyles, including physical activity, nutrition, sleep and personal hygiene. They also develop an understanding of emotions and mental wellbeing.
Children are taught practical strategies for managing feelings, responding to challenges and seeking support when they need it.
We encourage pupils to develop resilience and recognise that asking for help is a strength.
Keeping Safe
Children learn how to recognise risks and make safe choices in different situations.
This includes learning about personal safety, road safety, fire safety, water safety and staying safe when using technology and the internet.
Our online safety teaching helps children understand how to protect themselves and others in the digital world. They learn what to do if something makes them feel uncomfortable, worried or unsafe and are encouraged to speak to a trusted adult.
Growing and Changing
Our Relationships, Sex and Health Education is taught as part of our wider PSHE curriculum and in accordance with statutory guidance and our Catholic ethos.
Children learn about themselves, their bodies, relationships, personal boundaries and growing up in an age appropriate way.
We provide children with accurate information while ensuring that learning is sensitive, respectful and appropriate to their age and stage of development.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We want children to grow up understanding and respecting the diverse world in which they live.
Pupils learn about equality, diversity and protected characteristics and develop an understanding of how prejudice and discrimination can affect individuals and communities.
We celebrate differences and encourage children to recognise the value and dignity of every person.
As a UNICEF Rights Respecting School, we also help children understand their rights and responsibilities and consider how they can contribute positively to the lives of others.
Preparing Children for Life
PSHE helps children develop the knowledge and skills they need to participate confidently in the wider world.
Pupils develop an understanding of money, saving, spending and making responsible financial choices. They explore aspirations, careers and the wide range of opportunities available to them.
Children also develop their understanding of democracy, rules, responsibility, fairness and the role they can play in their community.
We want pupils to recognise that they have a voice and that their choices and actions can make a positive difference.
Developing Character and Resilience
Our PSHE curriculum supports the development of the personal qualities that help children flourish.
Pupils are encouraged to develop:
• resilience
• independence
• empathy
• self confidence
• perseverance
• responsibility
• respect
• compassion.
Children learn that challenges are part of life and that mistakes and setbacks can provide opportunities to learn and grow.
Faith in Action
Our Catholic mission is woven throughout our personal development curriculum.
Children are encouraged to consider how their choices affect others and how they can put their faith into action through kindness, service and care for our common home.
Opportunities such as Mini Vinnies, School Council, Eco Team, Wellbeing Leaders and other pupil leadership roles enable children to take responsibility and make a meaningful contribution to school life and the wider community.
Supporting Every Child
We have high expectations for every pupil and believe that every child deserves the opportunity to achieve, belong and thrive.
Our PSHE curriculum is inclusive and responsive to the needs of our pupils. Teachers use adaptive approaches to ensure that all children, including disadvantaged pupils, vulnerable pupils and pupils with SEND, can access learning and develop the knowledge and skills they need to flourish.
We create a supportive environment in which children feel safe to ask questions, share concerns and seek help.
Preparing Children for the Future
By the time children leave St Vincent's, we want them to understand themselves, value others and feel confident about their place in the world.
We want them to have the knowledge and skills to make healthy and safe choices, develop positive relationships, manage challenges and contribute positively to their communities.
Above all, we want our pupils to recognise their own worth and the worth of others. Through PSHE, we encourage every child to achieve, belong and thrive, developing the confidence, character and compassion to make a difference and let their light shine.
At St Vincent’s we aspire to make the learning ambitious for all learners. Our school curriculum includes the knowledge, skills and life experiences children need to thrive. Our learning is carefully planned and sequenced using the National Curriculum that can be found below:
Knowledge and skills are built on from previous years and there is clear progression in each subject. You can see an overview of progression below:
Each curriculum area is taught across the year and evidenced on a long term plan, divided into half termly blocks. You can see the long term plan below:
British Values within our PSHE session are of the utmost importance across all year groups. You can see each PSHE session and its correlating British Value below.
