Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE)

At Banks Road Primary School, we believe that PSHE is at the heart of preparing children for life in modern Britain. Through our carefully designed curriculum, pupils develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values needed to become healthy, respectful, resilient and responsible members of society.

Our PSHE curriculum is bespoke to Banks Road Primary School. It has been developed specifically to meet the needs of our children, families and community while reflecting our school values of Respect, Friendship, Determination, Trust and Positivity and our motto, "We Can Do It!"

Rather than following a single published scheme, we have created a curriculum that draws upon the very best resources and expertise available. Lessons are selected and adapted from a range of high-quality providers, including Jigsaw, No Outsiders, Birmingham RSE, Every Mind Matters, St John Ambulance, BBC resources, Careers Explorers, School Improvement Liverpool and other trusted organisations. This enables us to deliver a curriculum that is relevant, engaging and responsive to the needs of our pupils.

Please see our PSHE Long Term Plan for a full overview of the curriculum taught in each year group.

Our Curriculum Vision

Through PSHE, we aim to help pupils:

• Develop confidence, resilience and independence.
• Build positive relationships and friendships.
• Understand and celebrate diversity, equality and inclusion.
• Keep themselves physically and mentally healthy.
• Stay safe in school, at home, in the community and online.
• Develop financial awareness and life skills.
• Understand their rights, responsibilities and role as active citizens.
• Prepare successfully for the next stage of their education and beyond.

We want every child to leave Banks Road as a confident, caring and responsible individual who is ready to make a positive contribution to society.

Fully Compliant with National Requirements

Our curriculum is fully aligned with:

• The National Curriculum for England.
• The statutory Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education Guidance issued by the Department for Education.
• The Equality Act 2010.
• The Department for Education's safeguarding expectations, including Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The curriculum ensures that all statutory Relationships Education and Health Education objectives are taught progressively from Nursery to Year 6, enabling pupils to build their understanding over time in an age-appropriate way.

Our Six Curriculum Themes

Our PSHE curriculum is organised into six key themes which are revisited and developed throughout a child's journey through school:

Autumn 1 - Belonging, Behaviour and Responsibility

Children learn about rights, responsibilities, democracy, citizenship, behaviour, decision-making and contributing positively to their school and wider community.

Autumn 2 - Identity, Respect and Equality

Children explore identity, diversity, inclusion, respect, anti-bullying, protected characteristics and celebrating what makes each person unique.

Spring 1 - Money, Work and Life Skills

Children develop financial awareness, career aspirations, enterprise skills, decision-making and an understanding of the wider world of work.

Spring 2 - Physical Health, Wellbeing and Safety

Children learn about healthy lifestyles, emotional wellbeing, first aid, healthy relationships with food, sleep, exercise and personal safety.

Summer 1 - Safe Relationships and Influence

Children develop an understanding of friendship, family relationships, peer influence, consent, kindness, boundaries and how to seek help when needed.

Summer 2 - Growing Up, Change and Online Safety

Children learn about personal development, puberty, transition, change and how to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

Meet Our PSHE Ambassadors

Our PSHE curriculum is brought to life through a set of Banks Road characters who accompany children throughout their learning journey.

Nursery – ⭐ Sunny

Our youngest character, linked to Positivity, holding the special star comfort toy.

Reception – 🎒 Poppy

Bright, enthusiastic and always ready for learning, carrying a backpack full of curiosity.

Year 1 – 🎀 Betty

A friendly and welcoming character who helps children settle into Key Stage 1.

Year 2 – 🧢 Mitch

Energetic, adventurous and eager to explore new experiences.

Year 3 – 👓 Emma

Curious, thoughtful and passionate about learning and understanding the world.

Year 4 – ⚽ Leo

Our sporty character who represents Determination and the importance of perseverance.

Year 5 – 🧕 Amina

A role model for Respect and kindness who celebrates diversity and inclusion.

Year 6 – ♿ Tony

A school ambassador and positive role model who perfectly embodies our school motto:

"We Can Do It!"

Tony helps pupils prepare for the transition to secondary school and encourages children to believe in themselves, overcome challenges and aim high.

Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)

Relationships Education and Health Education are taught as part of our wider PSHE curriculum.

Children learn:

• How to build and maintain healthy friendships.
• How to recognise and manage emotions.
• How to stay safe online and offline.
• How to seek help when they need it.
• About physical and mental wellbeing.
• About growing up and changes to their bodies in an age-appropriate way.

In Upper Key Stage 2, pupils also receive statutory learning linked to puberty and human development, in line with Department for Education guidance.

We value strong partnerships with parents and carers and encourage families to discuss any questions about RSHE with school staff.

Inclusion and Belonging

At Banks Road, we are proud of our inclusive community.

Our PSHE curriculum reflects the diverse world in which our children live and helps pupils understand that everybody deserves to be treated with dignity, kindness and respect. We actively promote equality, challenge prejudice and teach children to value differences while recognising the things we all have in common.

As an IQM Centre of Excellence, inclusion sits at the heart of everything we do.

If you would like any further information about PSHE at Banks Road Primary School, please contact the school office.

Together, we are developing confident, caring and successful learners who live our values every day and believe: "We Can Do It!"