At Ruskington Chestnut Street C of E Primary Academy, we believe that personal development is fundamental to ensuring our children flourish academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. Through our PSHE and Relationships, Sex Education (RSE) curriculum, we aim to equip pupils with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to stay safe, develop positive relationships, manage their wellbeing and become responsible citizens in an ever-changing world. Our approach is rooted in our school vision of Care, Believe, Grow and reflects our Christian values of trust, respect, compassion, humility, perseverance and forgiveness.

Our programme follows the Cambridgeshire Primary Personal Development Programme, which provides a carefully planned and progressive curriculum from Early Years through to Year 6. The curriculum is fully aligned with the statutory requirements for Relationships Education and Health Education and supports children in developing healthy attitudes, positive behaviours and resilience for life.

The curriculum is organised around four key strands:

Myself and My Relationships

Children learn about self-awareness, emotions, friendships, family relationships, empathy, respect, anti-bullying and managing change. They explore what healthy relationships look like, how to communicate effectively and how to seek support when needed.

Healthy and Safer Lifestyles

Pupils develop an understanding of physical and mental wellbeing, healthy lifestyles, exercise, nutrition, personal hygiene and keeping themselves safe. Learning also includes online safety, risk management, personal safety and age-appropriate Relationships and Sex Education. Children are taught how to recognise unsafe situations and know how to access support from trusted adults. 

Citizenship

Through this strand, pupils learn about their rights and responsibilities, British Values, diversity, equality and inclusion. They are encouraged to develop respect for others, appreciate different perspectives and understand their role within both the school and wider community.

Economic Wellbeing

Children are introduced to financial education, aspirations, careers and understanding the wider world. This learning helps pupils develop skills that will support their future decision-making and prepares them for life beyond primary school.

Our curriculum is delivered through a progressive sequence of learning, including the Cambridgeshire units:

• Beginning and Belonging
• Rights, Rules and Responsibilities
• Working Together
• Managing Change

These units revisit key concepts throughout a child's primary education, enabling pupils to deepen their understanding and apply their learning in increasingly complex situations as they mature.

In addition to weekly PSHE lessons, key themes are reinforced through collective worship, assemblies, wider curriculum opportunities and everyday interactions across school. Learning is interactive and engaging, using discussion, role play, problem-solving activities and reflection to develop children's confidence and critical thinking skills.

As part of our commitment to safeguarding, pupils are taught age-appropriate knowledge about personal safety, healthy relationships, consent, boundaries, online safety, mental wellbeing and seeking help when needed. Children learn about diverse families and communities and are encouraged to treat everyone with dignity, kindness and respect. 

We recognise that parents and carers are children's first educators and value the importance of working in partnership with families. We regularly share information about our PSHE and RSE curriculum, provide opportunities for parents to view resources and attend curriculum workshops, and maintain open communication to ensure parents feel informed and supported in discussing these important topics at home. 

Through our PSHE and RSHE curriculum, we aspire to develop confident, respectful and resilient children who understand themselves and others, make informed choices, contribute positively to society and are well prepared for the next stage of their education and beyond