Our intention is that when our children leave Garden Fields JMI School, they will do so with the knowledge, understanding and emotions to be able to play an active, positive and successful role in today’s diverse society. We want our children to have high aspirations, self-belief, self-confidence and a positive growth mindset.  In an ever–changing world, it is important that they are aware, to an age appropriate level, of different factors which will affect their world and that they learn how to deal with these so that they have good mental health and well-being.

Our PSHE curriculum JIGSAW develops children’s knowledge and skills which will enable them to access the wider curriculum and prepare them to be a global citizen now and in their future roles within a global community. Across the course of each unit pupils will work towards two learning intentions, one of which is based on specific PSHE learning and one based on emotional literacy and social skills. The progression of skills is such that by the end of key stage 2, we aim to ensure that pupils leave Year 6 with the skills required to successfully live in today’s world and their next phase of education. It promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils, preparing them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences for later life. They will be given opportunities to develop their emotional literacy and social skills and an understanding of their own thoughts and feelings as they happen and develop strategies to manage them.

Mindfulness underpins the “Jigsaw” scheme of work we follow, and through this, we aim to provide pupils with a vital tool for life, regulating their emotions, building emotional resilience whilst enhancing their ability to focus and concentrate, both of which will help to optimise learning. Our Relationships and Sex Education enables our children to learn how to be safe, and to understand and develop healthy relationships, both now and in their future lives. The teaching of PSHE is also designed to reflect the needs of our pupils, allowing staff the flexibility to address any issues as and when they may arise, for example issues in the news, the loss of a family member and friendship issues.

Pupils are taught PSHE using ‘Jigsaw’ which is a spiral, progressive scheme of work. JIGSAW covers all Personal, Social, Health, Economic and Relationships Education in line with the National Curriculum. This aims to prepare children for life, helping them to know and value who they are and understand how they relate to other people in this ever-changing world. There is a strong emphasis on mindfulness emotional Literacy, building resilience and nurturing mental health, wellbeing and physical health.

At Garden Fields JMI, in addition to Relationships Education, we also teach aspects of Sex Education that is covered in our Science Curriculum. Alongside this, we teach about different kinds of relationships, including same sex relationships because it is important that our children should understand the full diversity of the world they live in and be prepared for life in modern Britain. The Sex Education aspects of PSHE is also taught through the ‘Jigsaw’. 

PSHE is taught through Jigsaw’s six half termly themes from EYFS through to Year 6 with each year group studying the same unit at the same time (at their own level):

• Autumn 1: Being Me in My World
• Autumn 2: Celebrating Differences
• Spring 1: Dreams and Goals
• Spring 2: Healthy Me
• Summer 1: Relationships
• Summer 2: Changing Me (including Sex Education)

 The Changing Me and Relationship units are linked to the DFE RSE and Health Curriculum requirements which became compulsory in 2020.

It also identifies links to British Values, and SMSC and is taught in such a way as to reflect the overall aims, values, and ethos of the school.

Wider Curriculum  

We encourage our pupils to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community. This takes many forms such as representing the school at sporting events, School Council, Eco Council and Year 6 Captains. We challenge all of our pupils to look for opportunities to show Garden Field’s 6 Core Values; Respect, Responsibility, Compassion, Cooperation, Inclusivity and Integrity. We aim for all children to embody these core values when they leave Garden Fields at the end of Year 6. Assemblies are linked to PSHE, British Values and SMSC and cover any additional sessions that would benefit the whole school.

The impact of our PSHE Curriculum and the everyday values we promote is evident in the classrooms and across the school. By the time our children leave our school they will be able to approach a range of real-life situations and apply their skills and attributes to support in navigating themselves through modern life. Our school’s 6 Core Values will have played as essential part in this:

• Respect – They will look after each other and our World.
• Responsibility – They will take responsibility for their actions and approach new situations with a positive mindset.
• Compassion – To have compassion to become a healthy, open minded, respectful, socially and morally responsible, active members of society.
• Co-operation – To develop positive and healthy relationship by working well with peers.
• Inclusivity – They will value uniqueness and diversity.
• Integrity – To be honest and have courage.

Click here to view our PSHE book recommendations.

Click here to view our SMSC and Emotional Literacy programme.

Click here to view our British Values programme.

Mrs Carrasco and Miss McLaughlin are the PSHE Subject Coordinators.