PSHE

“Learning to understand ourselves, care for others and make positive choices helps us grow into confident, kind and responsible people.”

As a Church of England primary school, our Christian values of Love & Kindness, Friendship, Respect, Justice, Freedom & Responsibility, and Equality are at the heart of everything we do.

We believe that every child is unique, valued and capable of flourishing. Our PSHE and Personal Development curriculum reflects this commitment by nurturing children's emotional wellbeing, relationships, confidence and sense of responsibility towards themselves and others.

Our LIVE vision encourages children to become:

• L – Life-Long Learners: Developing resilience, independence, self-belief and a positive attitude towards learning.

• I – Immersive: Learning through meaningful experiences, practical activities, reflection and real-life opportunities.

• V – Valuing Diversity: Celebrating differences, challenging stereotypes and treating everyone with dignity, kindness and respect.

• E – Enquiring Minds: Asking questions, reflecting on choices, considering different perspectives and making informed decisions.

Intent: What do we want our pupils to learn?

At Bickerton Holy Trinity, we believe that education is about developing the whole child.

Our ambition is for every child to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and personal qualities needed to lead a happy, healthy, safe and fulfilling life.

As a myHappymind+ school, we place positive mental health, emotional wellbeing and personal development at the heart of our approach.

We want children to understand themselves, recognise their strengths, build healthy relationships and develop the confidence to manage challenges and embrace opportunities.

Our curriculum aims to ensure that pupils:

• Develop a positive sense of identity, self-worth and belonging.

• Recognise and understand their emotions and develop strategies for emotional regulation.

• Build healthy, respectful relationships and positive friendships.

• Develop resilience, perseverance, independence and confidence.

• Understand the importance of physical health and emotional wellbeing.

• Recognise risks and know how to keep themselves safe, including online.

• Appreciate diversity, challenge stereotypes and demonstrate respect for others.

• Understand their rights, responsibilities and the importance of making informed choices.

• Develop financial awareness and an understanding of responsible citizenship.

• Recognise how their actions can make a positive difference to their school, community and wider world.

Above all, we want our children to develop the confidence, compassion and resilience to flourish both now and in the future.

Implementation: How do we teach PSHE and Personal Development?

Our PSHE curriculum provides carefully planned opportunities for children to develop their knowledge and understanding of relationships, health, wellbeing, safety and life in the wider world.

As a myHappymind+ school, we use the programme as a central part of our approach to emotional wellbeing and personal development, complemented by resources and approaches including No Outsiders, LifeSavers and Secrets of Success.

Together, these support our wider planned provision for PSHE and Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE).

Our curriculum develops learning across key areas:

• Relationships: Friendships, feelings, families, respect, healthy relationships and resolving disagreements.

• Health and Wellbeing: Emotional awareness, mental health, physical health, healthy lifestyles and managing challenges.

• Valuing Differences: Equality, diversity, inclusion, British Values and challenging prejudice.

• Keeping Safe: Personal safety, online safety, boundaries, trusted adults and age-appropriate awareness of risks.

• Rights and Responsibilities: Citizenship, money, the environment, fairness and making responsible choices.

• Growing and Changing: Age-appropriate learning about relationships, personal development, health and changes as children grow.

Learning is revisited throughout the school, building progressively on children's prior knowledge and experiences.

myHappymind+: Developing positive mental health and wellbeing

At Bickerton Holy Trinity, we are proud to be a myHappymind+ school.

Positive mental health and emotional wellbeing are central to our school culture, relationships and approach to learning.

myHappymind+ supports our whole-school commitment to helping children understand how their brains work, recognise their emotions, develop positive habits and build resilience.

The core myHappymind learning is organised around five modules:

Meet Your Brain

Children develop an age-appropriate understanding of how their brains work and learn strategies to recognise and manage their emotional responses.

Celebrate

Children recognise their individual strengths, appreciate what makes them unique and develop confidence and self-esteem.

Appreciate

Children explore gratitude and learn to recognise positive experiences, helping to develop a more positive outlook.

Relate

Children develop their understanding of positive relationships, empathy and the importance of connecting with others.

Engage

Children learn about goal-setting, motivation, perseverance and the importance of working towards personal achievements.

These principles are reinforced through everyday school life, supporting children to apply their learning in classrooms, relationships and wider experiences.

Our myHappymind+ approach complements our wider pastoral and inclusive provision, helping to create a school environment in which children feel safe, supported and ready to learn.

No Outsiders: Everyone belongs

Our No Outsiders approach reflects our Christian values of Equality, Respect, Love & Kindness and Justice.

Through carefully selected stories, discussion and reflection, children learn to recognise and celebrate differences, challenge stereotypes and understand that everyone deserves to feel included and valued.

We promote the fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

Children are encouraged to recognise unfairness, develop empathy and understand their responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect.

LifeSavers: Developing financial understanding

Through LifeSavers, children develop an age-appropriate understanding of money and responsible financial choices.

They explore saving, spending, needs and wants, and the importance of making thoughtful decisions.

This learning also encourages children to consider generosity, fairness, responsibility and the impact of their choices on themselves and others.

Secrets of Success: Developing confident and independent learners

Our Personal Development curriculum is strengthened through Chris Quigley's Secrets of Success.

This approach helps children recognise and develop the learning behaviours and personal qualities that contribute to success.

We encourage pupils to become resilient, reflective and independent learners who are willing to embrace challenges, persevere when learning becomes difficult and recognise the value of effort and practice.

These qualities are reinforced across the curriculum, helping children develop positive attitudes towards learning and increasing confidence in their own abilities.

Relationships, emotional regulation and positive behaviour

Positive relationships are at the heart of our school community.

Our relational and trauma-informed approach supports children to understand their emotions, develop self-regulation strategies and build respectful relationships.

Through modelling, discussion and restorative conversations, children learn to:

• Recognise and communicate their feelings.

• Understand how emotions influence behaviour.

• Develop strategies to manage difficult situations.

• Resolve disagreements respectfully.

• Recognise the impact of their actions on others.

• Take responsibility and repair relationships.

• Know when and how to seek support.

Our approach reflects our Christian values and promotes forgiveness, reconciliation, kindness and mutual respect.

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development is woven throughout our curriculum and wider school life.

Through collective worship, reflection, curriculum learning, discussion and community experiences, children explore questions about identity, beliefs, relationships, fairness and responsibility.

We encourage pupils to consider different perspectives, reflect on their own values and develop an understanding of how they can contribute positively to society.

Our Christian vision provides a strong foundation for this learning while respecting and valuing the diverse backgrounds, cultures and beliefs of our school community.

Pupil leadership and courageous advocacy

We believe that personal development extends beyond the classroom.

Children are encouraged to take on meaningful responsibilities and contribute actively to school life through opportunities including:

• School Council

• Worship Leaders

• Values Ambassadors

• Happiness Heroes

• Eco Council

• Junior Road Safety Officers

• Sports Leaders

• Playground Buddies

These opportunities develop leadership, communication, teamwork, responsibility and confidence.

Through courageous advocacy, we encourage children to recognise issues of fairness, equality and sustainability and take positive action to make a difference.

We want pupils to understand that their voices matter and that even small actions can have a meaningful impact.

High-quality teaching and inclusion

Our PSHE and Personal Development curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and accessible to all children.

Teaching reflects the principles of Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision (OAIP), with appropriate adaptations to meet individual needs.

Teachers use stories, discussion, visual resources, practical activities, role-play and opportunities for reflection to help children develop and apply their understanding.

We recognise that children develop emotionally and socially at different rates and that some may require additional support.

Our wider pastoral provision, including trained ELSAs and targeted support where appropriate, complements our universal approach.

We are committed to creating an environment where every child feels safe, included, understood and valued.

Impact: How do we know our curriculum is successful?

The impact of our PSHE and Personal Development curriculum is reflected in children's developing knowledge, emotional awareness, confidence, relationships and ability to make informed choices.

We want our children to:

• Understand themselves: Recognise their strengths, emotions and individual qualities.

• Develop positive wellbeing habits: Use age-appropriate strategies to manage emotions and respond to challenges.

• Build healthy relationships: Demonstrate kindness, empathy, respect and effective communication.

• Show resilience and independence: Approach learning and everyday challenges with increasing confidence and perseverance.

• Keep themselves safe: Recognise risks, understand personal boundaries and know how to seek help.

• Value diversity: Celebrate differences, challenge unfairness and contribute to an inclusive community.

• Make responsible choices: Understand their rights and responsibilities and consider the consequences of their actions.

• Demonstrate positive citizenship: Take an active role in school life and contribute to their wider community.

• Make a difference: Show a willingness to support others and take action through leadership and courageous advocacy.

Through pupil voice, discussion, reflection, observation and assessment of curriculum learning, teachers evaluate children's developing understanding and identify where further teaching or support may be needed.

We recognise that personal development is a continuing journey and that children will demonstrate progress in different ways and at different stages.