RSHE
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
Dalai Lama
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Nelson Mandel
Intent
At Thomas A Becket Infant School, we believe that Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is an essential part of helping children grow into happy, healthy and confident individuals. Guided by our REACH Values and our school motto, ‘Safe, Kind and Ready to Learn’, we support children to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to build positive relationships, look after their physical and emotional wellbeing, and stay safe both now and in the future.
We want every child to feel valued, included and able to flourish, so much so that the children at Thomas A Becket Infant School refer to their learning in this subject as ‘RSHE-All About Me.’ Through our carefully planned and age-appropriate RSHE curriculum, children learn about friendship, kindness, respect, emotions, healthy lifestyles and personal safety. We help children to understand themselves and others, celebrate differences and develop the confidence to make positive choices.
At the heart of our teaching is a strong focus on emotional literacy, resilience and wellbeing. We provide a safe and nurturing environment where children are encouraged to talk about their feelings, develop empathy and learn how to manage challenges positively. These skills help children not only in school but also in their everyday lives and future learning.
As part of our commitment to safeguarding, we teach children how to recognise unsafe situations,seekhelpfromtrustedadultsandunderstandtheimportanceofhealthyrelationships.
In an ever-changing and diverse world, we aim to foster curiosity, empathy and acceptance, enabling children to appreciate differences, celebrate diversity and develop confidence in who they are.
We strive to ensure that every child leave Thomas A Becket Infant School, with the strong foundations they need to become caring, responsible and respectful members of their communities, equipped with the life skills needed to flourish.
Implementation
We understand that parents and carers play the most important role in their child's development. Our aim is to work in partnership with families to provide children with the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to stay healthy, safe and happy.
Learning takes place through dedicated ‘RSHE-All About Me’ lessons, circle times, stories, assemblies and everyday classroom experiences. This helps children to develop their understanding gradually and at a level that is appropriate for their age and stage of development.
Our lessons are carefully planned to be engaging, positive and child-friendly. Through discussion, role play, stories, games and practical activities, children learn about:
- Friendships and positive relationships
- Feelings and emotions
- Respect, kindness and inclusion
- Families and people who care for us
- Healthy lifestyles and wellbeing
- Personal safety and seeking help
- Online safety
- Growing and changing
Circle times are an important part of our approach. These provide a safe and supportive space where children can share ideas, develop confidence in expressing themselves, listen to others and learn important social and emotional skills such as empathy, resilience and problem-solving.
Teachers create a respectful classroom environment where children feel comfortable asking questions. Any questions are answered honestly, sensitively and in an age-appropriate way. We recognise that every child is unique. Lessons are adapted where needed so that all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), can fully access and benefit from the curriculum.
RSHE learning is also reinforced across the wider curriculum. Children explore aspects of health, wellbeing and growing up through Science, learn about physical activity and healthy lifestyles in Physical Education, and develop their understanding of online safety through Computing. Themes such as kindness, respect, tolerance and inclusion are further promoted through assemblies and our daily school life, ensuring that RSHE is embedded within our school ethos.
Throughout the year, children may also benefit from visits and workshops from trusted organisations such as the NSPCC, Fire & Rescue Service, Community Police Officers and our local Coastal Officer, helping to bring important safety messages to life.
Impact
Through our RSHE curriculum and REACH Values, we want children to:
- Have the skills to build positive friendships and relationships.
- Show kindness, respect and empathy towards others.
- Develop confidence in expressing their thoughts and feelings.
- Understand how to keep themselves safe, both online and offline.
- Know how and when to seek help from trusted adults.
- Develop resilience and strategies to manage emotions.
- Make healthy choices that support their physical and mental wellbeing.
- Respect differences and celebrate diversity.
- Manage their emotions and respond to challenges calmly and confidently.
- Develop self-respect, empathy and a strong sense of belonging.
What do our children say about RSHE?
“RSHE-All About Me is about our world and who lives in it. People can make choices and have different beliefs and that’s OK. We can feel different emotions and it is important to talk to each other.”
Year 2 child
“RSHE teaches us to spread happiness and kindness to people. It teaches you how to get along with each other and have respect for people and things.”
Year 2 child
“We must always show respect to everyone and keep safe.”
Year 1 child
What do our parents say about RSHE?
“I am pleased that RSHE appears very age appropriate….For Reception children, healthy bodies, care and respect for others, forming healthy relationships and confidence in expressing concerns and worries and also the basics of private parts of the body are more than enough and I'm encouraged reading the curriculum and knowing what it involves.”
Reception parent