At Alkerden, we believe that PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) and RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) are fundamental to helping learners grow into confident, responsible, caring and informed young people. Through PSHE & RSE we aim to: 

• Help learners develop self-awareness, self-esteem and resilience so they understand themselves, their feelings and their strengths. 

• Equip learners with the knowledge to develop safe, healthy relationships, with peers, family, and within the wider community, based on respect, empathy and understanding. 

• Teach learners how to manage physical and emotional health, including mental wellbeing, healthy lifestyle choices, personal hygiene, safety, and awareness of how to seek help when needed. 

• Build learners’ understanding of diversity, equality, and community,  promoting respect, kindness, inclusion and respect for difference. 

• Provide opportunities for learners to develop social skills: communication, teamwork, cooperation, conflict resolution, responsibility, and decision making. 

• Help learners understand basic economic and financial awareness appropriate to their age, for example the value of money, saving, budgeting, and making responsible choices. 

• Prepare learners for the challenges of growing up: changes in bodies and emotions, knowing about consent, boundaries, privacy, and how to keep themselves and others safe. 

Through our PSHE & RSE curriculum, we aim to nurture well-rounded, responsible, thoughtful, and morally aware individuals who are equipped to make informed decisions, build healthy relationships, and contribute positively to their community. 

• PSHE & RSE is taught regularly and systematically through the school, across all year groups from Early Years through to Year 6. The curriculum is carefully sequenced to reflect the growing understanding, maturity and needs of learners as they progress through the school. 

• Differentiation and support are provided so that all learners, regardless of background, ability or need,  can access PSHE & RSE meaningfully. Sensitive topics are handled with care, and support is available for learners who need extra guidance or reassurance. 

• Where appropriate, external resources, visitors or specialists may support the curriculum (for example: health professionals, community workers, local services), ensuring quality, accuracy and relevance of learning. 

• PSHE & RSE is complemented throughout the school by a wider culture of respect, inclusion, kindness and care, through everyday interactions, school ethos, pastoral support, and community values,  so the learning is embedded beyond lessons. 

• We incorporate community, moral and ethical themes, encouraging learners to understand their responsibilities, respect others, appreciate diversity, understand fairness, justice, and empathy,  helping them become thoughtful, compassionate members of society. 

• Relationships and Sex Education is delivered sensitively and appropriately for each age group: early years and lower primary focus on respect, friendships, family, personal boundaries; older learners explore growing up, changes, consent, respect, diversity and making informed, safe choices. 

• Learners learn to recognise and talk about feelings, emotions and challenges, and develop strategies for maintaining wellbeing, resilience, healthy relationships, and safety. 

• Key themes are revisited and built upon over time, including selfimage and mental wellbeing, relationships and respect, health and safety, financial awareness, and social responsibility,  so learning is reinforced and internalised. 

• A range of teaching methods is used,  including discussion, roleplay, circle time, group work, stories, real-life scenarios, mindfulness or wellbeing activities,  to help learners explore and understand complex ideas in an ageappropriate, meaningful and respectful way. 

• Lessons provide a safe, respectful and supportive environment where learners can discuss ideas, share thoughts, ask questions and learn about feelings, relationships, health, values and personal identity. 

By the time learners leave Alkerden, our PSHE & RSE curriculum ensures they: 

• Understand themselves: their emotions, strengths, challenges and how to manage feelings in healthy, constructive ways. 

• Have the knowledge and confidence to build and maintain safe, respectful relationships, based on empathy, trust, kindness and understanding. 

• Make informed, responsible decisions about health, safety, wellbeing, relationships, and personal choices. 

• Respect diversity and show empathy and understanding toward people from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. 

• Are socially responsible and aware: understanding their role in the community, their rights and responsibilities, and the impact their actions can have on others. 

• Possess resilience, emotional intelligence and self esteem, able to manage challenges, adapt to change, seek help when needed, and support others. 

• Understand basic financial and economic concepts appropriate to their age, able to make sensible decisions, develop awareness of managing resources, and appreciate the value of money and responsible choices. 

• Feel prepared for the transition to secondary school, adolescence and the wider world, confident in themselves, aware of their values, equipped with skills for healthy relationships and responsible decision making. 

The impact of our PSHE & RSE curriculum will be seen in learners who demonstrate kindness, respect, empathy, responsibility and self-awareness. They will engage positively with others, show confidence in making decisions, manage challenges with resilience, understand the value of diversity and community, and carry a sense of moral awareness, care and social responsibility into the future. 

Further PSHE and RSE Help

• RSE: NSPCC Learning
• EverySchool