PSHE and RSE at Our School – Kapow Primary

What is Kapow Primary PSHE & RSE?

At our school, we teach Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE), including Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), through the Kapow Primary PSHE & RSE scheme of work. This is a carefully planned, progressive programme that supports children to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to stay safe, healthy and prepared for life in modern Britain.

The Kapow scheme fully meets the statutory requirements for Relationships Education and Health Education, follows the PSHE Association Programme of Study, and supports national guidance such as Education for a Connected World and online safety expectations. In Reception, it aligns closely with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, particularly the prime area of Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

How does Kapow PSHE & RSE support children’s learning?

Kapow PSHE & RSE is designed to support children’s personal development, wellbeing and emotional literacy. Through the scheme, pupils learn to:

• Build positive, respectful relationships
• Understand and manage their emotions
• Keep themselves safe, including online and in the wider community
• Develop healthy lifestyles and good mental wellbeing
• Understand rights, responsibilities and how to contribute positively to society
• Make informed choices about money, work and the future

Lessons encourage discussion, reflection and problem‑solving, helping children to develop confidence, empathy and effective communication skills. A strong emphasis is placed on oracy, giving pupils regular opportunities to talk, listen, explain their thinking and express their views respectfully.

How is PSHE & RSE taught?

PSHE & RSE is taught through planned, age‑appropriate lessons, delivered in a safe and supportive environment. Clear ground rules are established so that children feel comfortable asking questions and sharing ideas.

The Kapow scheme is particularly well suited to mixed‑age classes, using a two‑year rolling programme that ensures full coverage while allowing learning to be revisited in different ways depending on children’s age and maturity. Lessons include:

• Whole‑class discussions
• Scenario‑based learning and role play
• Group and paired activities
• Reflection and practical activities

Teachers adapt lessons to meet the needs of their class, ensuring content is appropriate for pupils’ emotional and developmental stage.

Key themes and topics covered

PSHE & RSE learning is organised into five key areas, which are revisited throughout school:

• Family and Relationships – friendships, respect, families, conflict resolution and healthy relationships
• Health and Wellbeing – physical health, mental wellbeing, healthy lifestyles, resilience and self‑care
• Safety and the Changing Body – keeping safe, online safety, personal boundaries, puberty and growing up
• Citizenship – rights and responsibilities, diversity, democracy, community and environmental responsibility
• Economic Wellbeing – money, saving, spending, jobs and careers

In Year 6, children also study Identity, exploring what makes them unique, including body image and self‑esteem.

A progressive, spiral curriculum

Kapow PSHE & RSE follows a spiral curriculum. This means that key themes are revisited regularly as children move through school, but with increasing depth and maturity each time.

Rather than repeating the same learning, pupils build on what they already know. Prior learning is revisited and extended so that understanding develops progressively from Reception through to Year 6. This approach helps children make connections in their learning and supports long‑term understanding and confidence.

Sex Education and the Right to Withdraw

Sex education is not compulsory in primary schools, beyond what is included in the National Curriculum for Science. At primary level, this includes basic knowledge about the human body, growth and development, and puberty.

Within the Kapow scheme, two lessons in Year 6 go beyond the science curriculum and focus specifically on:

• Conception
• Pregnancy and birth

Parents and carers have the legal right to withdraw their child from all or part of these sex education lessons. This right does not apply to the statutory elements of Relationships Education or Health Education.

If you wish to withdraw your child, or would like to discuss the content of these lessons in more detail, please contact the school. We are always happy to talk about what is taught and how lessons are delivered, and we aim to work in partnership with families to support children’s learning and wellbeing.