PSHE/RSE

Intent

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Implementation

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Impact

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Important update!

We would like to inform parents and carers that we are currently in the process of transitioning our PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) scheme from Jigsaw to Kapow. This change is being made to ensure that our curriculum remains fully aligned with the latest guidance and expectations, while continuing to provide the highest-quality learning experiences for our children. Pupils will complete the current academic year using the Jigsaw programme, and we will begin implementing the Kapow PSHE curriculum from September. Ahead of the new academic year, we will share further information about the curriculum, including our long-term plan, progression of knowledge and understanding across year groups, and examples of the learning that will take place in lessons. We look forward to embarking on this exciting new journey and continuing to support our pupils’ personal development through a rich and engaging PSHE curriculum.

1. Intent

Arunside holds the personal development of children at its heart, and recognises the importance of developing pupils understanding and valuing of how they fit into and contribute to the world around them. From September 2026, Our Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) curriculum will be taught through the ‘Kapow’ Programme, as a whole-school approach to underpin children’s development as people and because we believe that this also supports their learning capacity.

With an emphasis on emotional literacy, building resilience and nurturing mental and physical health, Kapow equips us to deliver an engaging and relevant PSHE curriculum, fully compliant with the DFE statutory requirements for Relationships and Health Education (RHE). Through a mindful approach, children are supported to advance their emotional awareness, concentration and focus. Lessons are carefully mapped to evidence how they contribute to the schools wider Safeguarding and Equality Duties, British Values and SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural) development opportunities provided for our children.

A focus on rights, responsibilities and citizenship enables us to put cultural capital at the centre of PSHE lessons, helping pupils to understand and navigate a rapidly changing world. Citizenship, at school, community, national and global levels are integral and the uniqueness of individuals is celebrated. Developing resilience and critical thinking are also key components of PSHE lessons and a ‘golden-thread’ that runs through the entire programme. Physical health is covered, supporting both the PE and science curriculum, which includes understanding the importance of physical activity, diet, personal hygiene and where to access support. Safety education is also integral and pupils will learn about personal safeguarding, safeguarding of others, first aid and how to access help and support if needed. This work is also underpinned by developing positive mental health to cope with life’s opportunities and challenges, now and into the future.

2. Implementation

Kapow offers a comprehensive, carefully thought-through Scheme of Work which brings consistency and progression to our children’s learning. Kapow covers all areas of PSHE for the primary phase including statutory Relationships and Health Education. Below, you will find links to documents that show when units are taught thoughout the year, in each year group.

We allocate a 45 minute lesson each week in order to teach the PSHE knowledge and skills in a developmental and age-appropriate way, with class teachers delivering the weekly lessons to their own classes. These explicit lessons are also reinforced and enhanced in many ways such as assemblies and collective worship, our ‘Building Learning Power’ characters (metacognition), praise and reward systems, Learning Charters, through relationships child to child, adult to child and adult to adult across the school.

The Kapow scheme is delivered through the following units:

  • My healthy self
  • Connecting with others
  • The online world
  • Staying safe
  • Health protection
  • Growing up
  • Citizenship (non-statutory at present; included in the forthcoming National Curriculum from September 2028)
  • Sex education (non-statutory)
  • First aid (non-statutory)
KAPOW Long Term Plan
RSHE Policy 2026

3. Impact

We aim to ‘live’ what is learned and apply it to everyday situations in the school community. Capturing the thoughts and views of our children is integral to assessing the impact PSHE is having on the personal development of our pupils.

I like learning about all the stuff that’s happening in the world and being more aware of it… I have learned that even if you are disabled or poor, it doesn’t mean you can’t be happy…I enjoyed taking part in safer internet day… I made some pictures for my family to calm them down because they can’t see their friends and family…I enjoyed making the anti-racism ribbons…I have worked harder to accomplish my dream… My dream is that everybody is equal and there’s no bullying…I’d like to start a charity or start a business when I am older… I’d like to play rugby for England, to make it happen I will need to work really hard and embrace every opportunity… My goal is to do my best in school, pass my SATs tests and do well in secondary school

Y6 pupil

We have learned about direct and indirect bullying, racism, sexism and homophobia…We all share similarities and differences…I enjoyed making the anti-bullying boards and the culture wheels…Our class love the warm up games and ‘connect us’ activities at the start of each lesson…I enjoy ‘calm me’ time…Jigsaw has helped me to understand how people feel when things like bullying happen…It makes me understand how lucky I am.

Y5 pupil

I have learned that it is OK to be different, we are all different!…I have enjoyed the ‘connect me’ games and the ‘calm me’ chimes…At playtime we make sure that we have someone to play with, so no one is on their own…I enjoyed it when my teacher said ‘You can be anything that you want to be’, because I want to be a dancer, I am good at dancing…I liked using the worry monsters and colouring my own one, I can think about this if I am worried again.

Y2 pupil

When I feel cross at home, I go to my room to stop and take a ‘paws’ pause like Jerry Cat. Then I can solve the problem better…Sometimes people feel sad when they don’t reach their goals, but you shouldn’t give up…People can try and try again to get better at things…You need to show determination and keep trying to reach your goals…You need to be positive if things don’t go well because they might get better next time.

Y3 and Y4 pupils

I have enjoyed learning about kindness, being kind helped me at breaktime…We have learned about being the same and being different…I love calm me time…If I have a sad feeling at home, I pretend there’s a chime bar and I close my eyes…When I do the breathing, it makes me feel calm…I know that grown ups at school help to keep us safe…In my class we help each other, we are kind, we share and we are friends…When we are safe and happy it means we can learn new things every day.

Y1 pupil

To supplement our PSHE lesson, we take every opportunity to provide enrichment activities for our children. These opportunities build confidence, support mental wellbeing and develop key social skills. They help children grow as a people, beyond the classroom.

We have regular trips to The Royal Courts of Justice in London, provide first aid workshops in school and have regular visits with the NSPCC, taking part in the Speak Out Stay Safe campaign. We have also recently began a wonderful relationship with Broadbridge Park Care Home and take groups of children in to visit the residents and join them in a range of activities. We value the opportunity to support and build relations within our community.

Broadbridge Park Care Home visit with Year 6

Royal Courts of Justice Visit Year 5/6

First Aid Training