Intent

Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education is at the heart of Cottingley Village Primary School and underpins all that we do. We aim to equip pupils with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives now and in the future. Our intention is for children to become well‑rounded members of society who can make positive contributions to their community.

Through high‑quality teaching and the consistent delivery of an age‑appropriate PSHE curriculum, we strive to prepare children physically, emotionally, socially, mentally and intellectually. We are committed to helping pupils stay healthy and safe while supporting them to achieve their academic potential and make the most of life and work.

Our PSHE curriculum is designed so that children know more, remember more and understand more. Strong foundations begin in EYFS, enabling our pupils to develop essential life skills and adapt within an ever‑changing world.

Teaching at Cottingley Village Primary School promotes equality and challenges prejudice and discrimination in all forms. Our approach is inclusive and meets the needs of all pupils, including those with Special Educational Needs. We place great importance on ensuring that pupils and their families feel included and represented. Our curriculum recognises and celebrates differences, providing opportunities for pupils to reflect on their own values, beliefs and influences as well as those of others.

Implementation

Under statutory guidance introduced by the DfE in September 2020, Relationships Education in primary schools is compulsory. Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE) provides children with the knowledge they need to make informed choices about their wellbeing, health and relationships. At Cottingley Village Primary School, RHSE is taught within our PSHE lessons and through other curriculum areas such as Science and Computing.

Cottingley Village Primary School follows the SCARF curriculum—Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience and Friendship—a comprehensive, fully‑sequenced programme developed by Coram Life Education. SCARF supports schools with flexible lesson plans, engaging activities and built‑in tools for planning and assessment, all aligned with national expectations for PSHE and RHSE. Its resources promote emotional wellbeing, social skills, healthy lifestyles and essential life skills, giving children the foundation they need to thrive.

Teachers deliver this structured curriculum according to pupils’ developmental stages, readiness and needs, taking into account their prior learning and experiences. SCARF provides a clear progression of knowledge and skills from EYFS to Year 6 and ensures coverage across its five core themes:

• Safety
• Caring
• Achievement
• Resilience
• Friendship

These themes are revisited and built upon each year, helping children deepen their understanding over time. SCARF also complements learning in other subjects—for example, online safety is further reinforced through Computing and our wider E‑Safety curriculum.

Our long‑term overview maps out the key units and learning outcomes for each year group across the school year, ensuring a broad and balanced PSHE offer.

At Cottingley Village Primary School, PSHE  is taught weekly, as part of our regular timetable, in line with government guidance stating that schools should deliver a planned, age‑appropriate PSHE programme through regular, dedicated lessons alongside additional sessions during class and whole school assemblies. 

As PSHE is at the heart of our school, we ensure there are plenty of opportunities for children to develop key skills & knowledge through the wider aspects of school life. For example, School council, Celebration Assemblies, Residentials & School visits as well as nationally acknowledged events such as Anti-Bullying Week, Mental Health Week, World Book Day, Comic and Sports Relief.

Impact

At Cottingley Village Primary School our mission is that children feel happy, safe and secure and have succeeded in all that they do. Our PSHE Curriculum will have prepared our pupils for the next stage in life as they leave Year 6 and develop into independent young adults, ready for new opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences. We want the best for all our pupils and hope that as they grow, they demonstrate a ready willingness and ability to try new things, push themselves and persevere. Our passion is for nurturing individuality so that our children will become outstanding local and global citizens.

Children will be able:

• To view themselves positively and be aware of their skills, attributes and achievements
• To have respect for themselves and others
• To develop positive and healthy relationships with others
• To understand how to keep themselves healthy and safe, physically and mentally
• To discuss problems and be able to solve them
• To manage risk in all aspects of live
• To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of diversity and equality
• To understand their rights and responsibilities
• To have an age-appropriate understanding of RHSE
• To demonstrate and apply the British Values of Democracy, Tolerance, Mutual Respect, Rule of Law and Liberty
• To have a positive attitude towards learning and life, to have goals, aspirations and know how to meet them
• To know what it means to be a member of a diverse and multicultural society

Relevant Documents

Our Relationships and Health Education Policy can be found on the policies page.