Curriculum Statement for PSHE (including relationships, sex and health education)
At Lancaster Lane Primary and Pre-School, we believe PSHE plays a vital role in preparing children for life both now and in the future. Through PSHE, children develop the understanding, confidence and resilience needed to manage relationships, keep themselves safe, care for their physical and emotional wellbeing and become respectful members of society.
Our curriculum encourages children to understand themselves, build positive relationships with others and develop the confidence to make informed and responsible choices. We want children to feel valued, supported and prepared for the opportunities and challenges they may face as they grow up.
PSHE, including Relationships, Sex and Health Education (R(S)HE), is taught in line with current statutory guidance and is carefully planned to meet the needs of our pupils and wider school community. Safeguarding is embedded throughout our curriculum to ensure children develop the awareness needed to recognise risk, seek support and keep themselves safe both online and offline.
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced from Early Years through to Year 6 so that knowledge and skills build progressively over time. Learning is regularly revisited to strengthen understanding and allow children to make meaningful links between prior and new learning. Through discussion, reflection and purposeful learning experiences, children are encouraged to think critically, communicate confidently and apply their understanding to real-life situations.
Relationships, Sex and Health Education (R(S)HE)
At Lancaster Lane Primary and Pre-School, Relationships, Sex and Health Education (R(S)HE) is taught through our PSHE curriculum and is delivered in line with current statutory guidance from the Department for Education.
PSHE education supports children and young people to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to manage their lives both now and in the future. As stated by the PSHE Association (2024):
“PSHE education is the school subject through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. PSHE education develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.”
As part of our PSHE curriculum, the statutory elements of Relationships Education and Health Education are included within the curriculum content.
Relationships Education
Relationships Education supports children in developing safe, healthy and respectful relationships. Learning includes friendships, families and people who care for us, respectful relationships, consent and personal boundaries, online relationships and online safety, bullying, discrimination, being safe and knowing how and when to seek help.
Health Education
Health Education supports children in understanding how to maintain positive physical and mental wellbeing. Learning includes physical health and fitness, mental health and emotional wellbeing, healthy eating and nutrition, dental health and personal hygiene, sleep and healthy lifestyles, medicines, vaccinations and basic healthcare, online safety and screen time, drugs, alcohol and tobacco education, puberty and changing adolescent bodies, alongside learning about keeping safe and managing risk.
Relationships Education and Health Education form part of the statutory primary curriculum and therefore parents do not have the right to withdraw their child from this content.
Sex Education
As part of our wider PSHE provision, Lancaster Lane Primary and Pre-School teaches aspects of Sex Education which go beyond the statutory requirements outlined within the Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education guidance and the National Curriculum for Science. This additional content includes learning related to human reproduction and is taught in an age-appropriate and sensitive manner.
Parents have the right to request that their child is withdrawn from non-statutory Sex Education lessons. Any requests should be discussed with the Headteacher.
At Lancaster Lane, we are committed to ensuring transparency in the teaching of PSHE and R(S)HE and recognise the important role parents and carers play in supporting children’s personal development and wellbeing. Parents and carers are able to view curriculum overviews and access sample teaching materials should they wish to do so. Requests to view resources can be made through the school office, where sample materials and curriculum content will be shared.
Parents and carers will also be notified prior to the teaching of any non-statutory Sex Education content and information about the topics to be covered will be shared in advance.
Curriculum
Our PSHE curriculum is carefully sequenced from Early Years through to Year 6 so that knowledge and skills build progressively over time. Learning is regularly revisited to strengthen understanding, support long-term retention and allow pupils to make meaningful links between prior and new learning. Through discussion, reflection, retrieval practice and explicit vocabulary teaching, pupils are encouraged to think critically, communicate confidently and apply their learning to real-life situations.
Across each phase of school, pupils build upon prior learning and develop the understanding, confidence and skills needed to manage relationships, wellbeing, risk and responsibility both now and in the future.
EYFS
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, PSHE is primarily taught through the Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) strand of the EYFS Framework, alongside wider opportunities within Communication and Language and Understanding the World. Opportunities for PSHE learning are carefully woven throughout both adult-led teaching and continuous provision to support children in developing confidence, independence, positive relationships and emotional understanding.
At Lancaster Lane Primary and Pre-School, we recognise that strong Personal, Social and Emotional Development is fundamental to children’s overall development and future success. PSED is one of the prime areas of learning within the EYFS and is essential in supporting children to achieve a Good Level of Development by the end of Reception.
In Pre-School, children begin to develop early PSHE understanding and skills through supported play, routines, interactions and adult modelling. For our two-year-olds, learning focuses on building secure relationships, developing confidence within the setting and beginning to make independent choices. Children are supported to identify friends, choose activities independently and understand familiar routines and transitions between home and school.
As children progress, learning develops further through opportunities to recognise and name emotions, manage basic self-care needs and follow simple rules and routines within the classroom environment. Children are encouraged to develop independence, resilience, cooperation and positive relationships with others through carefully planned provision and responsive adult interactions.
Throughout Reception, PSHE learning continues through both direct teaching and enhanced provision linked to Development Matters and the Early Learning Goals. Children develop the ability to manage feelings and behaviour, build positive relationships, show sensitivity towards others and develop confidence in their own abilities. They learn how to work and play cooperatively, take turns, manage emotions appropriately and understand the importance of kindness, respect and responsibility within the school community.
By the end of Reception, children are expected to achieve the Early Learning Goals linked to Self-Regulation, Managing Self and Building Relationships. These areas provide the foundations for future learning across the curriculum and support children in becoming confident, independent learners.
Key Stage One
In Key Stage 1, PSHE is taught through discrete weekly lessons alongside wider opportunities across school life. Children begin to develop their understanding of themselves, their relationships and the wider world around them. Learning focuses on building confidence, emotional literacy and independence whilst helping children understand how to stay safe and healthy.
Children learn about families, friendships, respectful behaviour and the importance of kindness and inclusion. They begin to understand physical health and wellbeing, including healthy eating, hygiene, sleep, exercise and the importance of seeking help from trusted adults. Children are also taught about keeping safe in different contexts, including online safety, road safety and emergencies.
Through PSHE, children develop the confidence to express feelings, manage emotions and resolve conflict positively. Learning also introduces children to the wider community and encourages them to understand their role within it.
Key Stage Two
In Key Stage 2, children build upon prior learning and develop a deeper understanding of relationships, wellbeing and the wider world. The curriculum supports children in preparing for adolescence, increasing independence and future life experiences.
Children explore themes linked to identity, diversity, equality and respectful relationships. They develop their understanding of physical and mental health, including emotional wellbeing, healthy lifestyles, online safety, risk-taking behaviours and the impact of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
Children are taught how to manage friendships and peer influence, recognise and respond to unsafe situations and seek support when needed. Learning also includes financial education, citizenship and understanding how to become active, respectful and responsible members of society.
As children move through Upper Key Stage 2, learning prepares them for the physical and emotional changes associated with puberty and growing independence. We want children to leave Lancaster Lane feeling confident, resilient and prepared for the opportunities and responsibilities they may face in the future.
Inclusion within PSHE
Inclusion within PSHE reflects our wider commitment to ensuring every child is supported both academically and emotionally. In line with our school ethos, “Everyone in our school is unique and valued”, PSHE lessons are adapted to meet the needs of all learners through appropriate reasonable adjustments and inclusive teaching approaches.
Our experienced pastoral team, including the SENDCo, Family Support Worker, Designated Safeguarding Leads and Attendance Team, work closely with children, families and staff to identify and remove barriers to learning. Support is tailored to individual need and may include targeted social, emotional and mental health interventions alongside classroom support.
As a school, we recognise that some children require additional support to access learning, regulate emotions, develop relationships or manage life experiences. Through our trauma-informed and ACE-aware approach, staff work proactively to support pupils’ emotional wellbeing and personal development. Interventions may include Lego Therapy, Social Skills Groups, Drawing and Talking, Zones of Regulation, Sensory Regulation Support and bespoke transition support. These interventions help children develop emotional literacy, resilience, self-regulation and positive relationships with others.
Children with SEND are supported to access the same ambitious PSHE curriculum as their peers through personalised provision and adapted teaching strategies. This may include visual supports, adapted resources, pre-teaching of vocabulary, scaffolding, additional processing time and opportunities to revisit prior learning. Staff carefully adapt sensitive content to ensure all children can access learning in an age-appropriate and meaningful way.
Our inclusion offer is further strengthened through collaboration with external agencies including Barnardo’s, KEY (Chorley), Compass Bloom, the Educational Psychology Service and the NSPCC. We have also engaged with the Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme to further strengthen inclusive practice and support for neurodiverse pupils and their families.
Through our restorative behaviour approach and nurturing relationships, we strive to create an environment where children feel safe, respected and valued. Further information regarding adaptive teaching, reasonable adjustments and inclusive practice can be found within the school’s SEND Information Report and Teaching and Learning Policy.
Assessment
Assessment within PSHE is used to support and measure pupils’ progress in understanding and skills over time. Teachers assess children against the identified learning objectives following taught units to ensure that curriculum content has been understood and retained.
At the beginning of each unit, children complete a pre-unit assessment activity to identify prior knowledge and starting points. Throughout teaching, opportunities to revisit previous learning are carefully planned to strengthen understanding and support long-term retention. At the end of each unit, children complete a post-unit assessment to demonstrate progress and understanding.
Assessment within PSHE is primarily formative and is informed through a range of evidence including class discussions, pupil voice, practical activities, retrieval tasks, reflection activities and teacher observations. Teachers use assessment information to identify strengths, address misconceptions and adapt future planning where necessary.
Assessment information is also used by the subject leader to monitor curriculum coverage, progression and the effectiveness of PSHE provision across the school.
Enrichment Opportunities within School
PSHE is a golden thread which runs throughout school life at Lancaster Lane Primary and Pre-School and extends far beyond discrete curriculum lessons. Pupils are provided with a wide range of enrichment opportunities which support their personal development, wellbeing, safety awareness and understanding of the wider world.
Throughout the year, children take part in workshops, assemblies, visits and themed events linked to safeguarding, health, wellbeing and citizenship. External visitors play an important role in enriching the curriculum and helping children apply their learning to real-life contexts. This includes regular visits from the police and fire service, where children learn about personal safety, emergency situations and the role of key community services. Children also benefit from experiences such as visits from police horses and riot vehicles, helping to build positive relationships with emergency services and the wider community.
To support children in developing confidence and keeping themselves safe, all year groups take part in a ‘Dry Swim Week’ prior to attending swimming lessons. This supports children in understanding water safety expectations and helps them to feel prepared and confident before entering the pool environment.
Children also engage with wider safeguarding and wellbeing initiatives through assemblies and workshops delivered by external organisations, including the NSPCC and Compass Bloom. These experiences support learning linked to emotional wellbeing, healthy relationships, personal safety and transition support.
As a school, we encourage children to take on additional responsibilities and become active members of the school community. Opportunities such as School Council, Pupil Parliament and House Captain roles allow children to develop leadership skills, responsibility, confidence and teamwork. All children are placed into one of the four house teams across school, helping to foster a strong sense of belonging and community spirit.
As children progress through school, they are encouraged to recognise their role within the wider community and understand how they can positively contribute to society. For example, Year 6 pupils visit a local residential home and take part in a Remembrance assembly attended by members of the local community, including the Mayor. These experiences help children to develop empathy, respect and social responsibility.
Additional opportunities, including our restorative behaviour approach, further support children in understanding the impact of their actions, repairing relationships and developing emotional regulation and communication skills.
Through our PSHE curriculum, we aim to ensure that every child leaves Lancaster Lane Primary and Pre-School as a confident, respectful and resilient individual who is prepared for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.
Last reviewed: June 2026
Subject Leader: Tom Clucas
The subject leader can be contacted via the school office on 01772 433 641