RELATIONSHIPS AND HEALTH EDUCATION CURRICULUM STATEMENT

At Hutchinson Memorial  First School and across the Uttoxeter Learning Trust First schools, we believe that our ‘Relationships and Health Education’ provides children with the knowledge, skills and understanding they require to lead healthy, confident and successful lives to become informed, responsible and active citizens in our future society. We encourage learners to grow, develop and understand their self-worth through a structured Relationships and Health curriculum which aims to prepare them for life in an ever changing world.

“Today’s children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives seamlessly including online. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way.”

Department for Education, 2019

The teaching of Relationships and Health Education incorporates our whole school ethos. This is embedded by incorporating these values into PSHE and relationship and health education lessons throughout the school and also in assemblies, break times, PE lessons, the whole curriculum and extra-curricular activities.

Furthermore, the relationship and health education lessons supports the wider work of the school by promoting self-affirmation and mental well-being by endorsing positive thinking which is already embedded within the school environment such as displays, leaders such as our School Council and Sports’ Council, PE lessons and circle times.

What is Relationship and Health Education?

Relationships and Health Education focuses on developing the skills, knowledge and attributes to keep children and young people healthy and safe and to develop good, strong relationships to prepare them for life and work. Relationships and Health Education is a statutory part of the Primary Curriculum which aims to put in place the key building blocks of healthy, respectful relationships, focusing on family and friendships, in all contexts,

including online. This sits alongside the essential understanding of how to be healthy . The goal is to equip young people with the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live healthily, safely, productively and responsibly in society.

Intent:

We aim that through the Relationships and Health Education curriculum our pupils will:

  • Develop a safe and healthy lifestyle
  • Understand what makes for good relationships with others
  • Develop a whole school approach to building self-confidence and self esteem
  • Develop skills in language, decision-making and assertiveness
  • Learn to respect the differences between people and celebrate uniqueness
  • Have opportunities to consider issues which may affect their own lives and the lives of others
  • Develop good relationships with other members of the school and the wider community
  • Develop their understanding of healthy and unhealthy relationships both on and offline
  • Be offered learning opportunities above and beyond the curriculum
  • Be prepared for the roles of adult life

Implementation:

  • Kapow RHE/PSHE mixed age Scheme of Work is used.  This fulfils the statutory requirements of Relationships and Health Education set out by the department for Education.  The SOW also refers to the PSHE Association’s Programme of Study (recommended by the DfE).  The SOW is supported by the resource 1Decision.
  • A school ethos that promotes self-respect and respect for others which values the place and contribution of all individuals to the school
  • Whole school and class worship
  • Circle time activities
  • Friendship  groups
  • Direct, cross-curricular and purposeful Relationships & Health Education teaching across the school
  • Teaching Relationship & Health Education through other curriculum areas e.g. Religious Education, Science, Computing, PE
  • Outside agencies and guest speakers such as police officers, fire fighters, NSPCC
  • Whole school events e.g. Anti-bullying week, Safer Internet Day, Charity fundraising events
  • School Council meetings to discuss school issues

Impact

At Hutchinson Memorial CE First School we will monitor the impact of our Relationships and Health Education teaching through pupil questionnaires to see what children are learning and enjoying in their Relationships and Health Education lessons to get an understanding of what we can improve to best support our children and to help them grow into active and strong members of the community. 

You can view our Relationships and Health Education Policy 2023 here.