RSE and PHSE
Intent
At Woodchurch C of E Primary School, we believe that every child is uniquely created, valued and loved by God. Our RSE and PSHE curriculum supports children to develop the knowledge, skills, understanding and character they need to fl ourish as healthy, safe, confident and compassionate individuals.
Our curriculum is designed around theKapow Primary RSE & PSHE programme of study, which provides a progressive programme from Reception to Year 6. The curriculum develops children's understanding of themselves, their relationships, physical and mental health, safety, online lives, citizenship and the wider world. The programme builds progressively, ensuring that knowledge and skills are revisited and developed as children mature.
Relationships Education and Health Education are statutory elements of the primary curriculum. From September 2026, schools must teach the revised DfE statutory guidance for Relationships Education, RSE and Health Education and must have regard to the guidance when designing and delivering their curriculum.
At Woodchurch C of E, we recognise that eff ective RSE and PSHE is not simply about delivering a series of lessons. It is about developing children who understand their worth, know how to keep themselves and others safe, can form healthy relationships, make informed decisions and have the confi dence to seek help when they need it.
Our curriculum reflects our Christian character and ethos. We teach children that every person has inherent dignity and worth and should be treated with kindness, compassion, respect and fairness. We encourage children to understand the importance of loving and healthy relationships, responsibility, honesty, forgiveness, self-control, courage and service to others.
Our approach is consistent with the Church of England's expectation that RSE in Church schools should be rooted in Christian teaching while providing children with accurate information, supporting healthy relationships, protecting self-esteem and mental health, and being sensitive to the needs and beliefs of the school community.
RSE, PSHE and our Christian ethos
Our teaching promotes:
dignity and respect for every individual;
kindness, compassion and forgiveness;
honesty and integrity;
responsibility for ourselves and others;
healthy and respectful relationships;
appropriate boundaries and personal space;
courage to speak out and seek help;
understanding of diff erence and diversity;
stewardship of our bodies, health and environment;
the value of family, friendship and community;
reflection on choices and their consequences.
We recognise the importance of presenting the Christian perspective clearly while ensuring that teaching is age-appropriate, inclusive, accurate and respectful of pupils and families with different backgrounds, beliefs and experiences.
THRIVE
Our RSE and PSHE curriculum is closely connected to our school values of THRIVE:
Trust
– Children learn to recognise trusted adults, develop healthy relationships and understand the importance of trust, honesty and reliability.
Resilience
– Children develop strategies for managing emotions, coping with diffi culties, responding to setbacks, seeking help and maintaining positive wellbeing.
Hard Work
– Children understand that healthy habits, positive relationships and personal development require eff ort, refl ection and commitment.
Inspire
– Children are encouraged to develop aspirations, recognise their strengths and understand how their choices can infl uence their future.
Value
– Children learn to value themselves and others, recognise individual diff erences, respect diversity and understand that every person has dignity and worth.
Enjoy
– Children are encouraged to enjoy healthy relationships, positive experiences, physical activity, friendships and their wider school and community life.
Our overall intention is for children to THRIVE: to know themselves, value themselves and others, make safe and healthy choices, build positive relationships and develop the confi dence and resilience to flourish.
Implementation
Curriculum Structure
RSE and PSHE is taught through the Kapow Primary RSE & PSHE scheme of study, adapted where appropriate to reflect the needs, context, Christian ethos and priorities of Woodchurch C of E. Kapow provides a clearly sequenced programme across:
My Healthy Self
Connecting with Others
The Online World
Citizenship
Health Protection
Growing Up
Staying Safe
First Aid
age-appropriate sex education where the school has chosen to include it.
The curriculum begins in Reception with emotional regulation, relationships, managing challenges, listening, friendships and wellbeing. Kapow's Reception curriculum includes identifying and expressing feelings, recognising special relationships, perseverance, communication, healthy lifestyles and safety.
This knowledge is progressively developed through KS1 and KS2.
In Years 1 and 2, children develop understanding of:
emotions and emotional regulation;
friendship and relationships;
respect and kindness;
personal space and boundaries;
online safety;
citizenship and community;
healthy lifestyles;
illness prevention;
hygiene;
physical development;
privacy;
staying safe;
recognising trusted adults and seeking help.
For example, Year 2 includes healthy habits, relationships, bullying, personal space, privacy and boundaries, online safety, growing and changing, correct terminology for private body parts and seeking help from trusted adults.
Key Stage 2
In Years 3–6, learning becomes increasingly sophisticated and refl ects children's growing maturity.
Children explore:
physical and mental health;
emotional wellbeing;
sleep and healthy lifestyles;
friendships and relationships;
bullying;
online communication and safety;
rights and responsibilities;
first aid and emergency situations;
careers and aspirations;
equality and stereotypes;
money and fi nancial decision-making;
puberty;
personal hygiene;
periods;
boundaries and consent;
safety and risk;
peer pressure;
discrimination and prejudice;
human rights;
responsible citizenship.
Kapow's Year 4 provision, for example, develops healthy choices, exercise, nutrition, hydration, growth mindset, kindness, respectful relationships, trust, bullying, stereotypes, online reliability, puberty, boundaries and personal safety.
By Year 6, pupils consider the long-term impact of lifestyle choices, emotional wellbeing, self-respect, boundaries, discrimination, bullying, online wellbeing, rights, laws, personal safety, peer pressure and first aid.
Relationships Education
Relationships Education is a statutory requirement at primary level.
Our curriculum teaches children how to:
develop and maintain positive friendships;
recognise healthy and unhealthy relationships;
demonstrate kindness and respect;
communicate eff ectively;
resolve disagreements appropriately;
recognise bullying and know how to respond;
understand personal space and privacy;
establish appropriate boundaries;
recognise trusted adults;
understand that families may look diff erent;
respect diff erences between people;
seek help when relationships or situations become unsafe.
The DfE identifi es the purpose of primary Relationships Education as developing the knowledge and skills that form the building blocks of positive relationships and enabling children to become kind, caring adults who respect others and know how to keep themselves and others safe.
Click below to see our letter for Parent Consultation for RSE
Health Education
Health Education is taught progressively through Kapow and supports children to understand how to care for their physical and mental health.
Learning includes:
physical activity;
healthy eating and nutrition;
hydration;
sleep;
personal hygiene;
dental health;
emotional wellbeing;
mental health;
managing emotions;
medicines;
illness and disease prevention;
sun safety;
first aid;
seeking medical help;
emergency situations;
keeping the body safe.
This complements our wider curriculum, including PE, Science and Computing, so that children experience a coherent approach to health, wellbeing and safety.
Growing Up and Puberty
Children receive age-appropriate teaching about physical and emotional development as they grow.
This includes:
changes associated with puberty;
menstruation;
personal hygiene;
emotional changes;
privacy;
personal boundaries;
respect;
seeking appropriate advice and support.
Kapow's progression ensures that children encounter this learning in an age-appropriate sequence, rather than as a single isolated unit. Year 4 introduces physical and emotional changes during puberty, while Years 5 and 6 develop understanding of puberty, hygiene, emotions, boundaries, relationships and support.
Sex Education
At primary level, Relationships Education and Health Education are statutory; sex education beyond the National Curriculum for Science is not compulsory. Woodchurch C of E will clearly identify in its published RSE policy which elements of sex education, if any, are taught beyond the statutory Science curriculum.
Where the school chooses to teach additional sex education:
content will be age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate;
it will be taught within the context of relationships, respect, responsibility and safety;
teaching will be consistent with the school's Christian ethos;
parents will be informed and consulted in accordance with statutory requirements;
the school's policy will clearly identify the content;
parents will have the right to withdraw their child from non-statutory sex education, in accordance with the statutory framework.
The DfE confirms that primary schools choosing to teach sex education beyond the National Curriculum for Science must set this out in their policy and must allow parents to withdraw their children from that additional content.
Kapow identifies an optional Year 6 sex education unit covering human reproduction, conception, pregnancy, birth, consent, family structures and the responsibilities involved in raising a child; its curriculum overview specifically notes the parental right to withdraw from this unit. Click here for information about this.
Online Safety
Online safety is an integral part of RSE and PSHE rather than a stand-alone topic.
Children progressively learn about:
respectful online communication;
online relationships;
inappropriate content;
privacy;
trustworthy information;
online bullying;
advertising and influencers;
scams and financial risks;
peer pressure;
online habits;
emotional wellbeing and screen use;
how online experiences can affect relationships and mental health.
Kapow progressively develops these areas from Year 1 through Year 6, moving from basic online safety towards critical evaluation of information, persuasion, online influence and wellbeing.
This learning is reinforced through Computing, safeguarding education and the school's wider digital safety provision.
Safeguarding
RSE and PSHE is an important component of the school's safeguarding curriculum.
Children are taught:
correct vocabulary for body parts where appropriate;
personal boundaries;
privacy;
consent and respectful behaviour at an age-appropriate level;
how to recognise when something feels unsafe;
how to respond to unsafe situations;
who their trusted adults are;
how and when to seek help;
how to report concerns;
how to keep themselves safe online and offline.
Teaching is delivered within the school's safeguarding framework. Any disclosure or safeguarding concern arising from lessons is dealt with in accordance with the school's safeguarding and child protection procedures and keeping Children Safe in Education.
Teachers do not promise confi dentiality to pupils and follow the school's established safeguarding procedures when concerns arise.
Inclusive Practice
Our curriculum is an entitlement for every pupil.
Teaching takes account of:
SEND;
disability;
individual developmental needs;
additional learning needs;
language and communication needs;
pupils' backgrounds and experiences;
faith and belief;
family circumstances;
protected characteristics.
Resources and teaching approaches are adapted where necessary so that all children can access the curriculum meaningfully.
The DfE requires schools to have regard to equality duties and to ensure that teaching is appropriate to pupils' age, developmental stage, religious background and individual circumstances.
Teaching Approach
Lessons use a range of approaches including:
discussion;
stories and scenarios;
role play;
reflection;
paired and group activities;
questioning;
practical activities;
case studies;
video and visual resources;
independent refl ection;
collaborative learning.
Teachers establish clear ground rules so that children can participate safely and respectfully.
Children are encouraged to ask questions, but staff use professional judgement when responding to questions that are outside the planned content or are inappropriate for the age or developmental stage of the class.
Sensitive questions are handled calmly and appropriately. Where necessary, children are directed towards trusted adults or appropriate sources of support.
Parent and Carer Partnership
We recognise that parents and carers are the primary educators of their children in matters relating to relationships, values and family life.
The school therefore:
publishes its RSE policy;
communicates curriculum content to parents and carers;
provides information about what children will learn;
engages parents in consultation where appropriate;
supports parents in discussing sensitive issues with their children;
explains the distinction between statutory Relationships and Health Education and any additional sex education;
operates the parental withdrawal arrangements required by law.
The DfE specifi cally expects schools to engage parents and carers when developing their relationships, sex and health education provision.
British Values and Citizenship. PSHE contributes directly to pupils' understanding of life in modern Britain.
Children develop understanding of:
democracy;
the rule of law;
individual liberty;
mutual respect;
tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs;
rights and responsibilities;
equality;
community participation;
financial responsibility.
Kapow's Citizenship units explicitly develop children's understanding of communities, rights, responsibilities, democracy, money, human rights, law, equality and inclusion.
Impact
Impact on Personal Development
RSE and PSHE contributes signifi cantly to the school's wider personal development offer. This aligns with the renewed Ofsted inspection framework, under which inspectors consider whether a coherent programme of personal development extends across the taught curriculum and wider opportunities and experiences, makes a positive diff erence to pupils, and supports their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Ofsted also expects the personal development programme to be an entitlement for every pupil, with appropriate adaptations and action to ensure disadvantaged pupils, pupils with SEND and pupils facing other barriers can participate. At Woodchurch C of E, the impact will therefore be evident not only in children's books and lessons but also in how children:
conduct themselves;
form relationships;
treat others;
respond to difference;
manage challenges;
seek help;
make healthy choices;
contribute to the school community;
understand their responsibilities;
demonstrate respect and compassion.