PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) supports children’s wellbeing and personal development. Within this, RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education) is the statutory element that all schools teach. 

Intent

At Discovery Primary Academy, our PSHE curriculum is designed to provide a high-quality, ambitious and inclusive education that supports pupils’ personal development alongside their academic achievement. The curriculum is coherently planned and sequenced to ensure that pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to keep themselves safe, maintain positive physical and mental health, and build respectful relationships. It fulfils statutory requirements for Relationships Education and Health Education, while also promoting British Values, economic understanding and active citizenship. We intend that all pupils develop emotional literacy, resilience and an understanding of diversity and equality, enabling them to become confident, responsible and well-informed members of modern society.

Implementation

Our PSHE curriculum is implemented through the Jigsaw programme, which provides a well-structured and progressive sequence of learning. Content is organised into clearly defined units that are revisited and built upon over time, ensuring depth of understanding and secure knowledge retention. PSHE is taught through regular, timetabled lessons and reinforced through a whole-school approach, including assemblies, behaviour systems and wider curriculum links.

Teaching is inclusive, adaptive and responsive to pupils’ needs, including those with SEND, ensuring all pupils can access and engage with the curriculum. Lessons are interactive and discussion-based, enabling pupils to develop oracy, reflect on their learning and apply their knowledge to real-life situations. A strong emphasis is placed on emotional literacy, safeguarding and respectful relationships, with opportunities for pupils to practise key skills such as communication, decision-making and self-regulation. Curriculum content is informed by statutory guidance, local context and pupil voice, ensuring it remains relevant and meaningful.

Impact

The impact of our PSHE curriculum is evident in pupils’ ability to apply their learning confidently in a range of contexts. Pupils demonstrate secure knowledge of how to keep themselves safe, understand healthy relationships and make informed choices about their wellbeing. They show respect for others, an appreciation of diversity and a clear understanding of right and wrong.

Our aim is for pupils to be able to articulate their thoughts, manage their emotions effectively and resolve conflicts in a constructive manner. Furthermore, they demonstrate increasing levels of independence, resilience and responsibility as they progress through the academy. Through ongoing assessment, monitoring and pupil voice, we ensure that learning is embedded and that all pupils are well-prepared for the next stage of their education. As a result, pupils leave Discovery Primary Academy as confident, respectful and responsible individuals who are ready to contribute positively to society.

Jigsaw PSHE

Jigsaw PSHE is a comprehensive, whole-school approach to personal, social, health and economic education that places children’s wellbeing at the heart of learning. More than a scheme of work, Jigsaw promotes a positive, inclusive culture and supports pupils in developing essential knowledge alongside key social and emotional skills. Through carefully planned lessons, children build their understanding of relationships, emotional literacy, self-regulation and mindfulness, helping them to feel safe, valued and ready to learn.

The programme is structured into six half-termly units, revisited each year in an age-appropriate way: Being Me in My World, Celebrating Difference, Dreams and Goals, Healthy Me, Relationships and Changing Me. Each lesson follows a consistent and engaging structure, beginning with the Jigsaw Charter to establish a safe environment, along with mindfulness activities to support calmness and focus. Lessons then introduce new learning, provide opportunities for discussion and active engagement and allow time for reflection. This approach ensures that children not only gain knowledge, but also develop the confidence, resilience and understanding needed to navigate their lives both in and beyond school.

Below, you will find parent guides for each year group and each unit. These provide suggested questions and practical ways to support your child’s understanding at home.