At Dagnall School we use Kapow PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) and RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) curriculum planning. This scheme aims to give our children the knowledge, skills and attitudes that they need to effectively navigate the complexities of life in the 21^st century. The curriculum covers key areas which will support our pupils to make informed choices now and in the future around their health, safety, wellbeing, relationships and financial matters and will support them in becoming confident individuals and active members of society.

The RSE/PSHE scheme of work covers the Relationships and Health Education statutory guidance (as set out by the Department for Education), including the non-statutory sex-education.

The scheme also promotes the four fundamental British values, which reflect life in modern Britain; democracy; rule of law; respect and tolerance and individual liberty.

This scheme does not cover gender identity specifically, as this is not part of the National Curriculum, although identity is a theme that runs through all year groups and units in a more general way.

Quality PSHE and RSE teaching is an important element in helping schools to carry out their duty of care with regards to safeguarding. The DfE’s statutory ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education (Sep 2020)’ guidance states that ‘Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure that children are taught about safeguarding, including online safety. Schools should consider this as part of providing a broad and balanced curriculum’. In response to the child-on-child abuse updates to Section 5 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE, 2022), the Kapow curriculum introduces and revisits ideas of personal boundaries, consent and communicating our boundaries with others. This prepares pupils for the challenges and responsibilities they will face in the future.

The Kapow Primary scheme is a whole school approach that consists of three areas of learning in EYFS: Reception (to match the EYFS Personal, Social and Emotional Development Prime Areas) and five areas of learning across Key Stages 1 and 2:

EYFS:

• Self-Regulation
• Building Relationships
• Managing Self

Key Stage 1 and 2:

• Families and relationships
• Health and wellbeing
• Safety and the changing body
• Citizenship
• Economic wellbeing

Each area is revisited to allow children to build upon their prior learning. The lessons also provide a progressive programme.

The lessons are based upon the statutory requirements for Relationships and Health Education, but Kapow’s lessons also go beyond these requirements (primarily in the Citizenship and Economic wellbeing areas) they refer to the PSHE Association Programme of study which is recommended by the DfE.

Sex education has been included in line with the DfE recommendations and is covered in Year 6 of our curriculum plans.

The scheme supports the requirements of the Equality Act through direct teaching, for example learning about different families, the negative effect of stereotypes and celebrating differences, in addition to the inclusion of diverse teaching resources throughout the lessons.

A range of teaching and learning activities are used and are based upon good practice in teaching RSE/PSHE education to ensure that all children can access learning and make progress. In key stage 1 and 2, there is an introductory lessons at the start of each year group which provides the opportunity for children and teachers to negotiate ground rules before the lesson. These lessons are then referred to throughout the year to establish a safe environment for learning. All lessons include ideas for differentiation to stretch the most able learners and give additional support to those who need it. Many lessons, stories, scenarios and video clips provide the opportunity for children to engage in real life and current topics In a safe and structured way. Role-play activities are also included to help children play out scenarios that they may find themselves in.

There are meaningful opportunities for cross-curricular learning, in particular with Computing for online safety and Science for growing, nutrition, teeth, diet and lifestyle. The scheme provides consistent messages throughout the age ranges including how and where to access help.

The role of parents and carers is recognised, and guidance is provided to support our families in including them in their learning.

In addition to the lessons, there is a suite of eight Q&A videos for teachers, featuring experts from various fields, covering the key areas; Families Friendships, Healthy and safe relationships, Digital safety and the changing adolescent body.

Each lesson within our curriculum features assessment guidance, helping teachers to identify whether pupils have met, exceeded or failed to meet the desired learning intentions for that lesson.

Each unit of lessons comes with an Assessment quiz and knowledge catcher. The quiz can be used at the start and end of the unit to measure progress and identify any gaps in learning. The knowledge catchers list some of the lesson titles in mind-map or table format and can be used at the start of a unit to see what the children already know and to inform planning, and then pupils can revisit the same version of the Knowledge catcher at the end of the unit to add what else they now know, further demonstrating their progression in learning.

Once our curriculum scheme has been taught, children will have met the objectives set out within the Relationships and Health Education statutory guidance and can utilise their learning within their daily lives, from dealing with friendship issues to resilience to making healthy choices and knowing where and how to get help when needed.

Please go to the office if you would like a paper copy of this letter.