RSE & PSHE

At St Martin’s, our intention is to provide an inclusive, ambitious and carefully sequenced Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum that prepares every child to live a happy, healthy, safe and fulfilling life.

Rooted in our Christian vision and FRESH values, our curriculum teaches children that every person is valued and loved. We want pupils to develop respect, empathy and compassion, build positive relationships and celebrate the diversity of families, cultures, beliefs and experiences within modern society.

Through the Kapow Primary scheme, pupils progressively develop the knowledge, vocabulary and skills they need to:

• understand and manage their emotions and support their mental and physical health;
• form safe, respectful and caring relationships; recognise risks, establish boundaries and ask trusted adults for help;
• make safe and responsible choices, including when using the online world;
• understand their changing bodies and approach growing up with confidence;
• appreciate equality, challenge stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination, and respect the protected characteristics;
• understand money, citizenship, rights and responsibilities; and
• contribute positively to their school, local community and wider society.

Learning begins in Reception and develops through a spiral curriculum to Year 6. Important concepts are revisited with increasing depth and maturity so that pupils can connect new learning with their existing knowledge and apply it confidently to real-life situations.

PSHE and RSE are taught through dedicated weekly lessons and strengthened through collective worship, mental health and wellbeing days, personal development afternoons, Picture News, inspirational individuals, our Super 7 characteristics and the wider life of the school. Teaching is age-appropriate, factual and responsive to pupils’ needs. Lessons are adapted carefully so that every child, including pupils with SEND, can participate, feel represented and succeed.

Ultimately, we want every child to leave St Martin’s as a confident, resilient and compassionate individual who can make informed decisions, keep themselves and others safe, value difference and play an active role in society.

At St Martin’s, PSHE and RSE are taught through the Kapow Primary scheme, providing a broad, balanced and progressive curriculum from Reception to Year 6. Pupils receive a dedicated lesson each week: 30 minutes in EYFS and Key Stage 1 and 45 minutes in Key Stage 2.

Our spiral curriculum is organised around the key areas of:

My Healthy Self
Connecting with Others
The Online World
Citizenship
Staying Safe
Health Protection
Growing Up

Age-appropriate Sex Education and First Aid are also taught in Year 6. Important knowledge and skills are revisited regularly, with increasing depth and complexity, enabling pupils to remember more, make connections and apply their learning to everyday life.

Lessons are delivered by class teachers, who create safe and respectful environments in which pupils can discuss sensitive issues, explore different viewpoints and ask questions. Teaching uses discussion, stories, diverse characters, real-life scenarios, role play, reflection and practical activities. Accurate vocabulary is introduced progressively so that pupils can communicate confidently, recognise unsafe situations, establish appropriate boundaries and seek help when needed.

Teachers adapt lessons to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND. Scaffolding, visual resources, concrete examples, repetition, structured tasks and multi-sensory approaches ensure that every child can participate and succeed. Resources reflect different cultures, families, identities, neurotypes and economic backgrounds, helping pupils feel represented while developing respect and empathy for others.

Weekly lessons are reinforced throughout school life through:

• collective worship and Picture News;

• mental health and wellbeing days;

• personal development afternoons;

• our FRESH values and Super 7 characteristics;

• inspirational individuals and our equality book spine;

• visits from specialist professionals, including the school nursing team;

• safeguarding, online safety and citizenship education; and

• everyday conversations and situations arising in classrooms and on the playground.

Teachers assess learning formatively through discussion, questioning, pupil reflection, retrieval activities, observation and pupils’ application of knowledge. Misconceptions are identified and addressed, and teaching is adapted to pupils’ emerging needs.

Staff receive regular PSHE, RSE and safeguarding training. The subject leader monitors planning, teaching, pupils’ work and pupil voice to evaluate the quality and consistency of provision and identify priorities for continued improvement.

The impact of our PSHE and RSE curriculum is that pupils leave St Martin’s with the knowledge, skills, confidence and values needed to lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.

Pupils will:

• understand how to support their physical and mental health and wellbeing;

• recognise and manage a range of emotions;

• build positive, respectful and caring relationships;

• understand consent, privacy and appropriate personal boundaries;

• recognise unsafe situations and know how and where to seek help;

• make informed and responsible choices, including online;

• understand how their bodies change as they grow;

• respect different families, cultures, faiths, identities and ways of life;

• recognise and challenge stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination;

• understand their rights, responsibilities and role within society;

• develop an age-appropriate understanding of money and financial decisions; and

• demonstrate resilience, empathy, respect and compassion in their daily lives.

Pupils’ knowledge and personal development are demonstrated through their contributions to lessons, discussions and reflections, as well as through their behaviour, relationships and decision-making across school. They use appropriate vocabulary, recall important learning and apply it confidently to real-life situations.

The impact of the curriculum is evaluated through formative assessment, pupil voice, lesson visits, work scrutiny, teacher feedback and subject-leader monitoring. This information is used to identify misconceptions, respond to emerging needs and continually strengthen provision.

Ultimately, our pupils become confident, considerate and responsible citizens who value themselves and others, celebrate diversity and are well prepared for the opportunities and challenges of their next stage of education and life beyond St Martin’s.

PSHE Year Group Summary