PHSE Rationale

"PSHE lessons help me understand how to be a good friend and make the right choices."

"I like PSHE because we learn about feelings and how to help each other."

"PSHE teaches me how to stay safe and who I can talk to if I'm worried."

Intent | What and why do we teach what we teach?

At Hooe Primary Academy, we are committed to providing an education that enables every child to flourish both academically and personally. Through our PSHE curriculum, we provide opportunities for children to develop:

• Their own values, beliefs and sense of identity.
• Spiritual awareness and reflection.
• High standards of personal behaviour and responsibility.
• Positive, caring and respectful relationships with others.
• An understanding of and respect for their own and others' social and cultural traditions.
• An appreciation of the diversity, richness and opportunities within the world around them.

We want our pupils to be confident, happy and proud of who they are. We believe that Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education is fundamental to preparing children for life in modern Britain and beyond. Through a broad, balanced and carefully sequenced curriculum, we aim to develop children's self-esteem, emotional wellbeing and resilience, enabling them to build positive relationships, make informed decisions and become active members of society.

Our curriculum promotes kindness, honesty, empathy and mutual respect. We encourage children to develop respect for themselves and others, whilst gaining a deeper understanding of physical health, mental wellbeing, healthy relationships and personal responsibility. Through age-appropriate learning, children are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to understand the changes they experience as they grow and mature, whilst developing the skills needed to navigate life's opportunities and challenges successfully.

Ultimately, we aim to prepare pupils for the responsibilities, experiences and opportunities that lie ahead, enabling them to become confident, respectful and emotionally resilient individuals who can make a positive contribution to the world around them.

To support this vision, we use the Jigsaw Programme, which provides all children, regardless of background or starting point, with a curriculum built upon the following principles:

•Entitlement - All pupils have the right to learn what is in the Jigsaw Curriculum, and schools have a duty to ensure that all pupils are taught the whole of it.

•Coherence - Our curriculum is carefully sequenced so that powerful knowledge builds term by term and year by year. We make meaningful connections within subjects and between subjects.

•Mastery - We ensure that foundational knowledge, skills and concepts are secure before moving on. Pupils revisit prior learning and apply their understanding in new contexts.

•Adaptability - The core content – the ‘what’ – of the curriculum is stable, but we will bring it to life in our own local context, and the teachers will adapt lessons – the ‘how’ – to meet the needs of each class.

•Representation - All pupils see themselves in our curriculum, and our curriculum takes all pupils beyond their immediate experience.

•Education with character - Our curriculum - which includes the taught subject timetable as well as spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, our co-curricular provision and the ethos and ‘hidden curriculum’ of the school – is intended to spark curiosity and to nourish both the head and the heart.

Implementation | How and when do we teach what we teach?

At Hooe Primary Academy, we believe that PSHE education plays a vital role in preparing children for life beyond the classroom. Through high-quality teaching and meaningful learning experiences, we support pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to become happy, healthy, resilient and responsible members of society.

To support the delivery of PSHE, we use the Jigsaw programme, a comprehensive and progressive scheme of work that covers all statutory aspects of Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education. Lessons are typically taught weekly, although some units, such as Changing Me, may be delivered in blocks to maximise learning opportunities.

We recognise that effective PSHE education is much more than a series of isolated lessons. Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure that learning builds progressively over time, enabling children to make connections between different aspects of their personal development and apply their understanding to real-life situations.

PSHE is taught by class teachers and teaching assistants and is a valued and celebrated part of our curriculum. Lessons are adapted to meet the needs of individual classes and are enhanced through a range of whole-school initiatives and awareness events, including Anti-Bullying Week, World Mental Health Day, Safer Internet Day and our whole school Physical and Personal Development week. 

Each term's Jigsaw theme is introduced through a whole-school assembly, helping to establish a shared understanding of the learning taking place across the academy. The curriculum also promotes an understanding of British Values, including democracy, individual liberty, mutual respect and the rule of law, supporting children to become active and responsible citizens.

To enrich learning further, we welcome visitors and organisations into school, including representatives from the RNLI, emergency services and community groups. These experiences provide valuable real-world contexts and help children understand how their learning connects to life beyond the classroom.

Pupil voice is an important aspect of life at Hooe Primary Academy. Our democratically elected School Council meets regularly to discuss school improvement priorities, represent the views of their peers and contribute to the development of our school community. Through these experiences, children develop confidence, leadership skills and an understanding of democratic processes.

Our PSHE curriculum is underpinned by a clear progression of knowledge, skills and vocabulary. Meaningful links are made across the curriculum, with subjects such as Science, Computing and Mathematics providing opportunities to reinforce and deepen learning.

High-quality discussion, questioning and reflection form an integral part of our approach. Children are encouraged to think critically, consider different viewpoints and develop a deeper understanding of the relationships they experience and the communities to which they belong.

We are committed to ensuring that PSHE education is fully accessible to all pupils. Children with SEND are supported through high-quality adaptive teaching, appropriate scaffolding and personalised support where required, ensuring that every child can access, engage with and succeed within the curriculum.

Impact | How do we assess the impact of what we teach through pupil outcomes?

The impact of a high-quality PSHE education cannot be understated. At Hooe Primary Academy, PSHE provides children with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to navigate the opportunities and challenges of life both now and in the future. Through our curriculum, pupils develop the confidence, resilience and emotional intelligence needed to thrive within an increasingly diverse and ever-changing world.

We recognise that the true impact of PSHE extends beyond academic outcomes. It can be seen in the way children communicate, build relationships, demonstrate respect for others, make informed decisions and contribute positively to school life and the wider community. As a result, we place great value on pupil voice and children's lived experiences, ensuring that they are at the heart of our evaluation of the curriculum.

Through our PSHE curriculum, children develop:

• An understanding of their rights and responsibilities and how these can be protected and respected.
• A respect for diversity and an appreciation of different cultures, beliefs, backgrounds and experiences.
• Strong communication and oracy skills, enabling them to express their thoughts, feelings and opinions confidently and respectfully.
• Resilience, self-regulation and an understanding of how to maintain positive physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
• The ability to assess risk, make informed decisions and respond positively to challenges and change.
• The knowledge and confidence to build healthy relationships and contribute positively to their communities.

These skills are transferable across the wider curriculum and equip children with the foundations they need for lifelong learning, positive relationships and future success. They support children in becoming active, responsible citizens who demonstrate kindness, empathy and respect towards others.

The impact of our PSHE curriculum is evaluated through a range of monitoring and assessment activities, including:

• Pupil voice and discussions.
• Learning walks.
• Floor book and evidence scrutiny.
• Review of curriculum coverage and progression.
• Observations of pupil engagement and participation.
• Discussions with staff and pupils.
• Annual reporting to parents.

Assessment in PSHE

Assessment for learning is continuous throughout the teaching and learning cycle. Key vocabulary, concepts and assessment questions are carefully planned, taught and revisited to support retention, progression and deeper understanding.

Children's learning is assessed through a variety of methods:

Explore and Question

Pupils are encouraged to demonstrate their understanding through thoughtful discussion, reflection and questioning. They use increasingly sophisticated vocabulary to communicate ideas, justify their opinions and ask questions that deepen their understanding.

Recall Knowledge

Children demonstrate their ability to remember and apply key knowledge from previous learning. Teachers use this information to identify misconceptions, inform future planning and provide appropriate support or challenge where required.

Communicate

Children are provided with regular opportunities to articulate what they have learned, explain their views, discuss issues respectfully and make connections with other areas of learning. Evidence of learning can be found through class discussions, floor books, work in wider curriculum subjects and learning journals within the Early Years Foundation Stage.

By the time children leave Hooe Primary Academy...

...they are respectful, resilient and responsible young people who understand how to keep themselves safe, healthy and happy. They are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values needed to build positive relationships, make informed choices and play an active role in modern society. They leave us well prepared for the next stage of their education and ready to contribute positively to the communities in which they live.