PSHE

— Aristotle —

At Pennoweth, PSHE is a vital part of our curriculum and wider Personal Development offer. Through a carefully sequenced programme (Lifewise UK), our pupils learn how to keep themselves healthy and safe, build positive relationships, make responsible choices and contribute to their community with confidence and compassion. PSHE is taught weekly in every class and is woven through school life – assemblies, Forest School, educational visits, Tribes, and wider experiences – so that learning feels relevant, inclusive and meaningful.

Our curriculum ensures that children:

Safe
Predictable routines, clear ground rules and sensitive teaching ensure pupils feel secure discussing feelings, friendships and tricky topics. Every child knows: “nobody belongs here more than you.”

Loved
Rich relationships with adults and peers, inclusive activities and the familiar Lifewise format help children feel valued, heard and supported to take part and take risks in their learning.

Responsible
Children learn to take ownership of their choices, words and actions – online and offline – using strategies to manage emotions, repair relationships and seek appropriate help.

Learning
Small steps, explicit teaching and revisiting key ideas build confidence and depth. Challenge is embedded through Lifewise choice activities, discussion, reflection and problem‑solving.

Ready
Children become ready, resilient learners – able to apply their PSHE knowledge confidently in different contexts, now and in the future.

PSHE at Pennoweth is rooted in our school DNA. We want every child to feel safe, loved and ready to take responsibility for their learning and their choices. Through the Lifewise PSHE and Activity Scheme, pupils develop the knowledge, vocabulary and skills they need to build healthy relationships, keep themselves safe and understand their place in the wider world. As vocabulary is central to communication, we teach children the importance of their words through our weekly Ready Reflection, helping them articulate feelings, thoughts and decisions with confidence.

In Nursery, strong and supportive relationships underpin all Personal, Social and Emotional Development. Children begin to build friendships, develop confidence and learn to recognise and talk about their feelings. Each week they take part in Healthy Movers (Active Cornwall) to support physical literacy, wellbeing and school readiness. Through play and everyday routines, they learn early safety skills, practise turn‑taking and begin to notice what helps them feel calm, safe and happy.

In Reception, children follow the EYFS PSED curriculum with a focus on self‑regulation, managing self and building relationships. They learn to manage emotions, make healthy choices and form positive friendships through daily routines such as positive affirmations, choosing healthy meal options and sharing stories linked to PSED themes. Reception children also begin simple Lifewise activities to help them become familiar with the lesson structure they will meet in Year 1.

Our PSHE curriculum, taught through Lifewise, provides a clear progression of knowledge, vocabulary and skills from Nursery to Year 6. Children revisit key ideas as they grow, helping them deepen their understanding and apply it confidently. Across the school, pupils learn to recognise and manage feelings, build positive relationships, keep themselves safe in different situations, make healthy choices, appreciate diversity and British Values, behave responsibly online, and begin to understand financial decision‑making.

Key vocabulary is introduced, revisited and applied in context to build confident communication (e.g., feelings, friendship, respect, safety, resilience, community, diversity, responsibility, wellbeing).

‘I loved playing fun games whilst learning about things  like Fire Safety and Road Safety and signs. We talked about it at home and my mum taught me some more too!’

Have a look at the websites below to find out more about PSHE and activities to do at home.