PSHE and RHE

PHSE/ RHE

Our PSHE curriculum aims to inspire our children to become curious, open—minded and confident individuals, helping them to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives and thrive, both now and in the future.

Intent:

Our PSHE curriculum provides our pupils with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, health and relationships. We want them to develop resilience, build their self-efficacy and set goals for themselves which they can achieve and feel proud of. Our curriculum inspires our children to become inquisitive, critical thinkers and this is achieved through an enquiry-based approach. Through a holistic approach to self-awareness, children will learn how to recognise and express a range of emotions linked to various experiences and situations. They will know how to manage these emotions and learn about the importance of mental wellbeing, in the same way as physical health, diet, sleep and exercise. Moreover, they will learn about the importance of self-respect and how this links to their own happiness and wellbeing.

 As pupils progress through each year, they will have the opportunity to explore the diversities in today’s society, beginning with the school context and then exploring social and cultural differences in the wider environment. This will encourage our pupils to recognise and value differences in people and places, challenge stereotypes and respect others’ feelings and opinions. Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) forms an integral part of our PSHE curriculum to encourage children to develop healthy relationships, both online and face-to-face, and feel empowered to speak out if they are concerned about their own or others’ safety. They will understand the concept of privacy; recognise that each person’s body belongs to them, and the differences between appropriate, inappropriate or unsafe contact. During their time at Sandbach Primary Academy, they will develop a clear understanding of the different types of bullying and abuse and know how to report concerns, having the vocabulary and confidence needed to do so. Through understanding more about the wider world, we aim to inform our pupils about their responsibility to take care of the environment and learn how to manage money effectively, including a basic understanding of business and enterprise. They will learn about their rights and responsibilities as members of families and as wider citizens, including the importance of human rights (and the Rights of the Child). Through school and charity events, they will learn what it means to be part of a community and the value of volunteering and contributions to society. The children will understand more about the rules and laws to keep people safe and discuss and debate topical issues such as Fairtrade and diversity.

Implementation:

PSHE lessons are taught weekly throughout the school. Our curriculum is designed using the accredited PSHE Association scheme of learning, to be progressive and cohesive, ensuring that children continuously build upon their prior knowledge and bridge back to what they already know to help them to know more and remember more. The curriculum is organised into four key themes;  Living in the Wider World, Relationships, Health and Well-being (including sex, drug& alcohol education).The lessons at Sandbach Primary Academy are taught through creative and practical sessions which provide opportunities to bridge back and activate prior learning, open the platform for debate and discussion and develop children’s vocabulary and confidence to share their thoughts, feelings or concerns in a safe environment. PSHE also forms an important part of school assemblies and collective worship where children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured. Assemblies also use No Outsiders and Picture News to support learning and discussion about differences and British Values. Children’s understanding of their own emotions and how to regulate are supported through the NHS approved My Happy Mind programme.

Impact:

In PSHE, our pupils are assessed through their knowledge and understanding and also by how they use that knowledge in developing skills and attitudes. This is shown not only through recording in books, but also through their participation in class discussions, group tasks and activities and through their management of any conflicts. Pupils learn how to become valued citizens with a broad understanding of the world around them and leave Sandbach Primary Academy ready to embrace the secondary PSHE and RSHE curriculum. We formally assess at the end of the Foundation Stage against the Early Learning Goals for Personal, Social and Emotional development, using teacher assessment.  There is no published data for PSHE in KS1 and KS2. The school tracks foundation subjects to ensure that pupils are working within the curriculum expectations for their year group.

 

Relationships and Health Education (RHE) Consultation 2026

In line with statutory guidance, Sandbach Primary Academy undertook a full consultation on our Relationships and Health Education (RHE) Policy during June 2026. Thank you to the parents, carers, staff and governors who contributed their views and feedback throughout this process.

Following the consultation, we have reviewed and updated both our RHE Policy and curriculum to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of our children while reflecting current guidance and best practice. We are committed to delivering a curriculum that is age-appropriate, inclusive and focused on keeping children safe, healthy and prepared for life in modern Britain.

The updated policy and curriculum documents can be viewed below and outline the changes that have been made following the consultation process.

The Christopher Winter Project

At Sandbach Primary Academy, we use the Christopher Winter Project to support the teaching of Relationships and Sex Education. This programme has been carefully designed for primary-aged children and enables schools to deliver RHE in a clear, consistent and age-appropriate way.

The intent of the programme is to help children develop a positive understanding of relationships, personal wellbeing, growing up and keeping themselves safe. Through high-quality lessons, children learn about respect, healthy friendships, family relationships, online safety, body changes and the importance of seeking help when needed.

The impact of this approach is that children are equipped with the knowledge, vocabulary and confidence to make informed choices, understand boundaries, recognise healthy relationships and navigate the world around them safely and respectfully. The programme also ensures progression across year groups so that learning builds steadily as children grow and mature.

We encourage all parents and carers to review these documents and contact the school if they have any questions.

Files to Download

Contact us..

Crewe Road, Sandbach, CW11 4NS
01270 918922