PSHE and British Values

PSHE, Relationships and Health Education

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education at All Saints'

At All Saints' CofE First School, Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) is an important part of our curriculum and the wider life of our school.

Guided by our Christian vision of being 'A Christian, Caring Community', we want every child to feel safe, valued and respected and to develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and character they need to flourish.

Through PSHE, Relationships Education and Health Education, we help children to understand themselves and others, develop healthy and respectful relationships, look after their physical and emotional wellbeing, keep themselves safe and become caring, responsible members of their community and the wider world.

PSHE is not simply a weekly lesson. The knowledge, skills and values children develop are reinforced through everyday school life, our Christian values, Collective Worship, safeguarding curriculum, School Council, pupil leadership, enrichment opportunities and the relationships we build with one another.

 

Our Vision For PSHE

At All Saints', we want our children to develop self-awareness, positive self-esteem and confidence.

Our curriculum supports children to:

• develop confidence, resilience and independence;
• recognise, understand and manage their emotions;
• build healthy, positive and respectful relationships;
• show kindness, compassion and respect;
• celebrate diversity and value others;
• work collaboratively;
• make informed and responsible decisions;
• take responsibility for their choices and actions;
• understand how to keep themselves safe, both online and offline;
• know when and how to ask for help;
• develop healthy habits and look after their physical and mental wellbeing;
• contribute positively to our school, local community and wider world.

Our aim is to nurture children who are safe, caring, confident, responsible and respectful, and who are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

 

Our PSHE Curriculum - SCARF

From September 2026, All Saints' CE First School will deliver its PSHE, Relationships Education and Health Education curriculum using Coram Life Education's SCARF programme.

SCARF provides a carefully sequenced and progressive curriculum which enables children to revisit important knowledge and concepts as they grow, developing greater understanding and increasingly sophisticated skills.

SCARF stands for:

Safety

Helping children understand how to keep themselves and others safe and how to seek help when they need it.

Caring

Developing kindness, empathy, compassion and respect for others.

Achievement

Encouraging children to recognise their strengths, develop confidence, set goals and celebrate achievement.

Resilience

Helping children manage challenges, understand emotions, solve problems and develop positive mental wellbeing.

Friendship

Supporting children to build healthy, respectful and positive relationships.

These principles complement our Christian ethos and our commitment to nurturing the whole child.

 

Why Have We Chosen SCARF?

Following a review of our PSHE and Relationships and Health Education provision, and in preparation for the revised statutory guidance which applies from September 2026, we have chosen SCARF to provide a consistent, progressive whole-school approach.

SCARF builds upon the good practice already established at All Saints' and provides:

• a progressive curriculum from Early Years onwards;
• comprehensive coverage of statutory Relationships Education and Health Education;
• a strong emphasis on safeguarding;
• learning about physical health and mental wellbeing;
• age-appropriate online safety;
• healthy and respectful relationships;
• emotional literacy and resilience;
• clear progression in knowledge and vocabulary;
• resources that can be adapted to meet the needs of all learners;
• assessment opportunities to help teachers understand children's learning.

SCARF also works particularly well for All Saints' because it enables us to organise learning effectively for our mixed-age classes through our carefully planned two-year rolling programme.

 

The Six SCARF Themes

Children explore six themes throughout each school year.

All classes explore the same broad theme at the same point in the year, while the knowledge, vocabulary and level of challenge are appropriate to children's age and stage of development.

Autumn 1 – Me and My Relationships

Children learn about feelings and emotions, positive friendships, cooperation, communication, resolving disagreements, recognising bullying and knowing when and how to ask for help.

Autumn 2 – Valuing Difference

Children explore similarities and differences, kindness, inclusion, respect, fairness and diversity. They learn to value others and understand the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect.

Spring 1 – Keeping Myself Safe

Children develop the knowledge and skills needed to keep themselves safe. Learning includes trusted adults, asking for help, recognising and managing risk, online safety, privacy and boundaries, medicines and other age-appropriate aspects of personal safety.

Spring 2 – Rights and Respect

Children learn about rights and responsibilities, rules, fairness, caring for others, contributing to their community, looking after the environment and age-appropriate financial awareness.

Summer 1 – Being My Best

Children learn about physical health, healthy choices, mental wellbeing, resilience, perseverance, confidence, personal strengths and achieving goals.

Summer 2 – Growing and Changing

Children learn about growing and changing, relationships, emotions, body awareness, privacy, personal boundaries, personal hygiene and age-appropriate preparation for changes as they grow.

Learning is carefully sequenced and appropriate to children's age, maturity and stage of development.

 

How Our Curriculum Is Organised

As a First School with mixed-age classes, we use a carefully planned two-year rolling programme.

This enables children within a mixed-age class to learn together while ensuring that, across the two-year cycle, they receive the full breadth of our PSHE curriculum.

Our cycle is organised as follows:

Cycle A

• Reception follows the Reception SCARF pathway.
• Key Stage 1 follows the Year 1 SCARF pathway.
• Lower Key Stage 2 follows the Year 3 SCARF pathway.

Cycle B

• Reception follows the Reception SCARF pathway.
• Key Stage 1 follows the Year 2 SCARF pathway.
• Lower Key Stage 2 follows the Year 4 SCARF pathway.

Teachers adapt learning appropriately to meet the age, developmental stage and individual needs of the children within their class.

This approach ensures that children encounter all required learning while avoiding unnecessary repetition.

Please click the link below to access our Two Year Rolling Programme.

SCARF Two Year Rolling Programme

 

PSHE in the Early Years

Personal, social and emotional development begins from the moment children join us at All Saints'.

In Early Years, PSHE is closely connected to the Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) area of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children develop the foundations for future PSHE learning through positive relationships, routines, play, stories, discussion, adult modelling and carefully planned experiences.

Nursery

In Nursery, learning is predominantly practical and play-based.

Children are supported to:

• recognise and begin to name emotions;
• develop positive relationships;
• share and take turns;
• develop independence;
• understand simple rules and boundaries;
• recognise kindness and caring behaviour;
• learn how to ask an adult for help;
• develop healthy routines;
• begin to understand how to keep themselves safe.

The six broad SCARF themes help to inform and enrich our Nursery provision, with learning woven naturally throughout children's everyday experiences.

 

Reception

In Reception, children continue to learn through play, relationships and everyday experiences alongside planned SCARF activities.

Stories, discussion, role play and practical activities enable children to develop their understanding of feelings, friendships, similarities and differences, healthy choices, safety, responsibility and growing and changing.

This provides strong foundations for the increasingly structured PSHE curriculum children encounter as they progress through All Saints'.

 

Relationships and Health Education

Relationships Education and Health Education are statutory parts of the primary curriculum.

At All Saints', they are taught as an integral part of our PSHE curriculum through SCARF. Learning is carefully sequenced, age appropriate and taught within the context of our Christian ethos and commitment to safeguarding every child.

 

Relationships Education

Through Relationships Education, children develop their understanding of:

• families and people who care for them;
• caring friendships;
• respectful relationships;
• kindness, empathy and consideration for others;
• similarities, differences and respect;
• appropriate personal boundaries;
• online relationships and behaviour;
• recognising when something does not feel right;
• trusted adults;
• how and when to ask for help.

Our aim is to give children the knowledge, language and confidence they need to develop safe, healthy and respectful relationships throughout their lives.

 

Health Education

Through Health Education, children develop age-appropriate knowledge and understanding of:

• mental wellbeing;
• recognising and talking about emotions;
• physical health and fitness;
• healthy eating;
• sleep;
• personal hygiene;
• basic health and prevention;
• medicines and potentially harmful substances;
• keeping themselves safe;
• seeking help when needed;
• growing and changing.

We want children to understand that physical health and mental wellbeing are closely connected and that asking for help is an important part of looking after ourselves.

 

Our Approach

Relationships and Health Education at All Saints' is always:

• age appropriate;
• carefully planned;
• factually accurate;
• inclusive;
• sensitive;
• rooted in safeguarding;
• taught with respect for the dignity and worth of every person.

Children are never required to share private or personal experiences during lessons.

 

Safeguarding Through PSHE

Safeguarding is at the heart of our PSHE curriculum.

At All Saints', we believe that giving children appropriate knowledge, language and skills helps them to recognise when something may be unsafe, make safer choices and know how to seek help.

Important safeguarding messages are revisited throughout children's time at All Saints' so that their understanding develops as they grow.

Through age-appropriate learning, children develop their understanding of:

• trusted adults and support networks;
• how and when to ask for help;
• recognising safe and unsafe situations;
• personal space, privacy and boundaries;
• appropriate and inappropriate behaviour;
• respecting their own and other people's boundaries;
• staying safe online;
• keeping personal information private;
• recognising and managing risk;
• medicines and potentially harmful substances;
• road and water safety;
• healthy and respectful relationships.

Children are taught that if something worries them, makes them feel uncomfortable or does not feel right, they should tell a trusted adult.

Our safeguarding learning is reinforced through the wider life of school and works alongside our safeguarding policies and procedures.

Our aim is not to make children fearful of the world around them, but to give them the knowledge, confidence and vocabulary they need to help keep themselves safe.

 

Growing and Changing

Growing and Changing is one of the six SCARF themes and is taught during the Summer Term.

This unit supports children to understand that growing and changing are normal parts of life. It helps them develop the knowledge, vocabulary and confidence they need to understand themselves, look after their wellbeing and stay safe.

Learning develops gradually as children move through All Saints' and is always appropriate to their age and stage of development.

Depending on children's age, learning includes:

• life cycles and growing older;
• recognising how we change as we grow;
• feelings and emotions associated with change;
• developing independence;
• body awareness;
• personal hygiene and self-care;
• privacy and personal boundaries;
• healthy and respectful relationships;
• correct anatomical vocabulary where appropriate;
• knowing who trusted adults are and how to ask for help;
• age-appropriate preparation for the physical and emotional changes associated with puberty.

For our oldest children, age-appropriate learning about puberty helps to prepare them for changes before they happen and supports their transition to the next stage of their education.

 

Why Is This Learning Important?

Growing and Changing makes an important contribution to children's health, wellbeing and safeguarding.

It helps children to:

• understand their bodies and how to care for them;
• recognise and respect personal boundaries;
• communicate clearly if they are worried or need help;
• understand that everyone develops at different rates;
• develop positive attitudes towards growing and changing;
• approach future changes with greater confidence.

 

Sensitive and Age-Appropriate Teaching

We recognise that parents and carers may have questions about this area of the curriculum.

All learning at All Saints' is carefully planned, sensitive, factual and age appropriate. Children are not expected to share personal information or experiences during lessons.

We are committed to being transparent with families about what children are taught and to working in partnership with parents and carers.

Parents will receive information about the Growing and Changing learning planned for their child's class and will have the opportunity to ask questions or discuss the curriculum with school.

 

Relationships, Health Education and Sex Education

Relationships Education and Health Education are statutory parts of the primary curriculum. Some learning about the human body, growth and reproduction is also included within the statutory National Curriculum for Science.

All Saints' CofE First School does not teach non-statutory Sex Education.

Our Growing and Changing learning focuses on statutory Relationships Education, Health Education, relevant National Curriculum Science and wider age-appropriate PSHE and safeguarding learning.

Parents do not have the right to withdraw their child from statutory Relationships Education, Health Education or National Curriculum Science.

We recognise that parents and carers may have questions about this area of learning and encourage families to contact school if they would like to discuss what their child will be taught.

Growing and Changing Parent and Carer Guide

Working in Partnership With Parents and Carers

At All Saints' CofE First School, we recognise that parents and carers are children's first and most important educators.

We greatly value the partnership between home and school and believe that children benefit most when important messages about relationships, health, wellbeing and safety are supported by open communication between school and families.

We are committed to being open and transparent about our PSHE, Relationships Education and Health Education curriculum.

We will:

• provide clear information about what children are learning;
• make our curriculum information available to parents and carers;
• provide access to our Relationships and Health Education policy;
• communicate with families about relevant curriculum content;
• provide information about Growing and Changing learning;
• give parents and carers opportunities to ask questions;
• listen respectfully to the views of our families;
• consult parents and carers when reviewing our statutory Relationships and Health Education policy.

 

Parent Consultation

As part of the introduction of our updated PSHE, Relationships Education and Health Education curriculum for September 2026, we are consulting with parents and carers.

The consultation provides families with an opportunity to:

• understand why our curriculum is being updated;
• find out more about SCARF;
• see what children will learn;
• read our updated policy and curriculum information;
• ask questions;
• share their views with school.

We value the views of our families and will consider consultation feedback as part of our ongoing review and implementation of the curriculum.

 

Supporting Learning at Home

Many aspects of PSHE are naturally reinforced through everyday family life.

Parents and carers can support children by:

• talking openly about feelings and emotions;
• encouraging kindness and respect;
• helping children develop independence;
• modelling healthy and respectful relationships;
• talking about healthy choices;
• discussing how to stay safe online;
• helping children identify trusted adults;
• encouraging children to ask for help when they need it;
• answering children's questions honestly and in an age-appropriate way.

There is no expectation for parents to become experts. Open, reassuring conversations at home can make an important contribution to children's confidence, wellbeing and personal development.

 

Questions or Concerns

We welcome questions from parents and carers.

If you would like to know more about any aspect of PSHE, Relationships Education or Health Education at All Saints', please contact the school office.

We would much rather have an open conversation with families than leave parents uncertain about what their child is learning.

 

 

An Inclusive Curriculum for Every Child

Every child at All Saints' is entitled to high-quality PSHE, Relationships Education and Health Education.

Our curriculum is inclusive and teachers adapt learning appropriately so that all children can participate meaningfully, including pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

When planning and teaching PSHE, staff consider children's:

• age and stage of development;
• individual learning needs;
• communication and language needs;
• prior knowledge and understanding;
• emotional needs;
• individual circumstances.

Appropriate support and adaptations may include:

• visual resources;
• practical approaches;
• simplified or repeated vocabulary;
• additional explanation;
• alternative ways for children to respond;
• additional adult support;
• opportunities to revisit important learning.

We recognise that some children may require additional preparation or support when exploring particular topics.

Children are never required to share private or personal experiences during PSHE lessons.

Our aim is to provide a safe, respectful and supportive learning environment in which every child feels included, valued and able to flourish.

 

British Values

At All Saints' CE First School, we actively promote the fundamental British values of:

• Democracy
• The Rule of Law
• Individual Liberty
• Mutual Respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

These values are embedded within our PSHE curriculum, our Christian ethos and the wider life of our school.

Democracy

Children learn that their views matter and that they can contribute positively to decisions within their school community.

Opportunities for pupil voice, including our School Council, help children understand representation, listening to different viewpoints, voting and shared decision-making.

The Rule of Law

Children learn why rules are important in helping communities to be safe, fair and respectful.

Through PSHE and everyday school life, children develop an understanding of rights and responsibilities, consequences and the importance of making responsible choices.

Individual Liberty

Children are encouraged to develop confidence, independence and an understanding of themselves as individuals.

They learn how to make choices safely, express their views appropriately, recognise their own strengths and know that they have the right to feel safe and seek help.

Mutual Respect

Respect is central to our Christian, caring community.

Children learn to listen to others, value different viewpoints, develop healthy relationships and treat others with kindness, dignity and compassion.

Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Children learn about and develop respect for people whose faiths, beliefs, cultures, families and experiences may be different from their own.

Through PSHE, Religious Education, Collective Worship and the wider curriculum, children are encouraged to be curious, respectful and open to understanding the lives of others.

Living Our Values

Fundamental British values are not taught as isolated concepts. Children experience and develop them through:

• our SCARF curriculum;
• School Council and pupil voice;
• Collective Worship;
• Religious Education;
• classroom responsibilities;
• discussions and debates;
• charity and community involvement;
• learning about diversity;
• everyday relationships and behaviour.

These values complement our Christian vision and help children develop into caring, respectful and responsible members of their community and wider society.

PSHE Beyond the Classroom

At All Saints' CE First School, personal development extends far beyond a weekly PSHE lesson.

Our Christian vision of being 'A Christian, Caring Community' is reflected throughout school life. Children are given opportunities to put the knowledge, skills and values developed through PSHE into practice and to understand the contribution they can make to our school and wider community.

Pupil Voice and School Council

We believe that children's voices matter.

Our School Council provides opportunities for children to represent their classmates, share ideas, listen to different viewpoints and contribute to decisions about school life.

Through pupil voice and leadership opportunities, children develop:

• confidence;
• responsibility;
• communication and listening skills;
• an understanding of democracy;
• teamwork;
• an awareness that their actions can make a positive difference.

 

Our Christian Ethos and Collective Worship

Our Christian values underpin the wider personal development of our children.

Collective Worship provides regular opportunities for children to reflect upon values, consider the needs of others and think about how their own choices and actions can make a difference.

Themes explored through Collective Worship complement PSHE learning by supporting children's spiritual, moral, social and emotional development.

Wellbeing and Mental Health

Children's emotional wellbeing is an important part of life at All Saints'.

Alongside our SCARF curriculum, children are encouraged to:

• recognise and talk about emotions;
• develop positive friendships;
• build confidence and self-esteem;
• develop resilience;
• recognise when they may need support;
• know who they can talk to;
• understand that asking for help is a positive action.

Keeping Safe

Important safeguarding messages are reinforced throughout the wider curriculum and school year.

Children have opportunities to develop their understanding of areas such as:

• online safety;
• anti-bullying;
• road safety;
• water safety;
• personal safety;
• trusted adults;
• healthy relationships;
• knowing how and when to seek help.

This helps children understand that keeping safe is something they can apply in different situations, both in and beyond school.

 

Caring for Others and Our Community

Being part of a Christian, caring community means recognising our responsibility towards others.

Children are encouraged to make a positive contribution through charity work, fundraising, community activities and opportunities to care for others and the world around them.

These experiences help children develop empathy, compassion, generosity and social responsibility.

 

Enrichment and Visitors

Visitors, special events and enrichment opportunities help bring children's learning to life.

Where appropriate, these experiences complement our PSHE curriculum and give children opportunities to apply their learning to real-life situations.

 

Everyday Relationships

Some of the most valuable personal development happens through children's everyday experiences.

Throughout school life, children are supported to:

• develop friendships;
• solve problems;
• manage disagreements;
• work collaboratively;
• show kindness;
• respect differences;
• take responsibility;
• develop independence;
• care for others.

Adults model and reinforce these values throughout the school day.

Together, our taught PSHE curriculum and wider school experiences help children develop the knowledge, character and confidence they need to flourish at All Saints' and beyond.

 

Further Information and Useful Documents

We want parents and carers to feel fully informed about PSHE, Relationships Education and Health Education at All Saints' CE First School.

The following documents provide further information about our curriculum and approach.

School Documents:

Our statutory policy explaining our approach to Relationships and Health Education, curriculum content, parent and carer engagement and the responsibilities of school can be found in the Polices section of our website. 

 

Please click below for an overview of our curriculum intent, organisation, progression and approach from Nursery to Year 4.

Whole School Curriculum Overview

 

Please click below for our detailed curriculum cycle showing how SCARF learning is organised across our mixed-age classes.

SCARF Two Year Rolling Programme

 

Please click below for a parent-friendly guide to our curriculum, SCARF, statutory learning and our approach at All Saints'.

Parent Information PSHE and RSE

 

Please click below for detailed information about Growing & Changing, including progression from Nursery to Year 4 and answers to frequently asked questions.

Growing and Changing Parent Guide

 

Useful External Links

Department for Education

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education

The Department for Education's statutory guidance for schools.

 

Coram Life Education – SCARF

https://www.coramscarf.org.uk/scarf

Further information about the SCARF programme used to support PSHE, Relationships Education and Health Education at All Saints'.

 

Contact Us

We welcome questions from parents and carers and value open communication between home and school.

If you would like further information about PSHE, Relationships Education or Health Education at All Saints', please contact the school office, who will be happy to arrange for you to speak to our PSHE Subject Leader.

Working together, we can help our children develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and character they need to be happy, healthy, safe, caring and ready to flourish.