PSHE

PSHE Lead: Brooke Davidson and Holly Francis

From September 2026, all schools in England will be required to follow updated statutory guidance for Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE). At Harry Watts Academy, we welcome these changes and remain committed to providing a curriculum that is carefully tailored to meet the individual needs of our pupils across all Pathways.

The revised guidance places greater emphasis on helping children and young people to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to stay safe, healthy and prepared for life. Topics include building positive relationships, understanding personal boundaries, managing emotions, online safety, physical and mental wellbeing, and, for older pupils, age-appropriate learning about relationships and sexual health.

As a specialist school, we recognise that our pupils learn and develop at different rates. RSHE lessons will continue to be adapted to ensure that teaching is accessible, meaningful and appropriate to each pupil’s age, stage of development and individual needs. We use a range of communication approaches and practical learning opportunities to help pupils understand important concepts and apply them in everyday life.

We value the partnership between school and home and will continue to work closely with parents and carers. Further information about our RSHE curriculum, including any updates to our policy and teaching materials, will be shared with families. If you have any questions about RSHE or would like to discuss how the curriculum is adapted to support your child, please contact the school.

Engage:

Pupils within this pathway explore PSHE throughout their daily routine, as learning is embedded across the entire curriculum. Learners will have opportunities for hands on learning within the classroom environment at their appropriate developmental level, with targeted activities and environments focused around their individual EHCP targets for Social, Emotional and Mental Health, as well as Preparation for Adulthood.

Pupils within this pathway have one dedicated PSHE lesson per half term, in which students follow the PSHE Association framework.  This framework is a comprehensive programme that is broken down into six sections: Self Awareness; Self-care, Support and Safety; Managing Feelings; Changing and Growing; Healthy Lifestyles; The World I Live in.

Pupils will also have the opportunity to learn and apply new skills, linked to the Personal, Social and Emotional (making relationships, sense of self and understanding emotions) and Health and Self Care strands of the EYFS curriculum. Learners within this pathway have daily exposure to experiences and activities that will help them to develop early independence and form early relationships, such as identifying simple emotions, basic self-care (hand washing, using a knife and fork), turn taking and play with others. This will enable learners to become familiar and confident with the skills needed to begin more subject-specific learning.

Explore:

Pupils within this pathway have dedicated PSHE lessons each week, in which students follow the PSHE Association framework. This framework is a comprehensive programme that is broken down into six sections: Self Awareness; Self-care, Support and Safety; Managing Feelings; Changing and Growing; Healthy Lifestyles; The World I Live in.

Along with having specific PSHE lessons built into the curriculum, pupils also have social skills lessons based around understanding themselves and others through activities and games. We embed the thread of self-care and self-awareness across the school day through snack time, within the classroom and play times. Weekly assemblies and focussed Career lessons allow students the opportunity to further develop the skills they have learned in PSHE.

Discover:

Pupils within the Discover Pathway receive dedicated weekly PSHE lessons, following the PSHE Association framework. This provides a structured and comprehensive programme designed to support pupils’ personal development, wellbeing and preparation for adulthood. The curriculum is organised into six key areas: Self Awareness, Self-care, Support and Safety, Managing Feelings, Changing and Growing, Healthy Lifestyles, and The World I Live In.

Through these areas, pupils develop essential knowledge and skills to understand themselves, build positive relationships, manage their emotions, and stay safe and healthy. The curriculum also enables pupils to explore their place within the wider world, including their community and future opportunities in education, careers and the world of work.

PSHE learning is adapted to meet individual needs and reinforced across the school day, ensuring pupils can practise and apply their skills in a range of real-life contexts.