PSHE
Subject leader - Mrs A. Lambden
At Kempshott Junior School, our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education is ambitious, inclusive and relevant, enabling all pupils to develop as healthy, respectful and responsible members of society. We aim for all children to develop a secure understanding of relationships, health and wellbeing, and build the confidence to make informed choices and respond thoughtfully to the world around them.
Our curriculum is underpinned by the SCARF programme (Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience and Friendship), which we follow and adapt to meet the needs of our pupils and our school context. This provides a carefully sequenced, progressive and whole‑school approach to PSHE, in which pupils build knowledge, skills and understanding through a consistent structure across each year group.
PSHE is taught as a distinct subject, enabling pupils to develop both substantive knowledge and disciplinary understanding. Substantive knowledge includes the key knowledge, concepts and vocabulary related to relationships, health, safety, risk and personal wellbeing. Disciplinary knowledge focuses on how pupils apply this understanding in real-life contexts, including making decisions, managing relationships, evaluating risk and reflecting on their own thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Through carefully sequenced units, pupils revisit key themes such as relationships, safety, respect and personal wellbeing, developing increasing depth, independence and confidence in applying their understanding.
Language and communication are central to our PSHE curriculum. Pupils are supported to articulate their thinking clearly, using appropriate vocabulary to describe feelings, explain ideas and justify their choices. Through discussion, role‑play, questioning and written reflection, pupils deepen their understanding and develop respectful and empathetic ways of communicating with others.
Our curriculum reflects a ‘windows and mirrors’ approach. Pupils see their own experiences and identities reflected in their learning, while also exploring the experiences and perspectives of others. This fosters empathy, respect and understanding, supporting pupils to navigate an increasingly diverse world.
We are committed to ensuring that all pupils can access the full PSHE curriculum. Through adaptive teaching, including modelling, scaffolding and structured opportunities for discussion and reflection, barriers are removed without lowering ambition. This ensures that all pupils can engage meaningfully in learning, reflection and decision‑making.
Through our PSHE curriculum, pupils secure essential knowledge about health, relationships and wellbeing and build the skills and confidence to apply this knowledge confidently in their everyday lives, make informed decisions, manage relationships effectively and respond thoughtfully to real-life situations. They are supported to think critically, act responsibly and build positive relationships, preparing them for life as active, informed and responsible citizens.
PSHE Overview Progression Overview SCARF planning
Relationships and Health Education (RHE)
Some aspects of RHE overlap with the national curriculum for Science, such as the main external body parts, the human body as it grows from birth to old age (including puberty), and birth and reproduction. Therefore, children cannot be withdrawn from these lessons. Conception is the only part of RHE which isn’t part of the Science curriculum, and so the only small amount of non-statutory sex education that is included in SCARF is covered in a Year 6 ‘Making Babies’ lesson.
Our RSE policy can be found in the policies section of our website.
