PSHE

At Linden Road, our PSHE / RSHE curriculum is a carefully sequenced, knowledge-rich programme that equips pupils with the understanding, language and confidence they need to navigate an increasingly complex world. It is underpinned by a strong commitment to pupil wellbeing, personal development, and preparation for life in modern Britain.

 

Our curriculum is structured around clearly defined key themes, including:

• General wellbeing and self-esteem
• Respectful, kind relationships
• Caring friendships
• Families and people who care for me
• Personal safety
• Being safe: respect and privacy
• Physical health and fitness
• Kindness and anti-bullying
• Loss
• Health protection and prevention
• Healthy eating
• Growing up and developing bodies
• British values
• Drugs, alcohol, tobacco and vaping (KS2)

 

These themes are revisited in an age-appropriate and progressive way from EYFS through to Year 6, ensuring that pupils build secure, connected knowledge over time. Each unit is underpinned by clearly defined “Pupils know…” knowledge statements, enabling staff to focus explicitly on what pupils should understand at each stage of their development.

 

A central strength of the curriculum is its focus on progression. Pupils begin by learning to recognise basic emotions, relationships, and safety in the early years, before developing a deeper understanding of more complex concepts such as mental wellbeing, identity, diversity, consent, and risk as they move through Key Stage 2. By Year 6, pupils are able to apply this knowledge critically, for example understanding the long-term impact of bullying, the complexity of relationships, and how to seek help and support in a range of situations.

 

Oracy is embedded throughout the curriculum as both a pedagogical tool and a key outcome. Through structured talk, discussion questions, dialogic teaching and debate, pupils develop the vocabulary and confidence to:

• express their feelings and viewpoints clearly
• listen actively and respectfully to others
• explore sensitive topics in a safe and supportive environment
• articulate needs, boundaries and concerns

This emphasis on talk ensures that pupils not only acquire knowledge, but are also able to use it meaningfully in real-life contexts.

The curriculum is deliberately designed to support mental health and wellbeing. Pupils develop an understanding of emotions, self-regulation, resilience, and help-seeking, with a clear focus on reducing stigma and promoting openness. Themes such as loneliness, self-esteem, loss, and change are taught progressively to ensure pupils are prepared for life experiences in a developmentally appropriate way.

A strong thread of safeguarding and personal safety runs throughout the curriculum. Pupils learn how to recognise risk, understand boundaries (including online), and seek help confidently. This includes explicit teaching on topics such as bullying (including cyberbullying), consent, privacy, and harmful behaviours, ensuring pupils understand both impact and responsibility.

 

Our PSHE curriculum also places a clear emphasis on equality, diversity and British values. Pupils are supported to develop respect, tolerance and empathy, learning about differences in beliefs, cultures and identities. As they progress, they develop a deeper understanding of fairness, discrimination, stereotypes and their role in creating an inclusive society.

 

To support engagement and deepen understanding, many units are taught through the use of high-quality texts and stories, providing meaningful contexts for discussion. These texts allow pupils to explore complex themes through characters and narratives, helping them to reflect on their own experiences in a safe and structured way. Learning is explicitly linked back to real-life contexts to ensure relevance and application.

 

Ultimately, our intent is that pupils leave Linden Road as confident, articulate and informed individuals who:

• understand themselves and others
• can build and maintain positive relationships
• know how to keep themselves safe
• value diversity and act with respect and empathy
• are able to make informed choices about their wellbeing

By combining a clear progression of knowledge with a strong emphasis on oracy, wellbeing and real-life application, our PSHE curriculum ensures that every pupil develops not only the knowledge they need, but also the voice and confidence to thrive.

At Linden Road, our PSHE / RSHE curriculum is a carefully sequenced, knowledge-rich programme that equips pupils with the understanding, language and confidence they need to navigate an increasingly complex world. It is underpinned by a strong commitment to pupil wellbeing, personal development, and preparation for life in modern Britain.

 

Our curriculum is structured around clearly defined key themes, including:

• General wellbeing and self-esteem
• Respectful, kind relationships
• Caring friendships
• Families and people who care for me
• Personal safety
• Being safe: respect and privacy
• Physical health and fitness
• Kindness and anti-bullying
• Loss
• Health protection and prevention
• Healthy eating
• Growing up and developing bodies
• British values
• Drugs, alcohol, tobacco and vaping (KS2)

 

These themes are revisited in an age-appropriate and progressive way from EYFS through to Year 6, ensuring that pupils build secure, connected knowledge over time. Each unit is underpinned by clearly defined “Pupils know…” knowledge statements, enabling staff to focus explicitly on what pupils should understand at each stage of their development.

 

A central strength of the curriculum is its focus on progression. Pupils begin by learning to recognise basic emotions, relationships, and safety in the early years, before developing a deeper understanding of more complex concepts such as mental wellbeing, identity, diversity, consent, and risk as they move through Key Stage 2. By Year 6, pupils are able to apply this knowledge critically, for example understanding the long-term impact of bullying, the complexity of relationships, and how to seek help and support in a range of situations.

 

Oracy is embedded throughout the curriculum as both a pedagogical tool and a key outcome. Through structured talk, discussion questions, dialogic teaching and debate, pupils develop the vocabulary and confidence to:

• express their feelings and viewpoints clearly
• listen actively and respectfully to others
• explore sensitive topics in a safe and supportive environment
• articulate needs, boundaries and concerns

This emphasis on talk ensures that pupils not only acquire knowledge, but are also able to use it meaningfully in real-life contexts.

The curriculum is deliberately designed to support mental health and wellbeing. Pupils develop an understanding of emotions, self-regulation, resilience, and help-seeking, with a clear focus on reducing stigma and promoting openness. Themes such as loneliness, self-esteem, loss, and change are taught progressively to ensure pupils are prepared for life experiences in a developmentally appropriate way.

A strong thread of safeguarding and personal safety runs throughout the curriculum. Pupils learn how to recognise risk, understand boundaries (including online), and seek help confidently. This includes explicit teaching on topics such as bullying (including cyberbullying), consent, privacy, and harmful behaviours, ensuring pupils understand both impact and responsibility.

 

Our PSHE curriculum also places a clear emphasis on equality, diversity and British values. Pupils are supported to develop respect, tolerance and empathy, learning about differences in beliefs, cultures and identities. As they progress, they develop a deeper understanding of fairness, discrimination, stereotypes and their role in creating an inclusive society.

 

To support engagement and deepen understanding, many units are taught through the use of high-quality texts and stories, providing meaningful contexts for discussion. These texts allow pupils to explore complex themes through characters and narratives, helping them to reflect on their own experiences in a safe and structured way. Learning is explicitly linked back to real-life contexts to ensure relevance and application.

 

Ultimately, our intent is that pupils leave Linden Road as confident, articulate and informed individuals who:

• understand themselves and others
• can build and maintain positive relationships
• know how to keep themselves safe
• value diversity and act with respect and empathy
• are able to make informed choices about their wellbeing

By combining a clear progression of knowledge with a strong emphasis on oracy, wellbeing and real-life application, our PSHE curriculum ensures that every pupil develops not only the knowledge they need, but also the voice and confidence to thrive.