Walworth Primary School

PSHE/RSHE

Long Term Plans & Action Plans

PSHE & RSHE Intent

At Walworth School we aim to ‘significantly improve the quality of all our children’s lives’ delivering a rich and varied curriculum that meets the requirements of the National curriculum whilst developing the key curriculum drivers we have identified:

Emotional awareness

Citizenship

Independence

Life experiences and Understanding

Knowledge and Skills

Our curriculum drivers shape our curriculum breadth. They have been developed from an exploration of the backgrounds of our pupils, our beliefs about high-quality education and our values. They are used to ensure we give our pupils appropriate and ambitious curriculum opportunities. We therefore plan to offer them wide and varied opportunities to develop their cultural capital. Cultural capital gives our pupils the vital background knowledge required to be informed and thoughtful members of our community who understand and believe in British values. This has a direct impact on ensuring that our children are prepared for adulthood.

At Walworth School we believe that delivering a high quality PSHE, Citizenship, Relationship and Sex education curriculum is vital to support the development of the whole child, as well as protect and enhance their wellbeing. The curriculum is designed to prepare children for society, now and in the future through teaching children to how to stay safe and healthy, build and maintain successful relationships and become active citizens able to participate responsibly within the wider community.

As a SEMH school we strongly believe in the importance on focussing on the area of social, emotional aspects of learning, enabling children to develop their identity and self-esteem, which in turn builds confident members of society. The curriculum also teaches children through promoting strong and positive views and to see each and everybody’s values in society through topics such as British Values. Topics also support social, moral, spiritual and cultural development as well as covering essential safeguarding issues, developing their knowledge of when and how they can ask for help.

Our scheme aims to give children the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that they need to effectively navigate the complexities of life in the 21st Century. The curriculum covers key areas which will support children 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 RSHE/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 covers wider PSHE learning, in line with the requirement of the National curriculum (2014) that schools ‘should make provision for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE).’

Children’s learning through our scheme will significantly contribute to their personal development as set out in the Ofsted Inspection Framework and promotes the four fundamental British values which reflect life in modern Britain: democracy; rule of law; respect and tolerance and individual liberty.

Within Walworth Primary we place positive mental health and wellbeing at the centre of school life. Our vision, “Listen, Learn and be Happy Together” highlights the importance we place on supporting every child’s emotional wellbeing so that they can be listened to and are happy and ready to learn.

PSHE & PSHE Implementation

At Walworth Primary our curriculum follows the Kapow Primary scheme of work which is in collaboration with the PSHE Association Programme of Study (referred to by DfE in all key documentation).

The scheme is a whole school approach that consists of five areas of learning:

Families and relationships

Health and wellbeing

Safety and the changing body

Citizenship

Economic wellbeing

Each area is revisited every year to allow children to build on prior learning. The lessons also provide a progressive programme. The lessons are based upon the statutory requirements for Relationships and Health education, but where our lessons go beyond these requirements (primarily in the Citizenship and Economic wellbeing areas) they refer to the PSHE Association’s 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 scheme.

Our 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 on good practice in teaching RSHE/PSHE education to ensure that all children can access learning and make progress.

All lessons include 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.

Our scheme provides consistent messages throughout the age ranges including how and where to access help.

Assessment for learning opportunities are built into each lesson alongside opportunities for self-evaluation and reflection allowing teachers to evaluate and assess the progress of children. At the start of each lesson children’s existing knowledge and experience is discussed, then at the end opportunities to consolidate and reflect on learning are built in. Summative assessment tools for each unit allow progress to be recorded and tracked for each child.

PSHE & RSHE Impact

Our PSHE/RSHE and Citizenship curriculum ensures that children develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to succeed at school and in the wider world. A successful PSHE/RSHE education can have a positive impact on the whole child, including their academic development and progress, by helping to alleviate any social and emotional barriers to learning and building confidence and self-esteem, something our children at Walworth often find challenging. The whole school approach to PSHE and citizenship has a positive impact on wellbeing, safeguarding and SMSC outcomes.

Because learning is a change to long-term memory, it is impossible to see impact in the short term. We do, however, track progress over time to evaluate the impact of our practice. This means that we look at the practices taking place to determine whether they are appropriate, related to our goals and likely to produce results in the long run.

We use lesson observations to see if the pedagogical style (from direct instruction to discovery learning) matches our depth expectations.

Formative assessment is used to help teachers plan progression and meet the individual needs of children. Teachers also use an assessment tracking tool to help evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum. This relates to the Programme of Study for PSHE. This in conjunction with work samples and lesson observations will enable the subject lead to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our curriculum.

Children will develop the vocabulary and confidence needed to be able to communicate their thoughts and feelings.

Children will know they can seek support of others and feel safe to do so.

Children will have a greater understanding of society and apply this to their everyday interactions both at school and out in the wider community.

Children will have the skills to evaluate and understand their own wellbeing, practise self-care and contribute positively to the wellbeing of those around them.

At Walworth we recognise that PSHE is threaded/embedded into everyday school life and aspects of PSHE will be evident throughout the formal and hidden curriculums.

Widget Online at Walworth

Widgit Online at Walworth Primary School

At Walworth Primary School, we use Widgit Online as an integral part of our communication, teaching and wellbeing support. Widgit Online is a symbol-supported communication and learning tool that enables staff to create personalised visual resources using over 20,000 symbols. Resources can be adapted, printed and tailored to meet the individual needs of each pupil.

For the children at Walworth, Widgit is much more than a communication aid. It helps us create a predictable, accessible and emotionally safe learning environment where children feel understood, supported and ready to learn.

Many of our pupils experience:

Language processing difficulties

Emotional dysregulation

Anxiety

Trauma-related needs

Low confidence and self-esteem

Difficulties with executive functioning

Widgit supports these needs by making communication visible, reducing cognitive load, supporting emotional expression and providing consistency throughout the school day. These factors contribute to a calmer environment where pupils can engage more successfully with learning, relationships and self-regulation.

At Walworth, staff adapt Widgit resources to meet the individual needs of the children in their class. Resources are bespoke and carefully designed to ensure they are meaningful, accessible and effective for each pupil.

Communication Support

Widgit is used to support understanding, expression and interaction through:

Communication boards

Choice boards

Visual prompts

Sentence-building activities

Emotion and feelings charts

Key vocabulary supports

Symbols help children understand and express language when spoken or written language alone may be overwhelming. This is particularly beneficial for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, ADHD and attachment-related difficulties.

Supporting Classroom Routines

To promote consistency and reduce anxiety, staff use:

Visual timetables

Now and Next boards

Transition cards

Task schedules

Classroom labels

These visual supports help pupils understand what is happening, what is expected of them and what will happen next. By increasing predictability, they help reduce uncertainty and support smoother transitions throughout the school day.

Learning and Curriculum Access

Widgit symbols are embedded across the curriculum through:

Symbol-supported worksheets

Reading resources

Vocabulary mats

Sequencing activities

Social stories

Writing frames

These resources make learning more accessible by reducing language barriers and supporting understanding. Pupils are able to participate more fully in lessons, develop independence and experience greater success in their learning.

Behaviour and Emotional Regulation

Widgit also plays an important role in supporting behaviour and emotional wellbeing through:

Behaviour expectation posters

Visual rules

Reward charts

Zones of Regulation resources

Self-regulation checklists

Zones of Regulation toolkits

Visual reminders allow pupils to access support independently rather than relying solely on adult prompts. This can reduce frustration, minimise conflict and encourage pupils to take greater ownership of their behaviour and emotional regulation.

Supporting Wellbeing Through a Trauma-Informed Approach

At Walworth Primary School, our use of Widgit Online aligns closely with our trauma-informed approach to education. We recognise that many children learn best when they feel safe, understood and supported. By providing clear visual communication, predictable routines and opportunities for emotional expression, Widgit helps create an environment where children can build trust, develop confidence and engage positively in school life.

Through its use across communication, behaviour support, emotional regulation and curriculum access, Widgit Online makes a significant contribution to pupils' wellbeing, engagement, independence and inclusion within our school community.

How Widgit Supports Children's Wellbeing at Walworth Primary School

At Walworth Primary School, supporting pupils' emotional wellbeing is central to our practice. Widgit Online plays an important role in helping children feel safe, understood and successful throughout the school day. By providing visual support for communication, routines and emotional understanding, Widgit helps remove barriers that can impact wellbeing and engagement.

1. Reduces Anxiety

Many pupils at Walworth experience anxiety when routines change, expectations are unclear or they are unsure about what will happen next. Visual supports make the school day more predictable and manageable.

Staff regularly use:

Visual timetables

Now and Next boards

Task schedules

Transition cards

These resources provide structure and clarity, helping children feel secure and reducing anxiety linked to uncertainty.

2. Supports Emotional Literacy

Widgit provides a range of resources that help children recognise, understand and communicate their emotions. Staff adapt these resources to meet the individual needs of each pupil.

Examples include:

Feelings charts

Emotion scales

Wellbeing activities

Zones of Regulation toolkits

Visual check-ins

These supports help children to:

Identify emotions

Express feelings

Develop emotional vocabulary

Discuss worries safely

Recognise and communicate when they need support

This is particularly valuable for pupils who find it difficult to verbalise their emotions or communicate their needs effectively.

3. Promotes Independence

Widgit enables children to access instructions, routines and expectations without relying solely on adult support. Visual prompts allow pupils to navigate tasks and learning activities more independently.

Increased independence can lead to:

Greater confidence

Improved self-esteem

Increased engagement in learning

Reduced frustration

By making information more accessible, symbols help pupils develop the skills needed to become confident and independent learners.

4. Improves Inclusion

Widgit provides an additional route to understanding for pupils with SEND, literacy difficulties and communication needs. Visual support helps ensure that information is accessible to all learners.

This enables pupils to:

Access learning more successfully

Participate alongside their peers

Feel included within the classroom community

Experience greater success and achievement

By removing barriers to communication and understanding, Widgit helps create a more inclusive learning environment.

5. Strengthens Relationships

When children can understand instructions, communicate their needs and express their emotions more effectively, levels of frustration are often reduced. This can lead to more positive interactions with both adults and peers.

Improved communication supports:

Positive relationships

Increased trust

A sense of belonging

Emotional safety within school

Strong relationships are fundamental to wellbeing, particularly for pupils who have experienced adversity or trauma.

Supporting a Trauma-Informed Environment

The use of Widgit Online at Walworth aligns closely with our trauma-informed approach. By increasing predictability, supporting communication and helping children understand and regulate their emotions, Widgit contributes to an environment where pupils feel safe, valued and ready to learn.

Through its daily use across the school, Widgit supports not only communication and learning but also the emotional wellbeing, confidence and resilience of our pupils.