PSHE & RHSE

Curriculum Statement

The aim of Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education in our school is to enable ‘every pupil to shine’. PSHE is at the heart of everything we do at Sunshine and is the beating heart of school life. Our Sunshine Values are embedded as part of our school ethos and are the cornerstone to all learning that takes place. PSHE is intertwined through every element of our school day as well as being taught as a stand-alone subject as we believe that it is a way of life, building the foundations for bright futures.

PSHE encompasses all areas designed to promote children’s personal, social and health development. It gives children the knowledge, skills and understanding that they need to stay healthy and safe, develop worthwhile relationships, understand and respect differences, develop independence and responsibility, and make the most of their own abilities and those of others.

At Sunshine Academy we deliver a broad, balanced and engaging PSHE and RSE curriculum, using the SCARF scheme of work from Reception to Year 2. This scheme of work is based around six units of work: Me and my Relationships, Valuing Difference, Keeping Myself Safe, Rights and Responsibilities, Being my Best and Growing and Changing. Each year group will cover the same theme at the same time during the year, building upon their prior knowledge from previous years. We also build in additional lessons that are particularly important for our children such as sun-safety, road Safety, dental hygiene, democracy and Anti-Racism and Basic first age- which are taught in addition to the SCARF curriculum. Our special visitors further enhance our understanding of others in the community (fire services, police, St Johns Ambulance). We have a yearly aspirations day where children dress as what they would like to be when they grow up which encourages children to think ambitiously about the future. To supplement our curriculum we have created our own picture news which encourages children to think about current local issues and the impact on themselves and others and also we have mindfulness moments where children are taught mindfulness techniques to support their mental health and wellbeing. These are reinforced during weekly assembly.

At Sunshine Academy the children are also exposed to many dates throughout the year that are dedicated to special events. These ‘Special Days’ include Bonfire and Firework Safety, Armistice Day, Anti-Bullying Week- Odd Socks day, Children in Need, Chinese New Year, Safer Internet Day, Children’s Mental Health Week, Parliament week, Autism Awareness Week, St. Andrew’s Day, St. George’s Day, St. David’s Day, Comic Relief/Sport Relief, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, recycling week and World Book Day and many more. We have special assemblies each week to talk about these special days.

Children are encouraged to be involved in every day school life through our Eco Warrior, mental health champions and playground helper roles that children can volunteer for. Every class takes turns in raising money for their chosen charities and we also engage in many sponsored events to raise money for other causes throughout the year such as Comic Relief and Children in Need. They also take part in fundraising activities that help us buy new resources that the children can use.

Children are rewarded for their positive contribution to school life by earning points that they can spend in our school shop. They earn points for demonstrating our Sunshine Values.

In Early Years, the children learn PSHE through the subject Personal, Social and Emotional Development. The children access the subject through their play and through adult led activities for a range of topics across the year, as well as in weekly circle time discussions.

Relationships, Health and and Sex Education (RHSE)

RHSE stands for Relationships, Health and Sex Education.

In a primary school context, it generally covers age-appropriate learning about:

Relationships – friendships, family relationships, respect, kindness, boundaries and recognising unhealthy relationships.
Health – physical health, mental wellbeing, hygiene, healthy lifestyles, puberty and growing up.
Sex Education – age-appropriate learning about aspects of human reproduction and relationships, where this is included in the school's curriculum.

At Sunshine Academy, Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE) forms an important part of our curriculum. It supports pupils to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to build positive and respectful relationships, understand and care for their physical and mental health, make informed choices and keep themselves and others safe.

Our RHSE curriculum is delivered through the SCARF programme and is taught in an age-appropriate and sensitive way, taking account of pupils' age, maturity and individual needs.

Sex Education is not taught at Sunshine as it is not compulsory. However all children from Nursery to Year 2 are involved in Relationships and Health Education (RHE).

In the Summer Term, children learn about ‘Growing and Changing’ as part of our Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE) curriculum. The lessons are taught through the SCARF programme and are carefully planned to be age-appropriate and sensitive to the needs of our pupils.

Parents and carers will receive a letter outlining the content of the lessons and the vocabulary that will be introduced before this learning takes place.

The statutory elements of Relationships Education and Health Education are compulsory and children cannot be withdrawn from these lessons.

Year 2 PSHE Letter to Parents/Carers

Year 1 PSHE Letter to Parents/Carers

Reception PSHE Letter to Parents/Carers

Nursery PSHE Letter to Parents/Carers