At St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School, we teach focussed PSHE lessons using the Jigsaw Scheme of Work. Jigsaw brings together Personal, Social, Health and Economic education, emotional literacy, social skills and spiritual development in a weekly programme.

Jigsaw holds children at its heart and its cohesive vision helps children understand and value who they are and how they fit and contribute to the world.

Children are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and beyond the curriculum, contributing fully to the life of St Augustine’s and our Parish community. In doing so, they learn to recognise their own worth, work well with others and become increasingly responsible for their own learning. At St Augustine’s, we encourage children to reflect on their experiences and understand how they are developing personally and socially, tackling many of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up.

Our children learn to understand and respect our common humanity; diversity and differences so that they can go on to form effective, fulfilling relationships that are an essential part of life and learning.

Jigsaw PSHE will support the development of the skills, attitudes, values and behaviour, which enable pupils to:

• Have a sense of purpose
• Value self and others
• Form relationships
• Make and act on informed decisions
• Communicate effectively
• Work with others
• Respond to challenge
• Be an active partner in their own learning
• Be active citizens within the school and wider community
• Explore issues related to living in a democratic society
• Become healthy and fulfilled individuals

Designed as a whole school approach, Jigsaw provides a comprehensive scheme of learning for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to Year 6. Every year group covers the same ‘piece’ of the Jigsaw at the same time, these are:

• Being Me in My World
• Celebrating Difference
• Dreams and Goals
• Healthy Me
• Relationships
• Changing Me

Autumn 1

Being Me In My World covers a wide range of topics, including a sense of belonging, welcoming others and being part of a school community, a wider community, and a global community; it also looks at children’s rights and responsibilities, working and socialising with others, and pupil voice.

Autumn 2

Celebrating Difference focuses on similarities and differences and teaches about diversity, such as disability, racism, power, friendships, and conflict; children learn to accept everyone’s right to ‘difference’, and most year groups explore the concept of ‘normal’; bullying – what it is and what it isn’t, including cyber and homophobic bullying – is an important aspect of this Puzzle.
 

Spring 1

Dreams and Goals aims to help children think about their hopes and dreams, their goals for success, what personal strengths are, and how to overcome challenges, via team work skills and tasks. Children learn about experiencing and managing feelings of pride, ambition, disappointment, success; and they get to share their aspirations, the dreams and goals of others in different cultures/countries, and their dreams for the world.

Spring 2

Healthy Me covers two main areas of health: Emotional health (relaxation, being safe, friendships, mental health skills, body image, relationships with food, managing stress) and Physical health (eating a balanced diet, physical activity, rest and relaxation, keeping clean, drugs and alcohol, being safe, first aid) in order for children to learn that health is a very broad topic.

Summer 1

Relationships has a wide focus, looking at diverse topics such as families, friendships, pets and animals, and love and loss. A vital part of this Puzzle is about safeguarding and keeping children safe; this links to cyber safety and social networking, as well as attraction and assertiveness; children learn how to deal with conflict, their own strengths and self-esteem. They have the chance to explore roles and responsibilities in families, and look at stereotypes. All Jigsaw lessons are delivered in an age- and stage-appropriate way so that they meet children’s needs.

Summer 2

Changing Me deals with change of many types, from growing from young to old, becoming a teenager, assertiveness, self-respect and safeguarding. Self and body image, puberty, attraction and accepting change are diverse subjects for children to explore. Each year group thinks about looking ahead, moving year groups or the transition to secondary school. Life cycles and how babies are made and grow are treated sensitively and are designed to meet children’s needs. All year groups learn about how people and bodies change. This Puzzle links with the Science curriculum when teaching children about life cycles, babies and puberty.

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)

An important part of the Jigsaw PSHE programme is delivered through the 'Relationships' and 'Changing Me' puzzle pieces which are covered in the summer term. Alongside the Jigsaw RSE unit of work, we also use the Diocesan approved Journey in Love, that looks at this in a more spiritual way. 

There are four main aims of teaching RSE:

• To enable children to understand and respect their bodies
• To help children develop positive and healthy relationships appropriate to their age and development
• To support children to have positive self-esteem and body image
• To empower them to be safe and safeguarded.

At St Augustine’s, we believe that effective RSE can make a significant contribution to the development of the personal skills needed by children if they are to establish and maintain relationships.  It also enables children and young people to make responsible and informed decisions about their health and well-being. 

Withdrawal from RSE lessons

Parents/ carers have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of the Relationships and Sex Education provided at school except for those parts included in statutory National Curriculum for Science. Those parents/ carers wishing to exercise this right are invited in to see the Head teacher and/or PSHE subject leader who will explore any concerns and discuss any impact that withdrawal may have on the child. Once a child has been withdrawn, they cannot take part in the RSE programme until the request for withdrawal has been removed. Materials are available to parents/ carers who wish to supplement the school RSE programme or who wish to deliver RSE to their children at home.