PSHE & RSHE
Our Intent
At Manuden Primary School, Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) and Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) are an important part of our curriculum and our wider approach to personal development.
Our curriculum reflects our school vision:
Growing Hearts, Growing Minds, Growing Dreams
We want children to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to build positive and respectful relationships, look after their physical and mental health, keep themselves and others safe, make informed choices and become increasingly independent.
Through PSHE and RSHE, pupils learn how to understand themselves, build healthy relationships, manage emotions, recognise risk, seek help and prepare for the opportunities and responsibilities of later life.
Our Curriculum
Manuden Primary School uses the Kapow Primary RSE & PSHE scheme of work.
Kapow provides a progressive curriculum from Reception to Year 6 and supports the statutory Relationships Education and Health Education requirements for primary schools.
The curriculum develops children's knowledge and understanding progressively, revisiting important concepts as pupils move through school and increasing the depth and complexity of their learning.
Our curriculum includes learning about:
- families and friendships;
- respectful relationships;
- physical and mental health;
- emotions and wellbeing;
- personal safety;
- boundaries and consent in age-appropriate contexts;
- online relationships and online safety;
- privacy and seeking help;
- growing and changing;
- puberty;
- citizenship and community;
- economic wellbeing; and
- increasing independence.
PSHE & RSHE in Our Mixed-Age Classes
As a small school, Manuden has mixed-age classes.
We use Kapow's mixed-age Cycle A / Cycle B programme to ensure that pupils experience a coherent and progressive curriculum without unnecessary repetition.
Pygmy Owl – Reception
Age-appropriate Kapow learning is taught alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage, particularly Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
Tawny Owl – Years 1 & 2
Kapow mixed-age Cycle A / Cycle B programme.
Hawk Owl – Years 3 & 4
Kapow mixed-age Cycle A / Cycle B programme.
Eagle Owl – Years 5 & 6
Kapow mixed-age Cycle A / Cycle B programme, including increasingly developed learning about relationships, health, safety, online life, puberty, growing up and preparation for secondary school.
Teachers adapt learning according to pupils' age, prior knowledge and individual needs.
Teaching and Learning
PSHE and RSHE are taught explicitly as part of our curriculum and are also reinforced throughout wider school life.
Learning may include discussion, stories, practical activities, scenarios, reflection, questioning and problem-solving.
Teachers establish clear ground rules so that children can discuss sensitive subjects safely and respectfully.
Teaching is factual, age-appropriate and inclusive. Children are taught appropriate vocabulary and are encouraged to ask questions and seek help from trusted adults when they need it.
Relationships and Health Education
Relationships Education and Health Education are statutory for primary-aged pupils.
Children progressively learn about healthy relationships, families, friendships, physical and mental wellbeing, online safety, personal boundaries, staying safe and knowing where to seek help.
They also learn about growing and changing, including age-appropriate learning about puberty.
Sex Education
In addition to statutory Relationships Education, Health Education and relevant National Curriculum Science content, Manuden Primary School provides an optional Year 6 sex-education unit through Kapow Primary.
Parents and carers are informed before this unit is taught and may request to view the teaching materials.
Parents have the right to request that their child is withdrawn from this non-statutory sex-education content.
Parents cannot withdraw their child from statutory Relationships Education, Health Education or relevant content taught through the National Curriculum for Science.
Further information is available in our RSHE & PSHE Policy 2026–27.
Reception
In Reception, PSHE and RSHE learning is developmentally appropriate and closely linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Children learn through stories, play, discussion, routines, modelling and carefully planned activities.
This develops early understanding of emotions, relationships, wellbeing, personal safety, independence, self-regulation and respect for others.
Inclusion and SEND
PSHE and RSHE are for all pupils.
Teachers make reasonable adjustments so that pupils with SEND can access and understand important learning.
Adaptations may include visual resources, pre-teaching, clarified language, repetition, additional processing time, sensory considerations, smaller-group teaching and additional adult support.
We maintain ambitious expectations for pupils with SEND while adapting teaching appropriately to remove barriers to learning.
Safeguarding
PSHE and RSHE form an important part of Manuden's safeguarding curriculum.
Children learn about personal safety, appropriate boundaries, healthy relationships, online safety and recognising when something may be wrong.
They are taught how and where to seek help and that they can speak to a trusted adult.
Where a pupil raises a safeguarding concern or makes a disclosure, staff follow the school's Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and safeguarding procedures.
Assessment
Assessment helps teachers identify what pupils know and understand, as well as misconceptions or gaps in important protective knowledge.
Teachers use questioning, discussion, pupil responses and Kapow assessment resources to monitor learning and inform future teaching.
Assessment does not require children to disclose personal experiences or private family information.
Working with Parents and Carers
We aim to be open and transparent with parents and carers about our PSHE and RSHE curriculum.
Parents and carers may request to view the curriculum materials used in school, including Kapow resources.
Parents of Year 6 pupils are given advance information before the optional sex-education unit is taught.
Further information about our approach, parental rights and withdrawal arrangements can be found in our full policy.
RSHE & PSHE Policy 2026–27
Subject Leadership
PSHE / RSHE Subject Lead: Eve Reynolds
The Subject Lead works with teachers and school leaders to monitor curriculum coverage, progression, teaching and pupils' learning across the school.
The Impact of Our Curriculum
By the time pupils leave Manuden Primary School, we want them to:
- understand what healthy and respectful relationships look like;
- know how to look after their physical and mental wellbeing;
- understand personal boundaries and consent in age-appropriate contexts;
- know how to keep themselves safer, including online;
- recognise unsafe situations and know how to seek help;
- understand the physical and emotional changes associated with growing up;
- make increasingly informed and responsible choices;
- show respect for people whose lives and families may differ from their own;
- participate positively in their community;
- demonstrate resilience, confidence and increasing independence; and
- be well prepared for secondary school and later life.
Further Information
Kapow Primary – Parent Information
For further information about PSHE and RSHE at Manuden, please contact the School Office.
Email: office@manuden.essex.sch.uk
Telephone: 01279 813370