Intent:
At Fosse Way, we recognise that high-quality PSHE education is essential for all our learners, each of whom brings unique strengths, experiences, and additional needs. Our curriculum is designed to support every student to flourish, emotionally, socially, and as active, safe members of the wider community. Embedded throughout, is our school values of kindness, pride, and resilience. PSHE lessons provide a safe and structured space for pupils to explore relationships, self-awareness, and strategies for maintaining good mental and physical health. We take seriously the importance of promoting wellbeing and reducing anxiety, especially for learners who may experience barriers to communication, regulation, or confidence. By embedding emotional literacy, self-esteem, and safeguarding throughout our curriculum, we ensure that all pupils are supported to understand themselves, build positive relationships, and navigate life beyond school with dignity and independence. Our approach ensures that every learner is equipped with the knowledge and skills to thrive in their own way
Our PSHE curriculum:
- Promotes the physical, emotional, and social wellbeing of every pupil
- Equip pupils with the knowledge and skills to stay safe, healthy, and confident
- Enable pupils to access opportunities, enjoy learning, and achieve personal success
- Prepare pupils to make a positive contribution as responsible and respectful members of society
- Provide meaningful experiences, information, and guidance to support transition into further education, training, careers, and adult life
- Embed a strong culture of safeguarding, helping pupils to recognise risk, seek help, and make safe choices
- Teach pupils how to navigate the digital world safely, promoting awareness of online risks, respectful behaviour, and personal responsibility
Implementation:
PSHE at Fosse Way School is: Inclusive, Responsive, and Statutory
Our PSHE curriculum is fully aligned with current Department for Education (DfE) guidance, including statutory Relationships Education, Health Education, and preparation for adulthood. It is designed to meet the needs of all learners at Fosse Way School, with particular emphasis on areas most relevant to pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Curriculum overviews are developed in consultation with students, staff, parents, and governors, and are published on our school website alongside our Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) policy. Every class receives at least one hour of timetabled PSHE per week, with additional learning embedded across the school day through structured opportunities in other subjects and routines and other ‘in the moment’ learning. These include:
- Communication and social interaction
- Emotional regulation and sensory support
- Personal hygiene and self-care routines
- Integrated speech and language therapy
- Trips into the local community
- Movement breaks and physical education
- Individual EHCP target work
- Food technology and independent living skills
- IT and online safety
- Science and health education
- Forest School and outdoor learning
We also enrich PSHE learning through visits from local professionals and community services, helping pupils explore future careers and understand the roles of people who help us. This supports pupils in developing aspirations and recognising pathways into further education, training, and employment. Safeguarding is a golden thread throughout our PSHE curriculum. Pupils are taught how to recognise risk, seek help, and make safe choices in both physical and digital environments. Online safety is explicitly addressed through IT lessons, PSHE sessions, and whole-school initiatives, ensuring pupils understand how to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. Our staff team includes trained practitioners in the SoSafe programme, a visual teaching tool that supports learners in understanding and communicating about relationships, boundaries, and social safety. Teachers have the flexibility to tailor PSHE content to the age, pathway, and developmental needs of their pupils. For some, this may mean a greater focus on independent living, personal safety, and safe relationships. For others, the emphasis may be on emotional regulation and sensory integration, with a view to improving quality of life for both pupils and their families. Curriculum overviews clearly identify statutory content and allow for responsive teaching, enabling staff to address emerging needs, personal circumstances, or world events in a timely and appropriate way. The PSHE curriculum is reviewed annually to ensure it remains relevant, inclusive, and compliant. Staff receive ongoing training and development opportunities throughout the year, fostering collaboration, reflection, and best practice. Our teaching is supported by high-quality resources from SCARF, the PSHE Association, and EC Publishing, which are regularly updated to reflect current guidance and effective pedagogy.
Impact:
At Fosse Way School, our PSHE curriculum is carefully sequenced so that each unit builds on prior learning as pupils progress through the school. Lessons are structured around the three core themes: Relationships, Health and Wellbeing, and Living in the Wider World. Pupils are given regular opportunities to revisit and embed key concepts, enabling them to practise and apply essential life skills in a range of meaningful contexts. The delivery and recording of PSHE is the responsibility of the class teacher, who provides differentiated learning experiences tailored to the needs of their pupils. Progress is assessed through observation, pupil work, and visual evidence such as photographs or video. Teachers use B Squared Connecting Steps to track individual progress and identify areas for further development. The PSHE curriculum, delivery and assessment, is monitored by the subject lead through regular learning walks, work reviews, and staff support. The curriculum is reviewed annually to ensure that content remains relevant, inclusive, and aligned with statutory guidance and the needs of our school community.
Careers:
The PSHE curriculum at Fosse Way School provides meaningful opportunities for students to explore the world of work through real-life encounters with professionals from healthcare, community services, and other vital sectors within the community. Whether through visits to local workplaces or welcoming guest speakers into school or virtual talks, students gain first-hand insight into a range of careers and potential future pathways.
These interactions allow pupils to ask questions, build confidence, and receive up-to-date, relevant guidance from people working in their own community. Embedded throughout our PSHE curriculum are the essential skills that support career readiness: resilience, self-awareness, and strategies for maintaining good mental and physical health. These foundations empower students to meet the challenges of adult life and the workplace with confidence and autonomy.
Our PSHE curriculum also equips students with the social and emotional tools to build healthy relationships, keep themselves safe, and access their community with increasing independence. For many, this includes preparing to enter the world of work or supported employment. By linking personal development with career exploration, our curriculum ensures that every student is supported to imagine, and pursue, a meaningful future beyond Fosse Way School.