PSHE

 At Horsenden, our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education helps children develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to grow into happy, healthy, safe and responsible individuals. We follow the Ealing PSHE Scheme of Work 2025, which has been developed with local schools and specialists in PSHE, Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), mental health, nutrition, exercise and safeguarding.

The curriculum runs from Nursery to Year 6 and is organised around three main areas: Relationships Education, Health Education and Living in the Wider World. Children revisit important themes as they move through the school so that their knowledge and understanding develop progressively over time.

Through PSHE, pupils learn how to build healthy and respectful relationships, understand their emotions, look after their physical and mental wellbeing and make safe, informed choices. They also learn about diversity, equality, responsible citizenship and life in modern Britain. Fundamental British Values — democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs — are woven throughout the curriculum.

Safeguarding is central to our PSHE curriculum. Children are taught age-appropriate messages about personal boundaries, trusted adults, consent and how to seek help if they feel unsafe. Online safety develops progressively from basic safety rules in the younger years to areas such as privacy, digital footprints, cyberbullying, image sharing, online grooming and responsible phone use as pupils get older.

The curriculum also promotes equality, inclusion and respect. Pupils learn that people and families can be different and that everyone should be treated with fairness and dignity. Children explore issues such as prejudice, discrimination and racism in an age-appropriate way, helping them to develop empathy, celebrate cultural identity and understand the importance of challenging unfairness.

As children get older, Health Education includes learning about the changing adolescent body and puberty. These lessons use clear, factual and age-appropriate language and form part of the statutory Relationships and Health Education curriculum. The scheme contains one Year 6 lesson about reproduction which is classified as Sex Education; this is the one lesson from which parents have the right to withdraw their child. For more information on this, see the Relationships and Health Education page (linked). 

We value working closely with families. Parents are entitled to review RSHE teaching materials, and we aim to communicate openly about what children are learning so that important messages about relationships, wellbeing and safety can be reinforced both at school and at home.

 

Curriculum Documents

 Whole School PSHE Curriculum Map:

 

 

Coverage of the Department of Education's Relationship & Health Education Statutory Requirements:

At Horsenden Primary we know that the Personal, Social, Health Education curriculum is covered in many different ways - not just through the PSHE lessons. We develop pupil's understanding of themselves, their communities and the wider world through a wide variety of programmes and opportunities in school, such as:

 

PSHE Resources for Parents

How can I support my child's PSHE learning at home?

The statutory guidance is clear in recognising that a parent/carer is a child's primary educator in these matters. There are many things that you can do to support your child's understanding. It is important to encourage them to ask questions, too. Here are some ways you can help:

1. If you feel it is time to talk to your child about growing up and the changes they are likely to experience, it's best to offer it in small chunks rather than do it in one go (often known as 'The Talk'). This gives children time to digest the new information and to ask you further questions as they develop more understanding.  
2. If your child asks you questions, try to stay calm and don't worry if you don't know the answer. There are plenty of websites that you can use together to help you find the answers to their questions in a factual, honest and age-appropriate way (see details below for resources on our website).  
3. Use everyday opportunities to bring up the topic. Things that you see on TV or hear on the radio can be great conversation starters to talk about topics such as relationships, sex education and body image. Reading books with your child is also a great way of introducing topics and helping children to understand themselves, their bodies and the world around them.  
4. If you do have family names for genitals, ensure your child also knows their scientific names too. Nobody likes to think their child is at risk of abuse, but knowing the correct words for their body parts will help children to report abuse if it did ever happen.
5. By showing your child that you are comfortable with them asking you questions now, you are helping to develop a relationship with them where they can seek your advice and support in their adolescent years. 
   

Assessment

PSHE is assessed at the end of each unit through Knowledge Nets, which provide pupils with an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned. These assess pupils’ ability to recall key knowledge, use subject-specific vocabulary and apply their understanding to relevant real-life situations. Knowledge Nets are completed independently, with age-appropriate prompts where needed, and help teachers identify pupils’ understanding, misconceptions and changes in attitudes, such as increased empathy, safer decision-making and a greater appreciation of diversity.