PSHE & RSHE

At Herons Dale, PSHE and RSHE are at the heart of our curriculum because they help pupils develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to live safe, healthy, happy and fulfilling lives.

We recognise that our pupils learn and experience the world in different ways. Our curriculum is therefore carefully adapted to meet individual needs whilst remaining ambitious for every learner. Through a combination of explicit teaching, daily routines, real-life experiences and personalised learning opportunities, pupils develop communication, independence, emotional wellbeing, self-awareness and the skills needed to participate positively in their communities.

Our PSHE curriculum prepares pupils for adulthood by supporting them to:

  • understand themselves and their emotions
  • build positive relationships
  • keep themselves safe
  • develop healthy lifestyles
  • celebrate difference and diversity
  • make informed choices
  • understand the world around them
  • become active and valued members of their communities.

Relationships, Health and statutory RSHE learning are carefully woven throughout the curriculum, ensuring pupils revisit important concepts throughout their time at Herons Dale and build increasingly secure knowledge and understanding over time.

How Learning Develops Across Our Pathways

Discoverers

PSHE learning is delivered through the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, particularly Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Understanding the World. Pupils develop the foundations for future learning through play, exploration, relationships and daily routines. They learn about themselves, others and the world around them whilst developing confidence, communication and early independence.

Explorers

For pupils working within the Engagement Model, PSHE focuses on the fundamental building blocks of learning and interaction. Pupils develop awareness of themselves and others, learn to communicate preferences, build positive relationships and explore emotions, safety and wellbeing through meaningful sensory and real-life experiences. Learning is structured around exploration, anticipation, realisation, persistence and initiation.

Adventurers and Voyagers

Pupils begin to develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their relationships and the wider world. Learning combines sensory, play-based and increasingly structured approaches, enabling pupils to develop emotional literacy, self-care, social communication, safety awareness and resilience. Pupils are encouraged to apply learning in real-life situations and become increasingly independent.

Pioneers

Pupils follow a more formal and progressive curriculum which develops knowledge, understanding and skills across personal development, relationships, health and citizenship. Pupils learn how to manage emotions, build respectful relationships, keep themselves safe, understand physical and mental health, make informed choices and prepare for transition into adulthood and future education.

Navigators

Pupils in the Navigator cohort follow a highly personalised PSHE and RSHE curriculum which reflects their developmental profiles and social, emotional and mental health needs. Learning is woven through daily routines as well as planned teaching, with a strong focus on emotional regulation, positive relationships, communication, safety and conflict resolution. Calm environments, visual structure, trusted adults and targeted support help pupils apply these skills successfully in school and the wider community.

What Pupils Learn

Our curriculum is organised around three key themes:

Feeling Good About Me – Pupils develop self-awareness, emotional literacy, resilience, confidence and wellbeing. They learn to recognise emotions, manage challenges, celebrate achievements and develop strategies to support positive mental health.

Relationships – Pupils learn how to build positive relationships, communicate effectively, show empathy, respect difference and value themselves and others. Learning explores friendships, families, communication, inclusion and life within a diverse society.

Taking Care of Myself – Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe and healthy. This includes personal care, physical health, online safety, road safety, water safety, healthy lifestyles, puberty, relationships education and understanding how to seek help when needed.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

PSHE is not confined to lessons.

Pupils practise and apply their learning every day through:

  • community visits
  • learning outside the classroom
  • school council
  • enrichment activities
  • performances and events
  • Hungry Herons Café
  • emotional wellbeing provision
  • friendships and play opportunities
  • therapeutic interventions
  • daily life skills and independence routines.

These experiences help pupils transfer their learning into meaningful real-life contexts and develop confidence in applying their skills beyond the classroom.

British Values and Preparation for Adulthood

Our PSHE curriculum plays a central role in preparing pupils for adulthood.

Through learning about themselves, others and the wider community, pupils develop:

  • self-confidence
  • resilience
  • decision-making skills
  • communication
  • self-advocacy
  • independence
  • respect for others
  • understanding of diversity
  • awareness of their rights and responsibilities.

These skills support pupils to participate safely and successfully in their communities and prepare them for the next stage of their education and adult life.

Cultural Capital and Enrichment

PSHE provides pupils with opportunities to develop the knowledge, confidence and experiences needed to participate successfully in the wider world. Through carefully planned enrichment opportunities, pupils learn how to navigate their communities, build relationships, celebrate differences and understand their role in society.

Pupils regularly apply their learning through meaningful real-life experiences, including:

  • educational visits and community access opportunities
  • Hungry Herons Café
  • School Council activities
  • cultural celebrations, including events such as Diwali, Eid and Christmas
  • performances, community events and fundraising activities
  • road safety, community safety and personal safety activities
  • emotional wellbeing events and themed awareness weeks
  • learning alongside visitors and specialist organisations.

These experiences help pupils develop confidence, independence and a sense of belonging while broadening their understanding of the diverse communities in which they live. Through meeting different people, experiencing different cultures and participating in community life, pupils develop respect, empathy and an appreciation of the world beyond their immediate experiences.

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