Personal, Social & Health Education (PSHE)

Personal, Social & Health Education (PSHE)

Supporting personal development and preparing pupils for life

Vision and Aims

At Notton House Academy, we teach Personal, Social & Health Education as a whole-school approach to underpin pupils' development as people, because we believe that this also supports their learning capacity. PSHE promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

Our approach embodies the school's core values of Safety, Kindness, and Respect by creating supportive learning environments where pupils feel secure to explore personal and social issues at their own pace. We understand that many of our pupils may have experienced trauma or challenges that affect their social and emotional development, so we focus on building emotional literacy, positive mental health and resilience through a mindful, structured approach.

How We Teach PSHE: We use Jigsaw, the mindful approach to PSHE, which provides a comprehensive, carefully thought-through scheme of work, bringing consistency and progression to pupils' learning in this vital curriculum area. Social and interpersonal skills are vital, and emotional literacy and positive mental health are key to young people thriving in school and in life.

Our Approach: Mindfulness philosophy underpins the programme and mindfulness practice is built into every lesson, aiming to support self-regulation, self-awareness and stress management. Pupils need to be discerning and mindful to negotiate the many influences on them and to have a sense of agency, knowing they have a voice and can make a positive difference.

Lesson Structure: Our PSHE lessons follow the EPIBA model to maximise learning:

Engage - Hook pupils into personal and social learning topics
Prior learning/Retrieval - Check understanding from previous PSHE themes and concepts
Introduce new knowledge - Present new social, emotional or health concepts clearly
Build knowledge - Develop understanding through discussion, reflection and practical activities
Apply knowledge - Use learning in real-life contexts and personal development

Each lesson also includes mindfulness practice and opportunities for personal reflection and sharing.

Challenge and Differentiation: To ensure all pupils are appropriately challenged, we provide age-appropriate and developmental activities that recognise different experiences and needs. Tasks are clearly labelled as "prior learning", "core learning" and "extend and challenge" to help pupils extend their knowledge beyond the standard curriculum expectations whilst being sensitive to individual circumstances.

Our commitment is to ensure that all pupils:

Develop emotional literacy and positive mental health skills
Understand and respect who they are whilst being empowered with a voice
Build social and interpersonal skills essential for thriving in school and life
Gain knowledge and skills to make positive choices and contributions to society
Feel equipped for life and learning through comprehensive personal development

What is Covered in Our PSHE Programme?

We provide comprehensive PSHE education through the Jigsaw programme, covering all statutory requirements:

The Jigsaw Programme - Six Puzzles (Units):

Autumn 1: Being Me in My World

Understanding personal identity and how pupils fit into class, school and global community
Establishing the Jigsaw Charter for respectful learning

Autumn 2: Celebrating Difference

Anti-bullying education (including cyber and homophobic bullying)
Understanding differences and Equality Act principles

Spring 1: Dreams and Goals

Goal-setting and aspirations for the future
Exploring career aspirations and contributions to society

Spring 2: Healthy Me

Drugs and alcohol education
Self-esteem, confidence and healthy lifestyle choices
Sleep, nutrition, rest and exercise

Summer 1: Relationships

Understanding friendship, family and other relationships
Conflict resolution and communication skills
Bereavement and loss support

Summer 2: Changing Me

Relationships and Sex Education in the context of coping positively with change
Personal development and transition support

Additional PSHE Provision:

40 minutes weekly Jigsaw PSHE lessons
40 minutes weekly tutor time focusing on safeguarding themes
Recognition of national and global awareness days/events

All content is delivered in a developmental and age-appropriate way, tailored to pupils' individual needs.

How are Pupils Assessed?

Our assessment approach is designed to support personal development rather than simply measure it, reflecting our trauma-informed practice and commitment to individual growth.

Ongoing Assessment for Learning:

Regular reflection and self-evaluation during PSHE activities
Mindful discussion and sharing of personal insights and development
Celebration of individual progress in emotional literacy and social skills

Progress Tracking:

Individual personal development journeys are celebrated, recognising different starting points and experiences
Progress measured through increased self-awareness, emotional regulation and social competence
Focus on personal growth, resilience building and positive relationship development

Holistic Assessment:

Assessment integrated across school through assemblies, praise and reward systems
Evaluation of relationships and interactions throughout the school community
Recognition that PSHE learning is 'lived' and applied in everyday situations

Pathways and Life Opportunities

PSHE education at Notton House Academy develops essential life skills and emotional intelligence that support success in all areas of life, directly supporting our mission to improve life chances for all pupils.

Recent Year 11 Destinations: Our pupils have successfully progressed to:

Further education with increased confidence and social skills
Apprenticeships with strong interpersonal and communication abilities
Employment with enhanced emotional literacy and resilience
Specialist SEMH provisions with improved self-regulation and relationship skills

PSHE education develops:

Emotional literacy and mental health awareness
Social and interpersonal skills
Self-regulation and stress management abilities

PSHE skills provide foundation for:

Successful relationships and communication in all contexts
Mental health and wellbeing throughout life
Positive contributions to community and society
Resilience and adaptability in facing life's challenges

PSHE education provides the fundamental personal and social skills that underpin success in education, employment, relationships and life. These skills are particularly vital for pupils with SEMH needs.

How Can You Support Your Child?

Encourage open discussions about feelings, relationships and personal development. Support your child's emotional literacy by helping them identify and express emotions appropriately. Reinforce the values of respect, kindness and empathy in daily life, and celebrate their personal growth and positive choices.

Notton House Academy is part of Midsomer Norton Schools' Partnership