PSHE at Ashlands.

At Ashlands, PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education), SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Cultural and Social education) and British Values are embedded within our whole curriculum. In addition to this, we also teach these subjects discreetly in our weekly PSHE lessons. These lessons focus on promoting positive behaviour, mental health, wellbeing, resilience and achievement.

Our PSHE curriculum is underpinned by the Coram SCARF programme of lessons. SCARF represents the important values for children: Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience and Friendship. In delivering this programme, we are confident that we meet all of the statutory Relationships Education and Health Education requirements, as the programme has been closely matched to each statutory objective. The Coram SCARF programme also delivers comprehensive content aligned with SMSC and British Values. As the curriculum is spiral, children build on their knowledge and understanding from previous years at age-appropriate levels.

In 2019, the Department for Education (DfE) published new guidance about changes to the PSHE curriculum, which schools must implement and comply to. The Health Education and Relationships Education aspects of PSHE are now statutory in all primary schools. It ensures that every child is guaranteed a PSHE education that covers mental health and wellbeing, physical health (including healthy lifestyles and first aid) and learn about safe and healthy relationships.

Following our consultation process in 2020, we have taken on board feedback from parents, students, staff and governors and have updated our Relationships and Sex Education policy to take into account the new statutory changes.

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is taught alongside the P.S.E.D/P.S.H.E. curriculum across school. Where necessary we draw on specialist help from outside agencies, such as educators from Coram Education, our school nurse who comes into the school regularly, or from Community Health Visitors who are also able to provide us with resources.

In addition we seek to answer children’s questions honestly as they arise. The depth of an answer given will of course depend on the age and maturity of the child asking the question. At all times we stress the need for stable and loving relationships in connection with any teaching relating to sex education.