Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) – incorporating Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)

“Teaching PSHE is one of the most powerful ways we can promote mental wellbeing, helping young people build resilience and healthy relationships.” (anon)

At Market Field School, we are passionate about our pupils growing up to be safe, happy and healthy individuals who have the ability to build and maintain supportive and healthy relationships. Whilst recognising pupils’ individual needs and abilities, we strive to ensure that our pupils leave school with the knowledge, understanding and life skills to live healthy, productive lives and meet their full potential. We promote this through an engaging and comprehensive PSHE curriculum throughout the year, with lessons carefully designed to be appropriate to the developmental stage of the child and relatable using real life experiences where possible.

These lessons are taught weekly throughout the school and are reinforced through a carefully structured assembly rota, with themes promoting diversity and inclusion.

At Market Field School we base our PSHE programme on the PSHE Associations Programme of Study, which is further enriched with the My Happy Mind curriculum, to build resilience, self-esteem and happiness in children, we also teach two bespoke lessons each term - one on online safety and one based on 'Let's talk Pants' (NSPCC) to teach children to talk to an adult if anything is worrying them. 

Our Curriculum 

Our PSHE curriculum is organised into six strands:

1. Self Awareness (me, who I am, my likes, dislikes, strengths and interests)

2. Self care, Support and Safety (Looking after myself and keeping safe; aspects of Relationships and Sex Education)

3. Managing Feelings (Understanding feelings and that how I feel and others feel affects choices and behaviours; aspects of Relationships and Sex Education)

4. Changing and Growing (How I and others are changing, new opportunities and responsibilities; aspects of Relationships and Sex Education)

5. Healthy Lifestyles (Being and keeping healthy, physically and mentally)

6. The World I live in (Living confidently in the wider world) 

Further in-depth planning, including curriculum maps are incorporated into our policy, which is at the foot of this page. 

 

Can I withdraw my child from Sex Education?

In line with the Department for Education (2023) statutory guidance, there is no right for parents to withdraw pupils from PSHE, including Relationships Education or Health Education. However, parents do have the right to withdraw their child from some, or all, of the sex education component, excluding content delivered within the Science curriculum. For pupils in Key Stage 3 and 4, parents/carers have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from sex education until three terms before the pupil turns 16. After this point, if the pupil wishes to receive sex education, the school will make appropriate arrangements to provide the content within the relevant term.

If a parent/carer chooses to withdraw their child from any part of the sex education curriculum, the school will maintain a record of their request, using the form found in Appendice D of the policy, which they will be asked to sign. In line with the Department for Education (2023) guidance, it is considered good practice to discuss withdrawal requests with parents and, where appropriate, with the child. This ensures that all parties understand the reasons behind the request and clarifies the nature and purpose of the curriculum.

Can I request further information about RSE?

We are always happy to discuss any questions or concerns with you and will always be open and honest about our curriculum plans and the resources that we use. For further information, please contact Samantha Elliott (RSHE Lead) via the school office, or your child’s class teacher.