Westcliffe Primary School
'Our school is committed to inspirational teaching that develops aspirational young people.'
Rationale
Our school curriculum aims to give children the knowledge, skills and attitudes that they need to effectively navigate the complexities of life in the 21st Century. The curriculum covers key areas which will support children to make informed choices now and in the future around their health, safety, wellbeing and relationships and will support them in becoming confident individuals and active members of society.
Westcliffe Primary’s RSE/PSHE curriculum covers the Relationships and Health Education statutory guidance (as set out by the DFE), including non-statutory sex education. This is delivered by qualified representatives though Big Talk.
Children’s learning at Westcliffe Primary School through our curriculum significantly contributes to their personal development and supports the four fundamental British values which reflect life in modern Britain: democracy; rule of law; respect and tolerance and individual liberty.
Quality PSHE and RSE teaching is an important element in helping schools to carry out their duty of care with regards to safeguarding, including online safety.
Aims
The statutory guidance states that by the end of Primary, children will know about –
How the subject is taught:
PSHE is taught by the class teacher each week. We have a 2 year cycle: Cycle A and Cycle B. The curriculum allows the children to explore the key areas though a mixture of approaches e.g. discussions, role play, designing informative posters etc. Each area is visited at least once over the 2 years, some elements are revisited each year to allow children to build on their knowledge, skills and understanding. In Key Stage 1 and 2, the children are taught PSHE by their class teacher. In KS2 aspects of the curriculum are progressively planned so that the children have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and understanding through visiting key topics as suggested by the North Lincolnshire Spiral Curriculum. The lessons are based upon the statutory requirements for RSE.
Online safety is taught through both PSHE and Computing lessons using the structured units from Purple Mash 2BeSafe. These age-appropriate resources help pupils develop a clear understanding of how to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly. Topics include protecting personal information, recognising and responding to online risks, understanding cyberbullying, evaluating online content, and knowing how to seek help if they feel worried or unsafe. This integrated approach ensures that online safety is revisited regularly and embedded across the curriculum, enabling pupils to become confident, responsible and informed digital citizens.
As part of our approach to raising children’s awareness of mental health we work closely with the Local Authority: With Me In Mind. A number of workshops and assemblies are run in Key Stage 2. More information is available here. We also raise awareness of children's mental and physical health by taking part in events and activities such as; Mental Health Awareness Week, Bikeability, First Aid courses, NSPCC workshops and Safer Internet Day.
In Early Years, children are supported to manage emotions, develop a positive sense of self, set themselves simple goals and have confidence in their own abilities. Through regular adult modelling and guidance, they learn how to look after their bodies, including healthy eating, and manage personal needs independently. Through, stories, role play and supported interaction with other children, they learn how to make good friendships, co-operate and resolve conflicts peaceably. These attributes provide a secure platform from which children can achieve at school and in later life.
If you walk into a PSHE lesson, you will see:
If you have any further enquiries about PSHE in our school, please contact Miss Mel Troop.
At our school, we are committed to providing high-quality Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) and Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) to support children’s wellbeing and safety.
To enhance our provision, we work with BigTalk Education, a specialist social enterprise recognised by national organisations and government bodies. BigTalk has over 20 years of experience delivering age-appropriate relationship and reproduction education to children from early years onwards.
Relationships Education is now statutory in all primary schools. As part of this:
For pupils in Years 4 and 5, parents and carers do have the right to withdraw their child from the BigTalk sessions. However, we ask that you consider that, while we can request that children do not share lesson content, neither the school nor BigTalk can control conversations that may happen outside of school.
We strongly encourage parents and carers to review the information provided to make an informed decision.
If your child is in Year 4 or Year 5 and you wish to withdraw them from the BigTalk session, please contact the school office.
Prevent Statement
The Prevent duty is not taught as a discrete or explicit programme within the PSHE curriculum. Instead, Prevent principles are embedded throughout the curriculum in line with statutory guidance for Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education, and the PSHE Association Programme of Study.
Through learning about British Values, respectful relationships, equality and diversity, online safety, media literacy, critical thinking, and personal safety, pupils develop the knowledge, skills and understanding that underpin the Prevent duty. These lessons help children to recognise risk, challenge stereotypes, respect different viewpoints, think critically about information they encounter, and know how and when to seek support from trusted adults.
The curriculum therefore contributes to safeguarding pupils from radicalisation and extremism by promoting resilience, inclusion, democratic values and safe decision-making, even where Prevent is not taught explicitly as a standalone unit.