At Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery, we believe that high-quality PSHE and RSHE are essential for equipping children with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to lead safe, healthy, and meaningful lives. Through a carefully planned curriculum that incorporates Jigsaw, we foster resilience, empathy, respect, and responsibility, enabling our pupils to thrive both personally and socially. This development enables them to build strong self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to form positive relationships within their school, family, and wider community.

Curriculum Intent

Our PSHE and RSHE curriculum is designed to:

• Promote emotional well-being, physical health, and respectful relationships.
• Equip pupils with the tools to make informed decisions and navigate life’s challenges.
• Celebrate diversity and encourage inclusivity.
• Prepare children for the opportunities and responsibilities of adult life.
• Ensure pupils understand how to stay safe, both offline and online.

We aim to foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where pupils feel empowered to ask questions and engage thoughtfully with a wide range of topics, including those that may be sensitive.

Curriculum Implementation

We deliver PSHE and RSHE through:

• Weekly discrete PSHE lessons using the DfE-accredited Jigsaw scheme, which provides age-appropriate, spiral learning from Nursery to Year 6.
• Science curriculum links, particularly in areas related to human development and reproduction.
• Termly antibullying Lessons, with progressive learning objectives tailored to each year group, addressing the specific bullying issues pupils may encounter at their age.

Key units include:

• Unit 5: Relationships – covering friendships, family structures, online safety, empathy, and managing emotions.
• Unit 6: Changing Me – exploring body changes, puberty, reproduction, self-image, and transitions.

PSHE and RSHE lessons are adapted to meet the needs of all learners, including those with SEND and SEMH needs. Unit 6 is delivered exclusively by class teachers to ensure consistency and sensitivity.

At Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery, our PSHE and RSHE curriculum includes the Jigsaw PSHE scheme. Jigsaw supports children’s emotional, social, and physical development through six termly units known as ‘Puzzles.’ Each year group explores these themes at an age-appropriate level, ensuring progression and continuity through a spiral curriculum. The scheme integrates emotional literacy, resilience, mental health, and mindfulness, helping children manage their emotions and develop self-awareness. It also addresses sensitive topics such as identity, diversity, and personal safety.

Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RSHE) is delivered sensitively and appropriately within the Relationships and Changing Me units in terms 5 and 6. Topics include friendships, families, emotional well-being, and human development, with childbirth and conception introduced gradually from Year 3 to Year 6.

Jigsaw’s whole-school approach fosters inclusivity, self-worth, and respectful relationships, aiming to nurture confident, compassionate, and responsible individuals prepared for life in a diverse and ever-changing world.

Curriculum Impact

Through our PSHE and RSHE curriculum, our pupils demonstrate increased confidence, empathy, and understanding of key concepts such as consent, safety, and emotional resilience. They are better equipped to manage relationships and transitions, and to contribute positively to their communities.

What is RSHE?

Relationships Education teaches children about healthy, respectful relationships, focusing on family and friendships in all contexts, including online.

Health Education covers physical health and mental wellbeing, helping children make healthy lifestyle choices and understand the link between body and mind.

Sex Education is taught in an age-appropriate and sensitive way, focusing on human reproduction, puberty, and the emotional aspects of growing up.

RSHE is embedded within our PSHE curriculum and delivered through the Jigsaw scheme, ensuring a structured and progressive approach from Nursery to Year 6.

Right to Withdraw (RSHE)

Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from specific elements of Sex Education that are not part of the statutory Science curriculum. This includes lessons on conception, childbirth, and sexual intercourse taught in the ‘Changing Me’ unit in term 6.

Before making this decision, we encourage parents to:

• Discuss concerns with the class teacher and PSHE subject lead.
• Review the curriculum content and resources.
• Attend information sessions or request translated materials if needed.

Please note: Parents cannot withdraw their child from Relationships Education or Health Education, which are statutory. This is explained further in our RSHE school policy:-