PSHE and RSE at Longwick

Intent

At our school, PSHE is taught through the Jigsaw Programme, with the intent to develop confident, resilient, and caring learners who live out our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Perseverance, and Kindness. We aim to support pupils’ personal, social, emotional, and mental wellbeing so that they are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values needed to thrive both now and in the future.

Through our PSHE curriculum, pupils are taught to respect themselves and others, value diversity, promote inclusion, make informed choices and build positive, healthy relationships. They are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions, choices, and wellbeing, while developing perseverance in the face of challenge and change. Kindness underpins all learning: promoting empathy, compassion, and a strong sense of community.

Additionally, we are dedicated to delivering a comprehensive Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) programme that empowers our pupils to navigate the complexities of current and future relationships.

Our RSE curriculum will be delivered by the children's class teachers who know the children well and are skilled in teaching this aspect of the curriculum. In line with the DfE guidelines, we also respect parents' right to withdraw their children from some RSE lessons, and we encourage open communication should any parent wish to exercise this option. 

Implementation

Our PSHE curriculum is delivered through six half-termly units: Being Me in My World, Celebrating Difference, Dreams and Goals, Healthy Me, Relationships, and Changing Me. Lessons are taught weekly and follow the Jigsaw lesson structure, providing a safe, consistent, and reflective learning environment.

Teaching explicitly links PSHE learning to our school values. Pupils explore what respect looks like in friendships and wider society, how to act with responsibility in keeping themselves and others safe, how perseverance helps them manage emotions, setbacks, and aspirations, and how kindness strengthens relationships and wellbeing.

Weekly lessons follow the Jigsaw structure of Connect, Calm Me, Open My Mind, Tell Me or Show Me, Let Me Learn, and Help Me Reflect, ensuring consistency, emotional safety, and active engagement. Teaching uses a range of strategies including discussion, reflection, role-play, and collaborative learning.

Learning is inclusive and adapted to meet the needs of all pupils. Jigsaw’s mindfulness approach supports emotional regulation and resilience, while staff are trained to deliver lessons confidently and sensitively. PSHE learning is reinforced through assemblies, themed days, and wider school life.

Impact

The impact of our PSHE curriculum is evident in pupils who consistently demonstrate our school values of Respect, Responsibility, Perseverance, and Kindness in their learning, behaviour, and relationships. Progress is monitored through ongoing assessment, pupil voice, and reflection. Pupils can express their emotions appropriately, resolve conflicts respectfully, and show empathy and care for others.

Children leave our school with a strong understanding of how to look after their physical and mental wellbeing, make safe and informed choices, and persevere through challenges. They are prepared to contribute positively to their communities and future learning, with PSHE having a lasting and meaningful impact on their personal development and character.

Our Relationships and Sex Education Policy can be found by clicking this link: