PSHE/RSE
RSHE and PHSE
At St Gilbert’s Roman Catholic Primary School we are;
Inspired by St. Gilbert, as God’s family, we are growing strong in love and faith, becoming the best we can be.
RSHE
Our RSHE subject lead is Mrs Lockett .
The purpose of this document is to outline the approach and method that has been adopted to implement the PSHE/RSHE curriculum at St. Gilbert’s. It clearly outlines what we aim to achieve and the knowledge and understanding for each class and key stage. It has been developed following the Ten:Ten scheme of work which helps school communities to grow in faith, love, understanding and compassion. This document summarises the organisation of the RSHE curriculum and the school’s method of securing children’s entitlement to essential knowledge and skills to equip them for the next stage of their education and for later life.
At St Gilbert’s Primary School, the intent of our Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) curriculum is rooted in promoting the holistic development, dignity and well-being of every child. Our curriculum aims to help children flourish academically, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually, enabling them to grow in confidence, develop positive relationships, make safe and responsible choices and live life to the fullest.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), we use the Think Equal Early Years Programme to support children’s Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Communication and Language. Through carefully selected picture books, videos, discussion, role-play and creative activities, children explore emotions, friendships, empathy, kindness, identity, respect, problem-solving and caring for others. Think Equal provides an age-appropriate foundation for the children’s future PSHE and Relationships Education, while complementing our Catholic understanding of the dignity and uniqueness of every child.
From Year 1 onwards, we use Ten Ten’s ‘Life to the Full’ programme, which is rooted in the teaching and wisdom of the Catholic Church. It inspires our children through an understanding of God’s call to love and helps them recognise the dignity and value of themselves and others. The programme supports children in understanding that they are created and loved by God and encourages them to develop healthy relationships, make responsible choices and understand how their physical, emotional, social and spiritual development contributes to their fullness of life.
Across both our EYFS and Key Stage 1 and 2 provision, our curriculum is underpinned by our school Gospel Values of Resilience, Faith, Courage, Compassion, Forgiveness and Fullness of Life. Children are encouraged to demonstrate resilience when facing challenges, develop faith in God and themselves, have the courage to make positive choices and speak up when something is wrong, show compassion towards others, understand the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation within relationships, and recognise that God calls each of us to live life in all its fullness.
Our PSHE curriculum equips pupils with the knowledge, vocabulary, skills and understanding they need to stay healthy and safe, develop positive relationships, recognise and manage emotions, protect their mental wellbeing, understand their changing bodies, develop self-respect and respect for others, and make informed and responsible choices now and in the future. Through age-appropriate learning, children are encouraged to understand their responsibilities towards themselves, others and the wider community.
The curriculum also reflects our commitment to the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. These values complement our Catholic teaching and our commitment to human dignity, justice, compassion and the common good. Pupils are encouraged to listen to different perspectives, respect the beliefs and experiences of others, understand their rights and responsibilities and contribute positively to their school and wider community.
Our curriculum is inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs and experiences of our pupils. We ensure that learning is accessible to all children, including those with SEND, and that appropriate adaptations and support are provided. Through our EYFS Think Equal provision and our whole-school Life to the Full programme, we provide a coherent and progressive journey from the Early Years through to Year 6, preparing children not only for the next stage of their education but for life in modern Britain, rooted in our Catholic faith and our mission to help every child become the best they can be and to experience life in all its fullness.
Knowledge and skills St Gilbert’s wants our pupils to achieve at each stage:
Early Years Foundation
Relationships and Personal Development in EYFS
In our Early Years classes, we use the Think Equal Early Years Programme to support our children’s personal, social and emotional development and to help them understand themselves, their relationships and the world around them. Think Equal uses carefully chosen story books, videos, discussion, role-play and creative activities to explore important themes in a way that is engaging, age-appropriate and meaningful for our youngest children.
The programme provides wonderful opportunities for children to talk about their feelings, develop empathy, understand different perspectives, build friendships, resolve disagreements peacefully and learn how their words and actions can affect others. Through stories and play, children learn to recognise their own strengths, celebrate differences and develop the confidence to communicate, cooperate and care for others.
This learning is closely connected to our Catholic faith and the vision of the Catholic Education Service, which places the dignity and uniqueness of every human person at the heart of education. We want every child to understand that they are created in the image and likeness of God, precious, loved and valued, while also recognising the dignity and worth of every other person. Our EYFS curriculum therefore helps children begin to develop the virtues and attitudes that enable them to live well with themselves, with others and with God.
Our Gospel Values of Compassion, Courage, Faith, Resilience, Forgiveness and Fullness of Life are woven throughout our Think Equal learning and everyday experiences. Children are encouraged to show compassion by noticing when somebody needs help, demonstrate courage when trying something new or speaking about their feelings, develop faith through knowing that they are loved by God, build resilience when faced with challenges and understand forgiveness when friendships experience difficulties or mistakes are made.
This supports our belief in the fullness of life – helping every child to flourish as a unique individual and to grow academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. Through stories, conversations, prayer, worship, play and relationships, children are encouraged to become the very best version of themselves and to recognise that they have an important part to play within our school family and wider community.
Think Equal provides a strong and age-appropriate foundation for the relationships, health and personal development curriculum that children will continue throughout their time at St Gilbert’s. Most importantly, it helps us to nurture children who know that they are loved, valued and capable, and who are learning to show that same love, dignity, compassion and respect to others.
Key Stage One
Module One – Created and Loved by God
During module one, children will develop an understanding of the importance of valuing themselves as the basis for personal relationships. They will be encouraged to understand that they are created by God out of love and for love and that we should celebrate similarities and differences between people, including our God-given bodies and the things they enable us to do. Children will develop an understanding and begin to articulate their own changing feelings and how other people’s feelings might differ from theirs. Children will learn how they can manage their feelings and about the consequences of their actions. Through the specifics of the human life cycle, children will learn to celebrate how they have already changed and grown.
Module Two – Created to Love Others
During module two, children will explore their relationship with others whilst teaching them strategies for developing healthy relationships and keeping safe. They will learn to identify the Special People in their lives who they love and who can trust. Children will begin to learn how to cope with various social situations and dilemmas, and the importance of saying sorry and forgiveness within relationships. Children will explore the difference between good and bad secrets and the implications that they have.
Module Three – Created to Live in Community
During module three, children will explore their relationship with the wider world and how human beings are relational by nature and are called to love others in the wider community through service, through dialogue and through working for the Common Good. Through stories, children will begin to learn that God made us to be in loving relationships with one another. They learn about the different local and global communities that they are part of, and what rights and responsibilities come with belonging to these communities.
Lower Key Stage Two
Module One – Created and Loved by God
During module one, children will explore the understanding of being an individual reinforced by the teachings that we are made in the image and likeness of God. This helps children to develop an understanding of the importance of valuing themselves as the basis for personal relationships. Through story and discussion, children will learn that they are designed for a purpose and how they should live in light of this. Children will learn to celebrate similarities and differences, and to appreciate and look after their bodies as gifts from God. They will learn about specific physical and emotional changes during puberty, and that growing from boys and girls to men and women is part of God’s loving plan for creation.
Module Two – Created to Love Others
During module two, children will explore their relationship with others. Building on the understanding that we have been created out of love and for love, they will explore how we take this calling into our family, friendships and relationships, and learn strategies for developing healthy relationships and keeping themselves safe. It will be demonstrated to the children that God loves us, and nothing we can do will stop Him from loving us. Children will also learn about different types of sin, and the importance of forgiveness in relationships. They will develop a more complex appreciation of different family structures, develop healthy relationships with family and friends and learn some strategies to use when relationships become difficult. Children will be taught how to recognise discrimination and bullying, both physical and emotional and they will learn strategies to develop resilience and resist pressure.
Module Three – Created to Live in Community
During module three, children will explore their relationship with the wider world and how human beings are relational by nature and are called to love others in the wider community through service, through dialogue and through working for the Common Good. In greater detail, children will hear and discuss an allegorical story for the three part community of love, the Trinity. Children will learn that as they are made in God’s image, they too are created to live in community. Through some of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching from Together For The Common Good, children will learn which will help them to live in communities in the way God intends.
Upper Key Stage Two
Module One – Created and Loved by God
During module one, children will revisit and further explore the understanding of being an individual reinforced by the teachings that we are made in the image and likeness of God. This helps children to develop an understanding of the importance of valuing themselves as the basis for personal relationships. Over five story sessions, children will consider experiences of change, growth and development, and the trust that they can have in the person of Jesus through times of trial and tribulations. Children will learn to celebrate differences between people as enriching to a community and know that their self-confidence should arise from being loved by God. They will learn about the physical changes that boys and girls go through during puberty and how they should respect and take care of their bodies as gifts from God. Children learn about pressures that they may experience from themselves, others and the media. They will develop ideas on how to build resilience through thankfulness, use simplified Cognitive Behavioural Techniques to manage their thoughts, feelings and actions and cope with new or difficult feelings such as romance and rage. Children will learn about God’s design for creating new life through a more nuanced understanding of menstruation, fertility, conception, foetal development in the womb and childbirth.
Module Two – Created to Love Others
During module two, children will further explore their relationships with others. Building on the understanding that they have been created out of love and for love, children will learn how we take this calling into our family, friendships and relationships, and strategies for developing healthy relationships and keeping safe. We aim to equip children with strategies for more complex experiences of relationships and conflict including helping them to identify and understand how to respond to spoken and unspoken pressure, the concept of consent and some practical demonstrations of this, and how our thoughts and feelings have an impact on how we act. Children will become better equipped to make safe and sensible decisions about what online content they should/shouldn’t share, cyberbullying and how to report and get help if they encounter inappropriate messages or material. Children will know how to spot each type of abuse: sexual, physical, emotional and neglect and who they can go to for help.
Module Three – Created to Live in Community
During module three, children revisit and further explore the individual’s relationship with the wider world. Here we explore how human beings are relational by nature and are called to love others in the wider community through service, through dialogue and through working for the Common Good. In greater detail, children will look at the world of Trinity House where they will hear and discuss an allegorical story for the three part community of love, the Trinity with the endpoint of discussing the Trinity as it might be communicated in a church setting. Children will learn that the Trinity demonstrates the perfect loving community, and that we are called to emulate this self-giving and self-sacrificing love in our communities.
Here at St Gilbert’s we want you to feel confident to explain exactly how you are feeling, whether that’s hot, cold, happy or sad!
Communication is the best way to help us to understand each other and become happy, healthier people.
So… How are you today? 😁
In our School PSHE is closely linked to our Catholic Ethos. Check out our Caritas In Action work too!