Curriculum Intent

At Northleaze Church of England Primary School, we use the Jigsaw scheme of work to underpin our PSHE curriculum. Our intent is to deliver a PSHE curriculum that is accessible to all pupils, age appropriate, and demonstrates clear progression throughout the primary years and beyond.

Through our PSHE provision, pupils develop the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills they need to live safe, healthy, confident, independent and productive lives, enabling them to achieve their full potential.

We encourage our children to be the best version of themselves, reflecting our Christian vision and values. Our PSHE curriculum supports this by helping pupils to grow into informed, active and responsible citizens, ready to contribute positively to their communities and society.

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Curriculum Implementation

PSHE is taught within a safe, supportive and respectful learning environment, where children are encouraged to engage with kindness, empathy and openness. Pupils are supported to participate in high-quality discussion, ask questions with confidence and reflect thoughtfully on their learning.

• In EYFS to Year 2, PSHE is taught through a weekly 45-minute lesson
• In Key Stage 2, PSHE is taught through a weekly one-hour lesson.

A typical PSHE lesson includes:

• Opportunities for pupils to express their views and opinions
• Revisiting prior learning, with each strand taught in age-appropriate ways across year groups
• Open-ended questioning to encourage deeper thinking
• High-quality, open-minded class discussions
• Opportunities for reflection on learning
• Activities where children work individually, in pairs or in small groups

The learning environment plays a crucial role in PSHE lessons. Each class uses a cuddly Jigsaw piece to support turn-taking and ensure that every child has the right to be heard, in line with the UN Geneva Convention on Human Rights.

Each class also creates a Jigsaw Charter, establishing a safe, open and positive learning environment built on trust and mutual respect between pupils and adults. The charter is revisited regularly and includes agreed ground rules such as:

• Taking turns to speak
• Using kind and positive words
• Listening to each other
• Having the right to pass
• Using names only when giving compliments or being positive
• Respecting each other’s privacy

Jigsaw PSHE supports the development of the whole child through a spiral curriculum approach, building knowledge, skills and understanding across six key areas (puzzle pieces):

• Being Me in My World
• Celebrating Difference
• Dreams and Goals
• Healthy Me
• Relationships
• Changing Me

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Curriculum Impact

Assessment forms an integral part of the teaching and learning process in PSHE. Teachers assess pupils’ understanding using a range of Assessment for Learning strategies throughout each unit.

• Each Jigsaw strand includes an end-of-unit assessment lesson to review children’s understanding
• Every lesson contains a formative assessment activity, enabling pupils to reflect on and self- or peer-assess their learning

By the time pupils leave Northleaze Church of England Primary School, they will:

• Show a readiness and willingness to try new things, challenge themselves and persevere
• Have a strong understanding of how to stay safe, maintain good physical and mental health, and develop positive relationships
• Appreciate what it means to be a positive member of a diverse, multicultural society
• Demonstrate strong self-awareness, alongside empathy, compassion and respect for others