PSHE education is a planned programme of learning though which pupils acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives now and in the future. As part of a whole school approach, that it develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.

At Elmstead Wood, PSHE is delivered through Jigsaw, a whole school approach that brings together all aspects of the PSHE curriculum, including emotional literacy, social skills as well as spiritual development.

Jigsaw is divided into six different sequential and developmental puzzle pieces, which are split across the academic year. Each year group has its own jigsaw piece, used at the start of each lesson. All puzzles (units) start with an introductory assembly, to introduce the children to the topic. Each week there are weekly celebrations related to the puzzle.

We study the following puzzles:                                        

• Autumn 1 Being Me in My World
• Autumn 2 Celebrating Difference
• Spring 1 Dreams and Goals
• Spring 2 Healthy Me
• Summer 1 Relationships
• Summer 2 Changing Me

Each Jigsaw PSHE lesson starts with the Jigsaw Charter, which the children use to help them understand and respect the views of others. The lesson is then broken up in different segments, including a calm me script which helps refocus the children, and the opportunity for the children to reflect on their learning at the end of the lesson.

Through our PSHE Curriculum, we encourage the children to develop and gain understanding of their own and different beliefs. As well as this, the children learn to understand that we live in a diverse society, enabling them to form relationships with those around them. Pupils will be able to understand their rights and responsibilities and develop enduring, integrity and autonomy in developing respect for their environments and communities. We aim to promote self-esteem, growth mindset and emotional development and to help our pupils to form and maintain satisfying relationships. 

We feel that effective PSHE education should provide pupils with the following: 

• knowledge, understanding, attitudes, values and skills that are needed in order for them to reach their potential as individuals and within the community.
• encouragement to take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and beyond the curriculum, contributing fully to the life of their school and communities. In doing so they learn to recognise their own worth, work well with others and become increasingly responsible for their own learning. They reflect on their experiences and understand how they are developing personally and socially, tackling many of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up.
• opportunity to learn to understand and respect our common humanity; diversity and differences so that they can go on to form the effective, fulfilling relationships that are an essential part of life and learning.
• help children and young people to build their personal identities, confidence and self-esteem we can develop their abilities to make career choices and understand what influences their decisions including financial ones. Developing self-understanding, empathy and the ability to work with others will help young people to enjoy healthy and productive relationships in all aspects of their lives now and in their future.