PSHE and RSHE

PSHE is Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education and RSHE is Relationships, Sex and Health Education.

Watch Mr Olway and Mrs Inskip's presentation to tell you more about the Jigsaw PSHE and RSHE we use at Chidham:

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What is PSHE Education and what do schools have to teach? 

PSHE Education (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) is a planned programme of learning through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to successfully manage their lives – now and in the future. As part of a whole-school approach, PSHE Education develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.

According to the National Curriculum, every school needs to have a broad and balanced curriculum that:

• promotes the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school;

• prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life;

• promotes British values.

PSHE is where most primary schools choose to teach the compulsory Relationships and Health Education topics laid out by the Department for Education, as well as the Sex Education that is recommended to be taught in Year5 and/or Year 6.

Schools also have statutory responsibilities to safeguard their pupils (Keeping Children Safe in Education, DfE - updated annually) and to uphold the Equality Act (2010).

At Chidham, we use the Jigsaw Programme which supports all of these requirements and has children’s wellbeing at its heart.

What is Jigsaw and how does it work? 

Jigsaw is a whole-school approach and embodies a positive philosophy and creative teaching and learning activities to nurture children’s development as compassionate and well-rounded human beings as well as building their capacity to learn. Jigsaw is a comprehensive and completely original PSHE Education programme (lesson plans and teaching resources) for the whole primary school from ages 3-11 (12 in Scotland). Developed by teacher and psychotherapist, Jan Lever MBE (services to education) and teachers, and grounded in sound psychology, it also includes all the statutory requirements for Relationships and Health Education as well as the recommended Sex Education content.

Jigsaw has two main aims for all children:

• To build their capacity for learning

• To equip them for life

Jigsaw brings together PSHE Education, compulsory Relationships and Health Education, emotional literacy, mindfulness, social skills and spiritual development. It is designed as a whole school approach, with all year groups working on the same theme (Puzzle) at the same time at their own level. There are six Puzzles (half-term units of work) and each year group is taught one lesson per week. All lessons are delivered in an age- and stage-appropriate way so that they meet children’s needs. Each Puzzle starts with an introductory assembly, generating a whole school focus for adults and children alike. There is also a Weekly Celebration that highlights a theme from that week’s lesson across the school encouraging children to live that learning in their behaviour and attitudes.

What will Jigsaw teach my child? (Intent) 

The overview below summarises the content in each of Jigsaw’s units of work (Puzzles):

Being Me In My World covers a wide range of topics, including a sense of belonging, welcoming others and being part of a school community, a wider community, and a global community. It also looks at children’s rights and responsibilities, working and socialising with others, and pupil voice.

Celebrating Difference focuses on similarities and differences and teaches about diversity, such as disability, racism, power, friendships, and conflict; children learn to accept everyone’s right to ‘difference’, and most year groups explore the concept of ‘normality’. Anti-bullying, including online and homophobic bullying, is an important aspect of this Puzzle.

Dreams and Goals aims to help children think about their hopes and dreams, their goals for success, what their personal strengths are, and how to overcome challenges, using team-work skills and tasks. There is also a focus on enterprise and fundraising and financial education. Children learn about experiencing and managing feelings of pride, ambition, disappointment, success; and they get to share their aspirations, the dreams and goals of others in different cultures/countries, and their dreams for their community and the world.

Healthy Me covers two main areas of health: Emotional/mental health (relaxation, being safe, managing peer influence, mental health skills, body image, relationships with food, managing stress) and Physical health (eating a balanced diet, physical activity, rest and relaxation, keeping clean, substance awareness, being safe, first aid). Children develop essential safety skills across different contexts - including water, fire, road and rail safety - learning strategies they can build on and revisit as they grow. For example, they learn the Safety STAR approach (Stop, Think, Assess, React) which gives them a simple framework to use in any safety situation.

Relationships starts with building a respectful relationship with self and covers topics including families, friendships, pets, and love and loss. A vital part of this Puzzle is about safeguarding and keeping children safe, including online safety and navigating social media. Children learn to recognise healthy and unhealthy relationships, understand when and how to seek help, and build confidence to speak up if something doesn’t feel right. They develop skills to deal with conflict, build assertiveness, and identify their own strengths and strategies for building self-esteem and resilience. They explore roles and responsibilities in families and friendship groups, and consider stereotypes.

Changing Me deals with change of many types, from growing from young to old, becoming a teenager, assertiveness, puberty, self-respect and safeguarding. Children learn to recognise when something doesn’t feel right and understand how to get help and support. Each year group thinks about looking ahead, moving year groups or the transition to secondary school and how to cope positively with such changes. Human reproduction (sex education) is taught in Year 5 and Year 6 at the school’s discretion.

What else is included? (Implementation) 

PSHE is taught across the school from Early Years Foundation Stage to Year 6. In our EYFS, PSHE is taught as an integral part of topic work and is embedded throughout the curriculum. The objectives taught are the Personal, Social and Emotional Development statements from ‘Development Matters in the EYFS’ and the PSED Early Learning Goals

There are numerous additional aspects of the Jigsaw Programme to enhance the learning experience, including the Jigsaw Friends (jigsaw-shaped soft toys used as teaching aids), Jigsaw Chimes and Jigsaw Jerrie Cats (used to help and encourage calming and mindfulness practice).

Every Jigsaw lesson includes mindfulness practice. Mindfulness is being able to observe your own thoughts and feelings as they happen, in the present moment, applying no judgement. Jigsaw teaches children to understand their thoughts and feelings through the Calm Me time exercises (using the Jigsaw Chime) and Pause Points (using Jigsaw Jerrie Cat). This helps to develop their awareness, and their capacity to be mindful human beings. Learning is thus enhanced as emotions and behaviour are self regulated.

Impact

By the time the children leave our school they understand how they are developing personally and socially, and can discuss and tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of life and which they see. Our curriculum allows pupils to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. Our children are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community.

“The lessons are fun!” Y2 child

“I like these lessons, we get to talk and share things” Y3 child

“I like sharing our thoughts and ideas in these lessons” Y4 child

“It’s interesting finding out different things” Y5 child

“There’s so much to learn about everything – it’s fascinating!” Y6 child

Please visit our Policy page to find the PSHE and RHSE policy. 

Questions around Relationship & Sex Education

Throughout their time at Chidham Parochial Primary School the children will have relationship & sex education lessons as part of our PSHE curriculum. We know that all families are different and the discussions families have at home will be different. This may be a helpful short guide in supporting families about discussions around bodies and sex. We hope you find the information useful.

Parents can find more general information about PSHE and our teaching approaches on the school website and in the PSHE policy

Why start in year 1?

Safeguarding from an early age is essential. We all know young children ask loads of questions, not least of all about their bodies and your body and if they are asking questions they deserve answers. The content introduced in each year group is done in an age appropriate way. The content for each year group builds on the learning from previous year groups.

Why do children need to know the correct scientific names for their body parts?

When we teach in school, we will always use the correct scientific names for body parts and we would urge parents to do the same at home. In the event of anything happening to them, they have the vocabulary to give exact information. Child abusers target uneducated children – those who don’t have the words and knowledge of what’s right and wrong.

When should I talk to my child about body parts and sex?

This will be different for different families. Some families will be very open about bodies and relationships and will have lots of discussions about this, as children start to ask questions. Some families will take the opportunity to discuss bodies and relationships, following children’s lessons in school

What should I do if I don’t know the answer to a question or I’m uncomfortable answering it?

Firstly, it’s great that your child is asking questions. As parents and teachers, we would much rather children have their questions answered correctly by an adult. When we’re asked a sex education question in school that needs some thought about answering we might say something like ‘That’s a really good question and one that deserves a really good answer. Let me have a think about it and I’ll come back to you soon’. Below are some websites and resources that might help you to answer it. If it’s a question that worries you, you might need to ask a few follow up questions to determine why it’s being asked.

What else can I do to help?

From the very beginning always refer to parts of their bodies by the correct terms, for example, boys have a penis and girls have a vagina. Ensure they are aware of the 4 parts of their body no one should touch unless they want them to: the genital area (penis, vagina), bottom, chest and mouth. This is also known as ‘The Underwear Rule’. Reassure them they can come to you if ANYONE does anything to them or asks them to keep a secret. Never expect or force them to kiss people goodbye etc. Blowing kisses, shaking hands or a “high five” can be a good alternative. Don’t assume all children are heterosexual – try to use partner instead of ‘boyfriend’ or ‘girlfriend’ Tell them they can always speak to you as a Parent/Carer or a trusted adult within School, to ask about things that they have seen/heard and don’t understand (don’t assume they know this). As a parent/carer, keep the channels of communication going, be interested, who are their friends at School? Who are their online friends? Make time to talk.

What resources can I use to help me discuss bodies and relationships with my child?

The Underwear rule https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/pants-underwear-rule/

General information about the stages and signs of puberty in boys and girls/General Worries: https://www.childline.org.uk

Friends, Relationships and Sex https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/friends-relationships-sex/

Online Relationships: www.thinkuknow.co.uk

Information about how to recognise unhealthy relationships online & FGM: https://www.forwarduk.org.uk/violence-against-women-and-girls/female-genital-mutilation/

Child and Forced Marriage: https://www.forwarduk.org.uk/violence-against-women-and-girls/child-forced-marriage/ http://www.freedomcharity.org.uk/