PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education)
PSHE at Penwortham Primary School
At Penwortham Primary School, PSHE education plays a vital role in supporting pupils’ personal development, wellbeing and readiness for life in modern Britain. Through PSHE, pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to stay healthy and safe, build positive relationships, manage their emotions and make informed choices. Our PSHE curriculum reflects our school values of Aspire, Belong, Care and Discover, supporting pupils to become confident, respectful and responsible individuals who feel safe, valued and included. We are committed to supporting every child’s personal development through a comprehensive PSHE and RSE curriculum. We want parents and carers to feel informed and involved in what their children are learning — especially when it comes to relationships, health, and emotional wellbeing.
At Penwortham Primary school we use the SCARF programme to teach PSHE. This programme provides a clear, structured and inclusive approach to teaching PSHE that supports the whole child. Built around the values of Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience and Friendship, it promotes positive wellbeing, respectful relationships and responsible decision-making.
SCARF is designed as a spiral curriculum, meaning key themes are revisited each year and developed in greater depth as pupils grow. This ensures learning is age-appropriate and builds progressively over time—from recognising feelings and forming friendships in the early years, to managing risk, understanding relationships and developing independence in later years.
The programme supports progression by:
Sequencing learning in small, manageable steps
Reinforcing and extending prior knowledge each year
Developing both knowledge and essential life skills
Providing consistent language and themes across all year groups
This approach helps pupils make meaningful connections in their learning and ensures they are well prepared for the next stage of their education and for life beyond school.
Intent
Our PSHE curriculum is designed to:
support pupils’ mental and physical wellbeing
help pupils build positive, healthy relationships
develop resilience, confidence and self-awareness
equip pupils with the knowledge and skills to make safe, informed choices
prepare pupils for life in modern Britain
PSHE education, including Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), enables pupils to develop transferable life skills that support them both now and in the future.
Implementation: Our PSHE Journey
PSHE learning begins in EYFS, where children develop early understanding of emotions, friendships, self-care and managing feelings through play, discussion and stories.
As pupils move through Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, learning is carefully sequenced to build knowledge and skills progressively. Pupils revisit key themes and concepts, allowing them to deepen understanding as they mature and their experiences broaden.
Our PSHE curriculum is structured around three core themes:
Health and Wellbeing
Relationships
Living in the Wider World
This ensures pupils receive a broad, balanced and age-appropriate PSHE education.
How PSHE Is Taught
We use the SCARF PSHE curriculum, which provides a comprehensive, progressive and age-appropriate programme fully aligned with statutory guidance for PSHE and RSE.
Lessons are:
interactive and discussion-based
delivered in a safe, respectful environment
inclusive and adapted to meet the needs of all pupils
How We Teach It
Children learn PSHE and RSE through:
Weekly lessons
Circle time and discussion
Role play and storytelling
Cross-curricular links (e.g. science, RE)
Whole-school events (e.g. Anti-Bullying Week, Mental Health Awareness)
Pupils are encouraged to share ideas, ask questions and reflect on their learning. Teaching promotes open discussion while ensuring clear boundaries and consistent messages around safety and respect.
The PSHE curriculum is regularly reviewed to ensure it meets the needs of our pupils and wider school community.
How learning progresses
PSHE is taught in a spiral curriculum, meaning children revisit key themes each year at a deeper level as they grow and mature.
Early Years (Reception)
Focus on feelings, friendships and simple rules
Learning to share, take turns and manage emotions
Understanding basic hygiene, safety and healthy choices
Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2)
Recognising and naming emotions
Building positive relationships and friendships
Understanding personal safety (including online basics)
Introduction to healthy lifestyles (food, exercise, sleep)
Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3–4)
Developing empathy and respect for others
Managing conflict and understanding different viewpoints
Learning about body changes and personal boundaries
Making informed choices about health and wellbeing
Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5–6)
Building independence and responsibility
Understanding more complex relationships and peer influence
Preparing for transition to secondary school
Learning about puberty, online safety, and managing risk
Key themes covered throughout school
Me and My Relationships
Valuing Difference
Keeping Myself Safe
Rights and Responsibilities
Being My Best
Growing and Changing
Supporting SEND Learners in PSHE (SCARF)
We adapt the SCARF programme to ensure all pupils, including those with SEND, can access and succeed in PSHE. Lessons are carefully tailored using clear language, visual supports and practical activities. We revisit key ideas more frequently, break learning into smaller steps and provide additional adult support where needed. Teachers use flexible approaches to meet individual needs, helping every child build confidence, understanding and important life skills at their own pace.
Assessment in PSHE
Assessment in PSHE focuses on pupils’ understanding, reflection and ability to apply learning to real-life situations.
Teachers use ongoing formative assessment, including discussion, observation and pupil reflection, to check understanding and adapt teaching as needed. Assessment does not rely on formal testing but supports pupils’ personal development and wellbeing.
Leaders monitor PSHE provision through curriculum review, pupil voice and staff feedback to ensure the curriculum is effective and responsive to pupils’ needs.
PSHE, Safeguarding and Wellbeing
PSHE makes a significant contribution to safeguarding at Penwortham Primary School. Through PSHE, pupils learn how to:
keep themselves safe
recognise unsafe situations
understand healthy and unhealthy relationships
know where and how to seek help
Mental health and emotional wellbeing are key priorities. The curriculum supports pupils to recognise emotions, manage feelings and develop strategies to cope with challenge and change.
PSHE, British Values and Life in Modern Britain
PSHE actively promotes British Values and prepares pupils for life in modern Britain.
Through PSHE, pupils develop:
mutual respect and tolerance by learning about diversity, inclusion and equality
individual liberty by developing confidence, self-awareness and decision-making skills
democracy through discussion, listening to others and valuing different viewpoints
respect for the rule of law by understanding rules, responsibilities and consequences
PSHE supports pupils to become respectful, informed and responsible members of society.
Impact
As a result of our PSHE curriculum, pupils:
feel safe, supported and confident in school
understand how to look after their mental and physical wellbeing
build positive, healthy relationships
demonstrate respect, empathy and responsibility
are prepared for the next stage of their education and life beyond school
PSHE supports pupils’ overall personal development and contributes positively to their wellbeing, behaviour and readiness to learn.
Working with Parents and Carers
We work closely with parents and carers to support PSHE education. Information about PSHE and RSE content is shared regularly, and parents are encouraged to contact school if they have any questions or wish to view resources.
Our PSHE Policy and RSE Policy are available below:
PSHE in Action at Penwortham Primary School
PSHE is a vibrant and active part of school life, brought to life through a range of experiences that support pupils’ wellbeing and personal development.
We enrich our curriculum by launching initiatives such as the myHappymind programme, helping children understand how their brains work and develop positive habits for mental wellbeing. Key events like Hello Yellow Day and World Mental Health Day give pupils opportunities to explore feelings, reduce stigma and learn how to support themselves and others.
Our Wellbeing Ambassadors play an important role by leading assemblies, promoting positive messages and acting as role models across the school. We also work closely with external experts, including visitors from the Coram Life Education SCARF team and school nurses, who deliver engaging sessions on health, safety and growing up.
These experiences ensure PSHE is not just taught in lessons, but lived throughout the school, helping children develop the confidence, resilience and skills they need for everyday life.
