Sarah Huggins

The world in 2023 is an ever-changing, exciting and sometimes scary place and it is therefore vital that schools are preparing children to deal with the opportunities and challenges they face now and in the future. With this in mind, it is arguable that PSHE education is one of the most important subjects in the curriculum. Through a well-taught programme, children should have the opportunity to explore themselves, how they relate to others and their place in the wider world. Of course, this all needs to be taught in a safe learning environment and in an age-appropriate way to support children but not expose them to inappropriate content. In this blog post, we will consider some of the key areas that need to be covered in each primary key stage and how you decide what to cover and when, to build an effective spiral curriculum which includes knowledge, skills and attitudes. 

Since September 2021, schools have been legally required to teach Relationships, Sex (secondary only) and Health Education (RSHE) to all children. These areas are all part of PSHE education and there is an expectation that they will be delivered as part of a wider PSHE education programme. In primary schools this will often include Citizenship education as well. Primary schools can also decide if they wish to teach age-appropriate sex education.