PSHE

At Idle Church of England Primary School, we teach PSHE through The Story Project, using high-quality, carefully chosen stories to support children in understanding themselves, others and the world around them.

Through storytelling, discussion and reflection, pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to navigate their lives both now and in the future. Our approach reflects our Christian vision of growing together, enabling every child to flourish as a unique individual.

Rooted in our values of love, courage and joy, PSHE is an integral part of school life and is embedded across the curriculum, helping children to become confident, respectful and responsible members of society.

Our Intent

Our PSHE curriculum aims to:

Support pupils to develop positive relationships and understand respect, kindness and empathy
Equip children with the knowledge and skills to stay safe, healthy and emotionally well
Build confidence, resilience and independence
Help pupils understand and celebrate difference and diversity
Prepare children for life in modern Britain and as responsible global citizens

We aim for all pupils to leave our school with the confidence and understanding to flourish in the next stage of their education and beyond.

What Our Children Learn

Through The Story Project, learning is structured around key themes which are revisited and developed across the school:

Being a Good Friend – building relationships, resolving conflict and showing respect
Celebrating Families – understanding different families and the importance of care and belonging
Looking After My Body and Mind – developing physical health, mental wellbeing and self-care
Keeping Safe – including personal safety, online safety and understanding boundaries
Becoming a Global Citizen – exploring rights, responsibilities, equality and the wider world
Growing Up – understanding change, development and preparing for the future

These themes support a progressive curriculum that builds from early understanding in EYFS and Key Stage 1 to deeper thinking and reflection in Key Stage 2.

How We Teach PSHE

Our PSHE lessons follow a consistent structure to support engagement and understanding:

Settle – opportunities for reflection and emotional readiness
Read – sharing a carefully chosen story to introduce the theme
Explore and Apply – discussion, activities and reflection to deepen understanding

Stories provide a safe and meaningful context for pupils to explore real-life situations, ask questions and develop empathy. Learning is adapted to meet the needs of all pupils, ensuring everyone can access and engage with the curriculum.

PSHE is further enriched through:

Collective worship
Circle times and class discussions
Links to British Values and SMSC development
Opportunities to apply learning in real-life situations

The Story Project Books

Relationships and Health Education (RSHE)

Our PSHE curriculum includes statutory Relationships and Health Education (RSHE), delivered in a way that is age-appropriate and sensitive to the needs of our pupils.

We work in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that children are supported in developing a clear understanding of relationships, wellbeing and personal safety.

Our Impact

By the end of Year 6, pupils at Idle C of E Primary School:

Understand how to build and maintain healthy relationships
Know how to keep themselves safe, including online
Can recognise and manage their emotions and wellbeing
Show respect for others and appreciation of diversity
Demonstrate resilience, confidence and independence

Most importantly, our pupils leave us as compassionate, thoughtful individuals, rooted in our values, and ready to contribute positively to their community and wider society.