What is PSHE?

“PSHE Education (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) is a planned programme of learning through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to successfully manage their lives – now and in the future. As part of a whole-school approach, PSHE Education develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.” The PSHE Association.

Section 2.5 of the National Curriculum framework document states that:

"All schools should make provision for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE), drawing on good practice."

All schools must provide a curriculum that is broadly based, balanced and meets the needs of all pupils. Under section 78 of the Education Act 2002 and the Academies Act 2010, a PSHE curriculum: 

• Promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and 
• Prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. 

At Davyhulme Primary School, we teach PSHE as a whole-school approach to underpin children’s development as people and because we believe that this also supports their learning capacity. As a whole- school we currently follow The Jigsaw Programme as it offers us a comprehensive, carefully thought-through Scheme of Work which brings consistency and progression to our children’s learning in this vital curriculum area.

What is Jigsaw, the mindful approach to PSHE, and how does it work?

Jigsaw is a whole-school approach and embodies a positive philosophy and creative teaching and learning activities to nurture children’s development as compassionate and well-rounded human beings as well as building their capacity to learn.

Jigsaw is a comprehensive and completely original PSHE Education programme (lesson plans and teaching resources) for the whole primary school from ages 3-11. Written by teachers and grounded in sound psychology.

Jigsaw has two main aims for all children:
• To build their capacity for learning
• To equip them for life

Jigsaw brings together PSHE Education, compulsory Relationships and Health Education, emotional literacy, mindfulness, social skills and spiritual development. It is designed as a whole school approach, with all year groups working on the same theme (Puzzle) at the same time at their own level. There are six Puzzles (half-term units of work) and each year group is taught one lesson per week. All lessons are delivered in an age- and stage-appropriate way so that they meet children’s needs.
Each Puzzle starts with an introductory assembly, generating a whole school focus for adults and children alike. There is also a Weekly Celebration that highlights a theme from that week’s lesson across the school encouraging children to live that learning in their behaviour and attitudes.

There are six units over the year:

Each unit has two learning intentions: one based on the PSHE learning from the non-statutory framework for PSHE and one is based on emotional literacy and social skills. Every unit contributes to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and is planned across the curriculum.