What

At Ryvers, our core PSHEe (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) curriculum offer is based upon the Jigsaw scheme of work.

For our Upper Key Stage Two pupils we supplement our PSHE offer with the Lime Choices Programme.

Furthermore, we heavily utilise 'themed days,' such as World Mental Health Day, World Kindness Day, Road Safety Week, and Internet Safety Days, which we strategically map onto our annual school calendar.

These days provide an invaluable opportunity to reinforce pupil well-being and allow us to 'drip-feed' these key concepts throughout the year, ensuring that student well-being remains a central focus in a meaningful and consistent way. 

At Ryvers we want to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of our children; preparing them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life, while having a duty to keep them safe. Our curriculum aims to achieve children’s potential by supporting their well-being and tackling issues that can affect their ability to learn, such as anxiety and unhealthy relationships. They will learn about bullying, citizenship, healthy eating, physical activity, mental and emotional health, well-being and relationships. Children develop skills of teamwork, communication, and resilience to help them thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.

Jigsaw, a mindful approach to PSHE, is a unique, spiral, progressive and effective scheme of work, aiming to prepare children/young people for life, helping them really know and value who they are and understand how they relate to other people in this ever-changing world.

Why? 

Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) is important in primary schools because it helps children develop the skills they need to: 

• Stay safe

  Learn about online safety and how to deal with conflicts 

• Be healthy

  Understand their physical and mental health, and how to deal with emotional wellbeing 

• Make informed decisions

  Learn how to make decisions, and how to navigate the world around them 

• Build resilience

  Learn how to cope with the pressures of modern technology and the physical and emotional changes. 

• Develop character skills

  Learn how to communicate well, take informed risks, and regulate their emotions 

• Respect others

  Learn to respect the values of different cultures and groups, and to be sensitive to the needs of others 

• Develop their oracy skills

      Learn how to phrase their thoughts, communicate              effectively, actively listen to others and reflect upon        their and others opinions.

PSHE can also help children achieve their academic potential. Healthy, resilient, and confident pupils are better able to succeed in school. 

PSHE became mandatory in England in September 2020. Relationships education is mandatory in primary schools.

We selected Jigsaw as our core scheme because it is a progressive and a spiral scheme of learning. In planning the lessons, Jigsaw PSHE ensures that learning from previous years is revisited and extended, adding new concepts, knowledge and skills, year on year as appropriate.  It makes explicit links to the DfE statutory Relationships and Health Education outcomes have been made in each Puzzle. We adapt the lessons to ensure they meet the needs of our current pupils.

In Years 5 and 6 pupils at Ryvers are also taught a number of lessons uses a programme called 'Choices'. This is a Scheme of Learning that most schools in Slough use which has been created locally by Behaviour Scientists and is heavily evidenced informed. It is a four year programme with the first two years (Years 5 and 6) taught in Primaries and the second two (Years 7 and 8) taught in Secondaries. 

As the title 'Choices' suggests, its aim is to help children make good and positive choices as they move into their adolescent years and on to being teenagers. The topics range over a variety of areas including friendships, online safety and healthy living. 

The lesson plans and resources for Years 5 and 6 are available to view by contacting the school office. 

Games and Resources