Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE)
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education
At Ridgeway Farm CE Academy, Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) helps every child to Believe • Learn • Grow.
Through PSHE and Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), children develop the knowledge, skills and values they need to:
- understand themselves and their emotions;
- develop confidence, resilience and self-respect;
- form safe, healthy and respectful relationships;
- look after their physical and mental health;
- recognise unsafe situations and know how to seek help;
- respect differences between people and families;
- make informed and responsible choices; and
- prepare for life in modern Britain.
Our Christian foundation
Our curriculum is rooted in the Christian belief that every person is made in the image of God and is therefore precious, unique and worthy of dignity and respect.
Inspired by Jesus’ promise of “life in all its fullness” and our vision to Believe • Learn • Grow, we want children to develop healthy relationships, wise judgement, compassion, courage and hope.
We teach the Church of England perspective on loving, faithful and committed relationships, including marriage. We also recognise that children live in different families and communities. All pupils are taught to show respect and kindness and to understand that nobody should experience discrimination, prejudice or bullying.
RSHE is taught sensitively, inclusively and in an age-appropriate way, reflecting our Christian character and our responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.
Our curriculum
We use Jigsaw PSHE 3–11 as the principal framework for teaching PSHE and RSHE.
Jigsaw provides a carefully sequenced programme through six recurring areas, known as Pieces:
- Being Me in My World
- Celebrating Difference
- Dreams and Goals
- Healthy Me
- Relationships
- Changing Me
Children revisit these areas each year, building their knowledge and understanding as they grow.
Jigsaw is a curriculum framework rather than the school’s policy. School leaders adapt and supplement it where necessary to ensure that teaching:
- meets statutory requirements;
- reflects the needs and experiences of our pupils;
- addresses current safeguarding priorities;
- supports children with SEND;
- reflects our Christian vision and values; and
- prepares children appropriately for their next stage of education.
PSHE also includes age-appropriate learning about economic wellbeing, money, responsibilities and preparation for later life.
What is statutory?
It is important to distinguish between the different parts of the primary curriculum.
Relationships Education
Relationships Education is statutory for every primary-aged child.
It includes learning about:
- families and people who care for us;
- caring friendships;
- respectful relationships;
- different families and relationships;
- online relationships;
- personal boundaries and consent;
- privacy and personal safety; and
- how and where to seek help.
Health Education
Health Education is also statutory for every primary-aged child.
It includes:
- mental wellbeing;
- physical health and fitness;
- healthy eating;
- drugs, alcohol, tobacco, vaping and nicotine;
- health and prevention;
- basic first aid;
- internet safety and harms; and
- the changing adolescent body, including puberty and menstruation.
Relationships Education and Health Education are compulsory in primary schools, as are the relevant elements of the National Curriculum for Science, including human development and reproduction. Primary schools may choose to teach additional sex education beyond the science curriculum, but this is not statutory. Ridgeway Farm CE Academy teaches additional sex education beyond the statutory curriculum.
National Curriculum science
Some teaching about human development and reproduction forms part of the statutory National Curriculum for science.
This includes age-appropriate learning about:
- life cycles;
- the human body;
- growth and development;
- reproduction in plants and animals; and
- changes experienced during puberty.
Parents and carers cannot withdraw their child from statutory Relationships Education, Health Education or National Curriculum science.
Additional primary sex education
Primary schools are not required to teach sex education beyond the content contained in Relationships Education, Health Education and National Curriculum science.
However, the statutory guidance recommends that primary schools teach age-appropriate content about conception and birth. Ridgeway Farm CE Academy has chosen to provide this additional teaching so that children receive accurate, carefully sequenced information in a safe and supportive environment.
Our additional primary sex education consists of clearly identified lessons within Jigsaw’s Changing Me materials:
- Year 5: human conception, including sexual intercourse as one way in which conception occurs; and
- Year 6: conception, pregnancy and birth.
This content is taught sensitively and factually, within the context of loving, respectful and committed relationships.
Parents and carers will be informed before these additional lessons are taught. The information provided will explain:
- when the lessons will take place;
- the learning objectives;
- which content is statutory;
- which content is additional and may be withdrawn from;
- how parents can view the teaching materials; and
- how to contact the school with questions or concerns.
Working in partnership with parents and carers
We recognise that parents and carers are the first educators of their children and we value a positive partnership between home and school.
Parents and carers may ask to see:
- the school’s RSHE Policy;
- curriculum and progression documents;
- Jigsaw lesson plans and teaching materials;
- vocabulary used during lessons; and
- resources provided to pupils.
We will make representative materials available before additional sex-education lessons and will arrange for parents to view further materials on request.
We encourage parents to talk to their children about relationships, growing up and health in ways that reflect their family’s values and beliefs.
Right to withdraw
Parents and carers do not have a right to withdraw their child from:
- Relationships Education;
- Health Education;
- learning about puberty or menstruation;
- safeguarding and personal-safety education; or
- human development and reproduction taught as part of National Curriculum science.
Parents and carers have an automatic right to withdraw their child from the clearly identified additional primary sex-education content taught in Years 5 and 6.
A parent or carer wishing to withdraw their child should write to the Headteacher through the school office. The Headteacher will offer an opportunity to discuss:
- the nature and purpose of the curriculum;
- the content that is statutory;
- the additional lessons from which withdrawal is permitted; and
- any questions or concerns the parent may have.
The parent’s decision will be respected. A child who is withdrawn will receive suitable alternative learning and will not be disadvantaged or made to feel excluded.
Teaching and answering questions
RSHE is taught by familiar school staff in a calm, respectful and age-appropriate environment.
Teachers establish clear ground rules so that children understand:
- nobody has to share personal information;
- questions must be respectful;
- correct vocabulary will be used;
- different views may be discussed respectfully; and
- adults cannot promise confidentiality if a child may be at risk.
Children may be given opportunities to ask questions anonymously. Teachers will respond honestly and appropriately, taking account of the child’s age and development.
If a question is not appropriate for a whole-class response, the teacher may speak to the child individually, consult a senior leader or suggest that the matter is discussed at home.
Any disclosure or safeguarding concern will be managed in accordance with the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
Inclusion and SEND
RSHE is an entitlement for all pupils.
Teaching is adapted to make sure that pupils with special educational needs or disabilities can understand and participate in the curriculum. This may include:
- carefully selected vocabulary;
- visual resources;
- repetition and pre-teaching;
- additional adult support;
- smaller-group teaching;
- adapted materials; and
- individual preparation where appropriate.
We recognise that some pupils may be more vulnerable to abuse, exploitation or misunderstanding and may require additional teaching about boundaries, consent, privacy and seeking help.
Assessment and impact
Teachers assess children’s understanding through:
- discussion and questioning;
- pupil reflection;
- observation;
- responses to scenarios;
- work completed during lessons; and
- pupil voice.
The subject leader monitors curriculum coverage, progression, teaching, pupil understanding and the appropriateness of resources.
Through PSHE and RSHE, we want children to leave Ridgeway Farm as confident, compassionate and responsible young people who:
- understand and value themselves;
- build healthy and respectful relationships;
- respect people whose lives or families may be different from their own;
- make safe and informed choices;
- know when and how to seek help;
- care for their physical and mental wellbeing; and
- approach the future with courage, faith and hope.
Policies and curriculum information
Please use the links below to view our current documents:
- RSHE Policy – September 2026
- PSHE and RSHE Curriculum Overview
- PSHE and RSHE Progression Document
- Jigsaw Curriculum Information for Parents and Carers
- Year-group curriculum maps
- Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
The current Department for Education statutory guidance is available here:
If you would like to view lesson materials or discuss any aspect of PSHE or RSHE, please contact the school office:
Telephone: 01793 677471
Email:admin@ridgewayfarm.bluekitetrust.org