Combs Infants School is a friendly and caring school set hidden away in a beautiful rural environment. The children are supported and encouraged through lessons, assemblies and playtime to achieve their best in every aspect of their learning instilling a sense of fairness and an understanding of diversity.

We nurture each individual child, respecting their individuals needs, helping them to develop a sense of pride and mutual respect for each other and our school within our inclusive community. As part of a whole school approach, PSHE develops qualities and attributes that children need to manage opportunities, challenges and responsibilities as they grow up, enabling them to thrive as individuals, family member and members of society.

Our Intent:

At Combs Infant School, PSHE is at the core of all we do and enables our children to become independent, confident, healthy and responsible members of society, as well as developing the ‘whole child’ intellectually, morally, socially and spiritually.   

PSHE is taught across the school from nursery to Year 2 on a weekly basis and the whole school follows and adapts the Jigsaw PSHE scheme.

Our PSHE curriculum equips children with relevant and meaningful content, which is supported through a strong emphasis on emotional literacy, building resilience and nurturing mental and physical health. 

With an ever changing society, we are able to provide our children with a strong understanding of the diverse world around them and support them in playing a positive role in contributing to the school and the wider community.  We want our children to view themselves as global citizens and aspire for them to leave Combs Infant School as considerate, respectful and resilient individuals.  It is important that they are aware, at an appropriate level, of different factors which may affect their world and that they learn how best to deal with these so that they have good mental health and well-being.

A key part of our curriculum is Relationships and Health Education and our delivery of RHE enables our children to learn how to be safe, and empowers them to have healthy fulfilling relationships, both now and in their future lives.

Through our whole-school approach to PSHE, it is our belief that excellence in these areas will lead to high aspirations across the curriculum and beyond in later life. We aspire for the children to view themselves as lifelong learners who can always aim for the stars. 

Implementation:

At Combs Infant School, we take great pride in our holistic approach, so we have adopted the Jigsaw scheme of work which aims to develop the ‘whole child’ through a spiral curriculum. We implement the Jigsaw approach from Nursery to Year 2 and teachers adapt the scheme in order to reflect the needs of their pupils. 
PSHE is taught through Jigsaw’s six half termly units with each year group studying the same unit at the same time to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding in:

• Being Me in My World
• Celebrating Difference
• Dreams and Goals
• Healthy Me
• Relationships
• Changing Me

Learning in each topic then takes place during weekly whole class Jigsaw lessons which explore the different themes.

Progression in skills and knowledge in PSHE are outlined in the progression grid.  

Its cohesive vision helps children understand and value how they fit into and contribute to the world. With a strong emphasis on emotional literacy, building resilience and nurturing mental and physical health, Jigsaw equips us to deliver engaging and relevant PSHE education. This encourages building resilience and nurturing mental and physical health. Jigsaw lessons also include mindfulness which allows children to advance their emotional awareness, self-regulation and concentration.

We believe that PSHE education plays a vital part in primary education so as well as discrete lessons, it is embedded throughout the curriculum. Key concepts are explored across our broad and balanced curriculum. PSHE is also an important part of school assemblies where children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured.

In addition, we hold special events such as themed days/weeks, we invite in visitors and have regular links with our community.

Our PSHE delivery ensures the children explore the diverse beliefs, values and attitudes that individuals and societies hold. It helps pupils to develop themselves, their understanding of the world, and their ability to communicate their feelings. Children at Combs Infant School also acquire an understanding of British values that are necessary if they are to make sense of their experiences, value themselves, respect others, appreciate differences and feel confident and informed as a British and global citizen.

Impact:

By the time children leave us they will: 

• Demonstrate kindness and respect towards themselves and others. 
• Have the courage and ability to try new things, challenge themselves and persevere.  
• Take responsibility for their actions. 
• Have a good understanding of how to stay safe, healthy and how to develop positive relationships now and in the future.  
•  Understand the physical aspects involved in RHE at an age appropriate level.
• Be able to understand and manage their emotions.
• Be able to look after their mental health and well-being.
• Have an appreciation of what it means to be a positive member of a diverse, multicultural society.  
• Demonstrate and apply the British Values of Democracy, Tolerance, Mutual respect, Rule of law and Liberty. 
• Be able to approach a range of real life situations and apply their skills and attributes to help navigate themselves through modern life.
• Be inspired to reach for the stars.

At Combs Infant School, we prioritise physical and mental health and wellbeing, providing children with skills to evaluate and understand their own wellbeing needs, practice self-care and contribute positively to the wellbeing of those around them. We are committed to creating a positive, safe and nurturing environment, where all members of the school and wider community will be respected and valued.  Children are enabled to develop the vocabulary and confidence needed to clearly articulate their thoughts and feelings openly and know when and how they can seek the support of others whom they trust and respect. They will apply their understanding of society to their everyday interactions, from the classroom to the wider community.

We continuously assess the implementation and impact of our PSHE curriculum in order to achieve the highest outcomes possible across all year groups and ensure we provide the support that is necessary for all children to achieve.

Our PSHE approach has a positive impact on the whole child intellectually, morally, socially and spiritually.  Through our PSHE curriculum, we believe we can enhance children’s education and help them to become caring, respectful, responsible and confident individuals and citizens.

EYFS End Points

By the end of Reception children will have been given the opportunity to play cooperatively, taking turns with others, taking account of one another’s ideas about how to organise their activity. They will have the opportunity to show sensitivity to others’ needs and feelings, and form positive relationships with adults and other children. Children will be more confident to try new activities, and say why they like some activities more than others. They will have had the opportunity to speak in a familiar group, talk about their ideas, and choose the resources they need for their chosen activities. Children will be encouraged to talk about when they do or don’t need help. They will be given the opportunity to talk about how they and others show feelings, talk about their own and others’ behaviour, and its consequences, and know that some behaviour is unacceptable. They will be provided with opportunities to work as part of a group or class, understand and follow the rules and adjust their behaviour to different situations, and take changes of routine in their stride. Children will know of physical exercise and a healthy diet for good health and talk about ways to keep healthy and safe. They will be able to manage their own basic hygiene and personal needs successfully, including dressing and going to the toilet independently.

Key Stage One End Points

By the end of Key Stage one children will have built on their prior knowledge, developing core skills and further understanding in relationships, health and wellbeing and living in the wider world. They will be able to talk about the characteristics of healthy relationships and families, understanding how families look different. They will build on their prior knowledge of health and physical exercise through how to manage and support the mental health and wellbeing of themselves and others and talk about more specific health issues such as managing germs. Children will be given further opportunities to learn about the wider world including how to keep safe in different situations.

Teaching and Learning

A PSHE programme of study has been written to ensure that all staff understand the purpose and aims of the PSHE curriculum at Combs Infant School. A curriculum map has been written that informs what knowledge and skills should be taught from Nursery to Year Two. Within this framework various issues and skills are addressed that reflect the pupils’ ages and stages of development such as looking after yourself, eating, physical activity, safety, relationships, family, friendship, safety, decision making skills, inter-personal skills. The methods of teaching PSHE are crucial. Pupils need to participate in order for the curriculum to have relevance and meaning therefore teachers will use approaches in which pupils are active, that enable pupils to share their feelings, understand what others think, feel and do.

The teacher role is:

• To be non-judgemental
• To empathise
• To encourage
• To challenge
• To respond sensitively to pupil’s backgrounds and experiences
• To start with the pupil’s understanding

Parents

• The link to parents, carers, family and home is an important consideration for PSHE. The school will seek to ensure that neither pupils or staff make judgmental responses that imply that a pupil’s family, background and culture and beliefs are not valued. There needs to be recognition by staff and parents that pupils will not always choose to involve their parents in curriculum work and this needs to be respected.

Responsive to Local Issues/ Community
 

• Curriculum practice needs to take account of the needs of pupils through an understanding of the local community and issues and feelings that may arise as a result of a change or incident within the local community. Visitors and outside speakers will be used to support the curriculum where appropriate

Educational visits

Throughout the year, the children partake in educational visits with a focus and cross curricular links to the PSHE/RHE curriculum. These visits take place in areas of our locality and enable the children to make first hand observations of the world around them. Children will be able to develop their understanding in a way that is impossible in the classroom.

Role of Subject Leader

The role of the subject leader is to:

• Ensure high quality PSHE lessons are taught across EYFS and Key Stage 1 through our agreed broad and rich PSHE curriculum.
• Provide subject specific guidance/CPD to colleagues.
• Monitor the PSHE curriculum delivered to children across the school highlighting strengths and areas for further development.
• Monitor the progress and attainment of children in school in PSHE.
• Manage resources including maintaining/replenishing resources e.g. texts, Jigsaw resources, to support delivery of a high-quality curriculum.
• Stay up to date with changes, new initiatives and research that would enhance and support the development of PSHE at Combs Infant School.
• Keep up to date with local community, safeguarding and other issues that may arise due to a result of a change or incident within the local community
• Where appropriate to the curriculum arrange for visitors or outside agencies to come in.

Reasonable Adjustments

In all classes there are children of differing abilities. At Combs Infant School we recognise this fact and provide suitable learning opportunities for all children. Teachers make reasonable adjustments through adaptive teaching, including; flexible grouping, level of support, equipment available (including technology), questioning and scaffolding. The SENCO and class teacher work closely together to ensure reasonable adjustments are made for all children.

Equality Statement

The PSHE curriculum adheres to our school Equality Policy. It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure that all children are treated equally, regardless of their background, gender, race or ability. We are an inclusive school and teach art to all children respecting individual needs. The art curriculum takes into account issues of difference including: gender, race and ethnicity.

SMSC in PSHE lessons

Opportunities to promote children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is threaded throughout our PSHE curriculum.

How can you help with your child’s learning at home

• Take a look at your child’s topic web to find out about the PSHE topics your child will be studying.
• Encourage discussions with your children about the topics covered in our PSHE Jigsaw curriculum
• Remember SMILERS!
  -Stay connected – keeping in touch with family and friends
  -Move – Try to get outside everyday
  -Interest – Have a hobby, keep learning, do something creative!
  -Look – Take time to look around you and appreciate what you have
  -Eat well – Try hard to maintain a balanced diet
  -Rest – Get plenty of sleep (children at infant school age, are recommended to have between 9-12 hours sleep per day)
  -Support – How can we support other people to help us feel positive and makes us happy too!

Our Curriculum

PSHE within EYFS is covered within the specific areas of learning: Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Making Relationships, Self-confidence and Self-awareness and Managing Feelings and Behaviour, with an understanding that each area of learning is impacted by children achieving the statements related in each of the prime areas of learning within the Development Matters Framework.

As our children progress to KS1, teachers ensure that the skills children have acquired in EYFS are built upon and utilised to enable children to further their skills and new knowledge by following the National Curriculum.

PSHE is taught through Jigsaw in EYFS and KS1. These projects are sequenced to develop children's substantive and declarative knowledge, and if possible, make meaningful links to other projects. These links allow for children to embed their substantive knowledge and vocabulary in new and often real-life contexts, to comprehend subsequent projects fully.