PSHE/RSE
PSHE/RSE
At Whiteheath Junior School, we believe that P.S.H.E (Personal, Social and Health Education) enables our children to become responsible, healthy and independent members of society. Through lessons, events and a variety of activities, our school will help children to understand how they are developing personally and socially, so they can approach issues (moral, social and cultural) that affect them in their everyday lives with sensitivity and positivity. Our children will recognise their importance in a diverse and multi-cultural society and learn about their rights and responsibilities in school and the wider community.
Our school also has a responsibility to work with parents in preparing children for their lives now and in the future. Therefore, an appropriate and responsible Relationship and Sex Education, as an integral part of PSHE, is an essential element in that preparation. The school is sensitive to the fact that children’s environments may differ but seeks to place the RSE programme within the context of a secure and loving environment where faithfulness, love and commitment are promoted.
PSHE Curriculum
Useful Websites
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BBC Bitesize PSHE - Videos, quizzes and practice activities to help you
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My Safety Net - A website to help you keep safe and confident
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Child Net - Visit the Children's Zone for advice, videos, quizzes and more
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Anti- Bullying Alliance - Visit for information and advice
How to Support Your Child
In order to support your child at home, please try some of the following suggestions.
Health and Wellbeing
- Encourage your child to eat a balanced diet
- Involve your child with their meal choices so they recognise the importance of choosing a range of food groups
- Try to make sure your child does some sort of exercise regularly - preferably a type they enjoy
- Make sure your child looks after their personal health - washing often, brushing their teeth twice a day etc.
- Make sure your child gets a good amount of sleep each night so they are ready to face the day.
- Check in with your child - how are they feeling? Are they worried about anything? Do they need to talk?
- Discuss ways that your child could keep themselves safe - both in the outside world and online.
Relationships
- Talk about different types of relationships you might have - friends, family, husband/wife, work etc.
- Discuss the importance of staying safe around people - stranger danger, respecting your own body.
- Talk about how important it is to recognise and accept people that are different to yourself ie race, gender, religion.
- Make sure that your child knows who they can talk to if they have a problem.
Living in the Wider World
- Discuss with your child the rules and laws that we have in our country
- Talk about the different groups we have in society so they are aware of their contribution.
- Understand what the basic human rights are.
- Look after the environment - don't litter, destroy or hurt wildlife and nature.
- Share your aspirations so your child believes that anything is possible and to aim high.
- Discuss the importance of money - making it and spending/ investing wisely.
End of Year 6 Expectations
Guidance on PSHE Education
Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is an important and necessary part of all pupils’ education. All schools should teach PSHE, drawing on good practice, and this expectation is outlined in the introduction to the proposed new national curriculum.
PSHE is a non-statutory subject. To allow teachers the flexibility to deliver high-quality PSHE we consider it unnecessary to provide new standardised frameworks or programmes of study. PSHE can encompass many areas of study. Teachers are best placed to understand the needs of their pupils and do not need additional central prescription.
However, while we believe that it is for schools to tailor their local PSHE programme to reflect the needs of their pupils, we expect schools to use their PSHE education programme to equip pupils with a sound understanding of risk and with the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe and informed decisions.
Schools should seek to use PSHE education to build, where appropriate, on the statutory content already outlined in the national curriculum, the basic school curriculum and in statutory guidance on: drug education, financial education, sex and relationship education (SRE) and the importance of physical activity and diet for a healthy lifestyle.
For more information on the end of Year 6 expectations for our curriculum, please see the document below:
Relationships and Sex Education
Relationships and sex education (RSE) is an important part of PSHE education. Relationships education is compulsory for all primary school pupils, and relationships and sex education (RSE) is compulsory for all secondary school pupils.
For more information on RSE at Whiteheath, please refer to our RSE policy:
Life Base Week
In February 2024, all classes in the school had a visit from the ‘Lifebase’. This is run by Coram Education and involves a workshop for each class focusing on keeping our bodies and minds healthy; the effects of alcohol, smoking and other drugs on the body; friendships and how to make good decisions.
Each year group had interactive workshops targeted to their age group and they had some really meaningful discussions.
Annalise, in Year 5, said, “We learnt about the important things in a friendship, that it is okay to say no to your friends and that it is okay to make mistakes.” All of the children were delighted to see Harold - the giraffe with the scarf - who helped them with their learning!
The staff delivering the workshops were very impressed with the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of our children and commented that Whiteheath is a such a lovely school to visit.