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PSHE

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Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) and Relationships Education

Curriculum Intent

At Byron Primary School, our aim is to help every child develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and character they need to thrive both now and in the future. We want pupils to become healthy, safe, respectful and responsible individuals who understand themselves, value others and contribute positively to their communities.

PSHE and Relationships Education sit at the heart of our curriculum and play a vital role in supporting children's personal development, wellbeing and preparation for life in modern Britain. Through high-quality teaching and meaningful discussion, pupils learn how to build positive relationships, look after their physical and mental health, stay safe, develop resilience and make informed decisions.

Beginning in EYFS and continuing through to Year 6, pupils develop an increasingly sophisticated understanding of themselves, their relationships and the wider world. The curriculum is carefully sequenced so that important knowledge and skills are revisited and built upon over time, enabling children to know more, remember more and apply their learning in real-life situations.

Our curriculum develops both substantive knowledge and the practical skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex world. Pupils learn how to manage emotions, build healthy relationships, recognise and manage risk, seek support when needed, respect differences, challenge discrimination and develop positive attitudes towards themselves and others.

At Byron, we recognise the importance of our local context. Many of our children are growing up in a richly diverse community and will encounter a wide range of experiences, cultures, beliefs and perspectives. Through carefully chosen stories, discussion and reflection, children develop empathy, understanding and respect for others whilst building a strong sense of belonging within our school and wider community.

Our curriculum actively promotes Byron's values of Respect, Aspire and Succeed. Pupils learn to respect themselves and others, aspire to achieve their goals and make positive choices and succeed by developing confidence, resilience and independence. Through this work, children develop many of the protective characteristics that support positive outcomes throughout their lives, including self-belief, self-regulation, communication, empathy, resilience, aspiration and a strong sense of belonging.

PSHE and Relationships Education also make a significant contribution to pupils' understanding of British Values. Through learning about democracy, individual liberty, mutual respect, tolerance, rights, responsibilities and equality, pupils develop the knowledge and understanding needed to become active and responsible citizens.

Curriculum Implementation

In EYFS, children begin to develop their personal, social and emotional understanding through Byron's bespoke curriculum, carefully planned around the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. Through stories, play, discussion, exploration and daily interactions, children learn about relationships, emotions, wellbeing, safety and their place within the world around them.

From Year 1 to Year 6, PSHE and Relationships Education are delivered through a carefully sequenced curriculum based on The Story Project, which uses high-quality, diverse children's literature as a stimulus for learning and discussion. Through carefully chosen texts, children encounter characters, experiences and situations that encourage reflection, questioning, empathy and personal growth.

The curriculum is organised around six key themes:

Being a Good Friend
Celebrating Families
Looking After My Body and Mind
Keeping Safe
Becoming a Global Citizen
Growing Up

These themes are revisited throughout a child's journey through school, allowing knowledge and understanding to deepen progressively as children mature and their experiences broaden.

Our curriculum fully covers the statutory requirements for Relationships Education, and Health Education while also including additional PSHE content that reflects the needs of our pupils and community. Topics include:

Mental health and emotional wellbeing
Healthy lifestyles
Healthy relationships and friendships
Family life
Personal safety and safeguarding
Online safety and digital citizenship
Diversity, equality and inclusion
Bullying and peer pressure
Physical health and puberty
Careers, aspirations and future pathways
Financial education and economic wellbeing
Rights, responsibilities and citizenship

Children are taught through discussion, enquiry, reflection, collaborative tasks, role play, story-based learning and practical activities. Lessons provide opportunities for pupils to share ideas, challenge stereotypes, consider different viewpoints and develop the confidence to express their opinions respectfully.

Our curriculum reflects the diversity of modern Britain and our own school community. Through high-quality texts and discussion, pupils encounter different cultures, beliefs, family structures, backgrounds and experiences. We carefully select stories that promote equality, challenge discrimination and help children understand protected characteristics in an age-appropriate way. [The-Story-...riculum-18 | PDF]

Teaching is adapted to ensure that all pupils, including those with SEND and pupils who are developing proficiency in English, can fully participate and succeed. Vocabulary is taught explicitly and revisited regularly to help pupils communicate their ideas, feelings and understanding with confidence.

Personal Development at Byron

PSHE and Relationships Education underpin much of Byron's wider personal development offer.

The curriculum is closely linked to:

Wellbeing Ambassadors
School Council
Online Safety education
Anti-bullying work
Mental health and wellbeing support
Safeguarding education
British Values
Equality and diversity education
Attendance and belonging initiatives
Educational visits and enrichment opportunities
Leadership opportunities across school

Together, these experiences help children understand how to keep themselves safe, build positive relationships, make healthy choices and contribute positively to society.

Curriculum Impact

By the end of Year 6, pupils will have developed a secure understanding of how to stay healthy, safe and emotionally well. They will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to manage relationships, navigate challenges and make informed decisions.

Pupils will be able to:

Identify and manage a range of emotions.
Build and maintain healthy relationships.
Demonstrate respect and tolerance towards others.
Understand how to keep themselves safe both online and offline.
Recognise risk and know when and how to seek help.
Understand the importance of physical and mental wellbeing.
Make informed choices about healthy lifestyles.
Understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
Show resilience when facing challenges and setbacks.
Value diversity and challenge discrimination.
Demonstrate empathy and compassion towards others.
Reflect on their aspirations and future goals.

As a result of their learning, pupils demonstrate the protective characteristics that support positive life outcomes. They show confidence, resilience, self-regulation, empathy, communication, aspiration and a strong sense of belonging. They understand that differences should be celebrated, that everyone deserves respect and that their actions can make a positive difference to others.

Pupils leave Byron Primary School as respectful, responsible and informed young people who are well prepared for the next stage of their education and for life in modern Britain. They have developed the confidence to make positive choices, the resilience to overcome challenges and the character to contribute positively to their communities and the wider world.

What will my child learn about each year?

You can find an overview of the learning in each year group below.

PSHE curriculum Map The-Story-Project-Curriculum-18-1.pdf

PSHE and RSHE: Progression of Knowledge and Skills

Year-1-Overview.pdf Year-2-overview.pdf Year-3-Overview.pdf Year-4-Overview.pdf Year-5-Overview.pdf

Year-6-Overview.pdf

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