Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)
Why PSHE and RSE?
At Oakwood, through our PSHE curriculum, we believe we can enhance children’s education and help them to become caring, respectful and confident individuals. It is our intent that all children will be lifelong learners with the confidence and ability to develop their skills and understanding when having new experiences, meeting new challenges and finding themselves in unfamiliar situations. Most importantly, we want to prepare our children for life in modern Britain and to make sure the children we teach learn to be happy, healthy and safe.
We use a scheme of work called Jigsaw for our core teaching of PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education). In addition to this, we use external companies such as 'Laugh-ology' who have run workshops for LKS2, Mindfulness workshops for LKS2 and 'Watford FC's six-week Wellbeing Programme' to support our Y6 children.
First Aid
To support First Aid teaching requirements for health education in schools we use the St John's Ambulance lessons and resources in KS2.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
We also use The Zones of Regulation and Protective Behaviours to further support our children's mental health and wellbeing.
Jigsaw PSHE
Jigsaw PSHE is a comprehensive scheme of Work for the whole school from Year R through to Year 6. It brings together PSHE Education, emotional literacy, social skills and spiritual development in a comprehensive scheme of learning. SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) development opportunities are mapped throughout. All of these pieces of learning are brought together to form a cohesive picture, helping children to know and value who they are and understand how they relate to other people in the world.
Across the school, every class focusses on the same theme, exploring areas and developing their skills at an age appropriate level.
These themes are:
- Being Me in My World
- Celebrating Difference
- Dreams and Goals
- Healthy Me
- Relationships
- Changing Me
Within each of these themes children also learn about British Values of Democracy; Rule of Law; Individual Liberty; Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs.
The changing me puzzle piece is also linked to the DFE RSE Guidance
Curriculum Overview
Jigsaw PSHE and RSE Information and Guides for Parents and Carers
Helping at Home
PSHE and RSE are not just learnt within the classroom, good PSHE Education is a partnership between home and school and there are lots of things you can do as a parent/carer to support your child’s journey.
Allowing your child to talk about PSHE topics at home can be a really good way for them to explore and contextualise some of the content. If you have time, research some of the areas you know are coming up in your child’s PSHE programme. You can find this information on the curriculum map. This may help you to anticipate any awkward questions. Also, be honest if you can’t answer a question, we can’t be expected to know everything from first aid, to online safety but you can listen to your child and explore these areas further together.
Here are a few other ways you can support your child:
- From a young age, encourage your child to dress and undress independently and manage their own hygiene, such as by washing hands after using the toilet.
- Encourage your child to help you plan and cook healthy recipes. Take them shopping and involve them in decision making.
- Make time for simple activities such as board games to encourage teamwork and help children learn to take turns.
- With older children, use documentaries and other media to discuss issues around our place and responsibilities in society.
- Talk about and practice e-safety.
- Give plenty of positive encouragement and praise to build self-esteem, and when they do something wrong, help them reflect on why their behaviour was unkind/selfish/rude and think of how they could have handled the situation instead.
Useful Websites