PSHE

Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education at St Marys 2026

At St Mary's, we have chosen to use and adapt the Jigsaw PSHE framework and resources because we believe they provide engaging, high-quality, and accessible learning experiences for our pupils/students. The Jigsaw Framework supports staff in delivering up-to-date and relevant PSHE, RSE and Health education in a way that is inclusive, visual, and meaningful.

To ensure that learning is appropriate for every pupil/student, we have carefully adapted the Jigsaw pathways so that each class follows the programme best suited to the age and stage of the students' development. You can find these pathways on our website.

As you begin to familiarise yourself with our approach, we recommend reading the Jigsaw parent/carer leaflet. It provides an overview of the programme's holistic philosophy, explaining how and why learning is revisited throughout a child's school journey, as well as the mindfulness element that is woven into every unit.

We also ask that you read our PSHE and RSE policies, which set out the principles and values that underpin our curriculum here at St Mary's. Together, these documents will give you a clear understanding of how we deliver PSHE and RSE and the important role they play in supporting our pupils'/student’s personal development and wellbeing.

Why do we teach PSHE?

At St Mary's, we believe that PSHE is about much more than learning facts. It is about helping every pupil/student to understand themselves, build positive relationships with others and develop the confidence and life skills they need to navigate the world in a way that is appropriate for and meaningful to them.

Our adapted Jigsaw curriculum reflects the individual strengths and needs of our pupils/students. We recognise that every child's journey is different, so learning is carefully planned to ensure it is engaging, accessible and appropriate for each child's stage of development.

Through PSHE, we nurture resilience, self-esteem, communication, emotional regulation, teamwork, independence and decision-making. Pupils/students explore the three key themes of Health and Wellbeing, Relationships, and Living in the Wider World, revisiting these throughout their time with us to deepen understanding and build confidence.

We also support pupils/students to recognise and manage risks, both online and offline, develop emotional literacy and communication skills, and know how and when to seek help from trusted adults. Above all, we want every pupil/student to feel safe, valued, listened to and equipped with the skills they need to lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

How we teach PSHE/RSE

PSHE is taught weekly across the school through the Jigsaw Scheme of Work, with every lesson carefully adapted to meet the communication, learning and developmental needs of our pupils/students.

Our curriculum is enriched through:

* The use of Zones of Regulation as a shared whole-school language for recognising, understanding and managing emotions.

* Total communication strategies, visual supports, sensory approaches and practical learning experiences that enable every pupil/student to access learning successfully.

* Opportunities to revisit and reinforce learning through assemblies, themed events, enrichment activities and everyday classroom experiences.

Jigsaw provides a carefully sequenced, spiral curriculum that includes statutory Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education, allowing pupils/students to revisit key concepts, build upon previous learning and develop greater understanding over time.

The six Jigsaw Puzzles are:

Term 1: Being Me in My World

Term 2: Celebrating Difference (including Anti-Bullying)

Term 3: Dreams and Goals

Term 4: Healthy Me

Term 5: Relationships

Term 6: Changing Me

Each lesson includes two learning intentions: one focusing on PSHE and Relationships and Health Education, and another that develops emotional literacy, social understanding and personal wellbeing.

Each Puzzle runs alongside a term of key stage appropriate assemblies, whilst pupils/students explore the learning at a level that is appropriate to their age, understanding and individual needs.

Every lesson is underpinned by a shared Class Charter that promotes kindness, respect, empathy and belonging, helping to create calm, safe and supportive learning environments where every pupil/student feels confident to contribute and succeed.

British Values - embedded throughout our curriculum and assembly themes.

At St Mary's, we believe that every pupil/student should feel valued, respected and empowered to make a positive contribution to their school and wider community. Through our Jigsaw PSHE curriculum, British Values are woven naturally into everyday learning, helping pupils/students develop confidence, kindness, respect and an understanding of the world around them.

Jigsaw promotes British Values through both direct teaching and meaningful, practical learning experiences. The five strands of the British Values agenda are carefully embedded within every Jigsaw Puzzle (unit) and Piece (lesson), enabling students to revisit these important concepts in ways that are relevant and accessible to them.

These values are further reinforced through whole-school assemblies, classroom discussions and the relationships we build every day. We are proud of the nurturing environment we have created at St Mary's, where Jigsaw supports not only our PSHE curriculum but also our whole-school commitment to emotional wellbeing, personal development and helping every pupil/student feel safe, included and able to thrive.