At Gedney Church End Primary Academy, we believe that Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE), including Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), plays an essential role in helping children to become healthy, confident, resilient and responsible individuals. Our curriculum provides children with the knowledge and understanding they need to look after themselves, develop positive relationships, make informed choices and contribute positively to their communities.

Our PSHE curriculum is organised around three interconnected areas: Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. These areas are revisited throughout children's time at the academy so that important knowledge and understanding are developed in increasingly age-appropriate depth. 

Learning begins in EYFS, where children's personal, social and emotional development is supported through opportunities to develop self-regulation, independence, confidence and positive relationships. Children begin to learn about staying safe, healthy choices, feelings, friendships, communities and the wider world, providing important foundations for the PSHE and RSE learning that follows. 

Health and Wellbeing

Within Health and Wellbeing, children develop an increasingly secure understanding of how to keep themselves physically and emotionally healthy and safe. Learning progresses from recognising risks, seeking help and developing healthy habits towards understanding how thoughts, feelings and behaviours are connected, making informed choices and taking increasing responsibility for personal safety and wellbeing. As children mature, they encounter age-appropriate learning about body changes, puberty, consent, body image, physical and mental health and the importance of seeking support when needed. 

Relationships

Through Relationships, children learn how to develop and maintain positive, respectful and healthy relationships. They explore emotions, individuality, friendship, teamwork and cooperation before progressing to more complex learning about resolving disagreements, recognising unhealthy relationships, managing peer influence and pressure, understanding personal boundaries and knowing when and how to ask for help. We want children to understand that healthy relationships are built upon kindness, respect, communication, trust and consideration for others. 

Relationships and Sex Education

Our RSE curriculum is age-appropriate and carefully progressive, building upon children's developing understanding of themselves, their bodies and their relationships with others. As children mature, learning develops to include personal boundaries, consent, healthy relationships, body changes, puberty and, at an appropriate stage, human reproduction. Children are encouraged to develop accurate knowledge and understand the importance of respect for themselves and others.

Living in the Wider World

Within Living in the Wider World, children develop their understanding of communities, diversity and their responsibilities within society. As they progress, they learn about democracy, rules and laws, individual liberty, respect, money and financial choices, careers, stereotypes, global citizenship and sustainability. Through this learning, children are increasingly prepared to participate positively in modern Britain, while recognising and respecting the different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives of others. 

Children are encouraged to recognise their own strengths, set goals and develop aspirations for their future. As they move through the academy, this develops into exploring future careers, challenging stereotypes and developing skills that will support them in later life. 

Digital Wellbeing

Digital wellbeing is developed progressively throughout our curriculum. Children build from early understanding of safe and healthy technology habits towards considering the balance between online and offline life, responsible sharing, digital relationships, social media, online influence and recognising unreliable or harmful content. This learning complements our Computing curriculum and supports children in making increasingly informed, safe and respectful choices in a digital world. 

Making Safe and Informed Choices

Throughout PSHE and RSE, children develop the knowledge and confidence to recognise risk, make informed choices and know when and how to seek help. As they grow, they encounter increasingly complex situations involving relationships, physical and emotional wellbeing, peer pressure and life online. We want children to recognise when something does not feel right, identify trusted sources of support and develop the confidence to speak to a trusted adult when they are worried about themselves or somebody else. 

Our SPARK Values

Our SPARK values are closely reflected throughout PSHE and RSE. Children develop Self-belief as they recognise their strengths and grow in confidence, Perseverance as they develop strategies for managing challenges and setbacks, and Aspiration as they set goals, challenge stereotypes and consider future possibilities. Respect and Kindness are central to children's learning about relationships, diversity, teamwork and their responsibilities towards others.

Ultimately, we want children to leave Gedney Church End as confident, resilient, respectful and responsible young people. We want them to have the knowledge and understanding to make informed decisions, develop healthy relationships, look after their physical and emotional wellbeing, manage risk and know when and how to seek help. We want children to understand their responsibilities towards others, contribute positively to their communities and develop the aspiration to consider the possibilities available to them in the future.

Above all, we want every child to leave us feeling valued, prepared and confident to meet the opportunities, responsibilities and challenges of the next stage of their lives.