PSHE at Orion Scotts Park

PSHE at Orion Scotts Park Primary School

Intent, Implementation, and Impact 

Intent 

The intent of our PSHE curriculum is to develop confident, resilient, and well-rounded individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and attributes to lead safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives. Through the SCARF scheme of work, enhanced by the HappyMind programme, specialist workshops, and engaging external providers such as Life Education, we aim to empower pupils to make informed decisions, build positive relationships, understand and manage their emotions, and contribute positively to their communities.

Implementation

To realize our curriculum intent, PSHE is delivered through the SCARF (Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience, Friendship) scheme of work, enhanced by the HappyMind programme and enriched through specialist workshops and external providers. This comprehensive approach ensures pupils receive consistent, progressive PSHE education whilst benefiting from specialist expertise and engaging, memorable learning experiences. Our approach ensures that all pupils regardless of background or starting point are supported and challenged to achieve their full potential.

Key implementation strategies include:

• Structured progression through SCARF: PSHE is taught weekly throughout the year using the SCARF scheme, which provides a carefully sequenced curriculum covering six core themes: Me and My Relationships, Valuing Difference, Keeping Myself Safe, Rights and Responsibilities, Being My Best, and Growing and Changing. The scheme ensures comprehensive coverage of statutory Relationships and Health Education alongside broader PSHE topics, with clear progression from Reception through to Year 6.
• HappyMind integration: The HappyMind scheme complements our SCARF curriculum by providing additional resources and approaches focused on emotional wellbeing, mindfulness, and mental health. Through HappyMind, pupils learn practical strategies for managing stress and anxiety, developing positive mindsets, understanding their emotions, and building resilience. The programme's age-appropriate activities help children develop emotional regulation skills and promote positive mental health throughout the school.
• Specialist PSHE workshops: Throughout the year, trained specialists deliver targeted PSHE workshops on key topics such as relationships education, online safety, emotional wellbeing, and health education. These expert-led sessions provide pupils with additional depth, specialist knowledge, and engaging learning experiences that complement and enhance our core PSHE curriculum.
• Life Education workshops: We have booked Life Education workshops for 25th–26th March, where all pupils will participate in interactive sessions delivered in the Life Bus, a mobile classroom that provides engaging, memorable learning experiences on topics including healthy lifestyles, drug and alcohol education, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. These high-quality external workshops reinforce key PSHE messages in an exciting, accessible format.
• Safe and inclusive learning environment: PSHE lessons are taught in a safe, supportive atmosphere where pupils feel comfortable discussing sensitive topics, asking questions, and sharing experiences. Ground rules are established to ensure respectful dialogue, and teachers use distancing techniques such as scenarios and case studies to explore challenging topics appropriately.
• Knowledge development: Each SCARF unit introduces key concepts, vocabulary, and knowledge appropriate to pupils' age and development. Knowledge organizers support pupils and families in understanding learning expectations, whilst lessons build progressively on prior learning to deepen understanding of PSHE topics over time.
• Skills-based learning: PSHE lessons develop essential life skills including communication, decision-making, problem-solving, critical thinking, resilience, empathy, and self-regulation. Pupils practice these skills through discussions, role-play, collaborative activities, and real-life scenarios, enabling them to apply learning to their own lives.
• Relationships and Health Education: Our PSHE curriculum includes comprehensive, age-appropriate coverage of statutory Relationships Education and Health Education. Pupils learn about healthy relationships, families, friendships, puberty and changing bodies, physical and mental health, online safety, and how to recognize and report concerns.
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing: Through SCARF, HappyMind, and specialist workshops, mental health and emotional wellbeing are prioritized throughout our PSHE provision. Pupils learn to recognize and name emotions, understand that mental health is as important as physical health, develop coping strategies, and know where to seek help and support.
• Citizenship and British Values: Pupils develop understanding of rights, responsibilities, and the law, learning about democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance. They explore current issues, develop critical thinking about media and information, and understand how to contribute positively to their community and society.
• Online safety: Digital literacy and online safety are woven throughout the PSHE curriculum, with regular teaching on staying safe online, recognizing online risks, maintaining privacy, developing healthy relationships with technology, and reporting concerns. This complements our computing curriculum and ensures pupils receive consistent online safety education.
• Cross-curricular links: PSHE learning connects to other curriculum areas including science (health, puberty, the human body), computing (online safety, digital citizenship), PE (healthy lifestyles, physical health), and English (communication, discussion, expressing opinions), reinforcing key messages across the curriculum.
• Parental engagement: Parents are informed about PSHE topics being taught, particularly for sensitive areas such as relationships and puberty education. We provide opportunities for parents to review resources, ask questions, and support their children's learning at home, recognizing the important partnership between school and families in PSHE education.
• Assessment: Teachers use formative assessment to monitor pupils' understanding, attitudes, and development throughout PSHE lessons. Pupil voice, discussions, and activities provide evidence of learning, whilst regular reviews ensure the curriculum remains relevant, appropriate, and responsive to pupils' needs.
• Inclusive practice: PSHE teaching is sensitive to the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and needs of all pupils. Lessons are adapted to ensure accessibility for children with SEND, content is delivered in age-appropriate ways, and all pupils see themselves reflected positively in the curriculum, promoting inclusion and respect for difference.

Impact 

The impact of our PSHE curriculum is evident in our pupils' emotional literacy, their respectful relationships, their healthy choices, and their readiness to navigate the challenges and opportunities of growing up in modern Britain. By the end of their time at Orion Scotts Park, children leave with the knowledge, skills, and attributes to lead safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives.

The impact of our curriculum can be seen through:

• Emotional awareness and wellbeing: Pupils demonstrate strong emotional literacy, able to recognize, name, and express their emotions appropriately. Through SCARF and HappyMind, children develop effective strategies for managing feelings, cope with challenges and setbacks with resilience, and understand the importance of mental health. They know where to seek help and support when needed and show compassion towards others experiencing difficulties.
• Healthy relationships: Children understand what makes healthy friendships and relationships, can identify the characteristics of positive relationships including trust, respect, and kindness, and recognize unhealthy or unsafe relationships. Pupils demonstrate respect for others, value diversity and difference, and can resolve conflicts peacefully and constructively.
• Health and wellbeing knowledge: Pupils understand the importance of healthy lifestyles including balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and good hygiene. They can make informed choices about their health, understand how their bodies change during puberty, and recognize the risks associated with drugs, alcohol, and other harmful substances through age-appropriate education including Life Education workshops.
• Online safety awareness: Children demonstrate strong understanding of online safety, can identify online risks including inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and privacy concerns, and know how to stay safe online and report concerns. They understand the impact of their digital footprint and demonstrate responsible, respectful online behaviour.
• Respect for diversity: Pupils show respect and appreciation for diversity in all its forms, challenge stereotypes and discrimination, understand equality and fairness, and demonstrate inclusive attitudes and behaviours. They recognize that families come in different forms and that all people deserve respect regardless of differences.
• Decision-making and risk management: Children can assess risks, make informed decisions, understand consequences of choices, and demonstrate responsible behaviour both online and offline. They show increasing independence in managing their own safety whilst knowing when to seek adult support.
• Citizenship and responsibility: Pupils understand their rights and responsibilities, can articulate British Values, show understanding of democracy and the rule of law, and demonstrate active citizenship through contributing to their school and wider community. They engage thoughtfully with current issues and show awareness of their role in society.
• Confidence and self-esteem: Through consistent PSHE education and the HappyMind programme, children develop positive self-esteem, recognize their strengths and achievements, set realistic goals for themselves, and approach challenges with a growth mindset. They demonstrate increasing confidence in expressing opinions, making choices, and advocating for themselves and others.
• Communication skills: Pupils communicate effectively in a range of contexts, listen respectfully to others' viewpoints, express their opinions confidently and appropriately, and can discuss sensitive topics maturely using appropriate vocabulary.
• Engagement and application: Children engage enthusiastically with PSHE lessons, specialist workshops, and Life Education sessions, demonstrating curiosity about topics and willingness to discuss important issues. Importantly, pupils apply their PSHE learning to their daily lives, making healthy choices, building positive relationships, and demonstrating the values and skills taught in the curriculum.
• Positive behaviour and attitudes: The impact of our PSHE curriculum is evident in the positive, respectful school culture at Scotts Park. Pupils demonstrate kindness, empathy, and respect in their interactions, report feeling safe and supported at school, and contribute to a caring, inclusive community where everyone is valued.
• Preparedness for transition: Our comprehensive PSHE curriculum, enhanced by specialist workshops and the HappyMind programme, ensures pupils are well-prepared for transitions including moving between year groups, preparing for puberty and adolescence, and transitioning to secondary school. Children develop the resilience, knowledge, and skills needed to navigate these changes confidently.
• Parental feedback: Parents value the comprehensive PSHE provision at Scotts Park, including the external workshops and specialist input. They report that children discuss PSHE topics at home, demonstrate awareness of health and safety issues, and apply learning to their daily lives, evidencing the meaningful impact of the curriculum.
• Progress and achievement: Regular formative assessment, pupil voice activities, observations of behaviour and attitudes, and engagement with workshops demonstrate that pupils develop strong PSHE knowledge, skills, and attributes throughout their time at school. Evidence shows increasing maturity, emotional intelligence, and responsible decision-making as children progress through year groups.
• Preparedness for the future: Our PSHE curriculum successfully equips pupils with the personal, social, health, and economic education needed for secondary school and beyond. Children leave Scotts Park with strong emotional literacy, healthy relationship skills, awareness of physical and mental health, understanding of online safety, and the values and attributes essential for navigating adolescence, further education, and adult life as confident, responsible, and caring individuals.