PSHEE

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PSHEE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) weaves throughout our school day and across all of our Pathways. We have designed our bespoke curriculum using the PSHE Association SEND framework as a starting point.

We have also drawn upon quality resources such as those provided by the NSPCC, the Cambridgeshire PSHE Service, and 1decision. We aim to provide a broad and balanced PSHEE curriculum that goes beyond the statutory requirements, and prepares our learners for their adult lives.

Our intention is that all pupils leave Highfield Ely Academy with the skills and knowledge that they need to participate safely and meaningfully in the wider world, at a level that is appropriate for their individual needs. For example, we aim to enable pupils in the Purple and Yellow pathways to make informed decisions at key points in their lives, and know where to turn for additional support. For learners in the Blue and Green Pathways, we aim to enable pupils to clearly communicate acceptance or rejection.

Statutory Requirements

The two main statutory areas of PSHEE are Health education and Relationship education. Keeping healthy and safe are key needs for all of our pupils and we recognise the importance of developing their understanding of what that means for them.

Health Education: We teach our students how to care for themselves and others through promoting healthy eating and exercise throughout our day and through different interventions to help mental and physical wellbeing.

Relationship Education: We support students to develop their social skills as they move through the school. This may include learning how to play and work together, about online safety, or learning how to communicate when they don't like something. Learners interact with peers and adults all day, every day and we create opportunities for them to socialise in a range of situations; it is important for them to learn how to interact and socialise appropriately for functional purposes as well as for their enjoyment.

Relationship and Sex Education (RSE): RSE is also statutory for Key Stages 3 and 4, taking into account the age and Pathway of each student.

Curriculum Intent

We aim to equip learners with the knowledge and skills to make autonomous, informed decisions in line with their values, interests and goals. Developing the ability to make their own choices—as independently as possible—helps our pupils become healthier, happier and safer.

Across all pathways, pupils are supported to:

  • Take and share responsibility
  • Feel positive about themselves and others
  • Reflect on their experiences
  • Develop communication skills and strategies needed to exercise personal autonomy
  • Participate in daily living routines
  • Make real decisions, with support where required
  • Build and maintain positive relationships
  • Recognise, value and celebrate their achievements

Topic Organisation

Our PSHEE curriculum is organised into key topic strands (taken from the PSHE Association SEND Framework) that ensure comprehensive coverage:

  • Self-Awareness (personal strengths, skills for learning, managing pressure)
  • Self-Care, Support and Safety (keeping safe, online safety, public/private, emergency situations)
  • Managing Feelings (identifying emotions, self-esteem, managing strong feelings, romantic feelings)
  • Changing and Growing (puberty, relationships, consent, healthy vs unhealthy behaviours)
  • Healthy Lifestyles (physical and mental wellbeing, healthy eating, physical activity)
  • The World I Live In (respecting differences, community belonging, diversity, preparing for adulthood)

Topics are revisited within a spiral curriculum, enabling pupils to build on prior learning at a level appropriate to their developmental stage. Further detail on topic sequencing can be found within our PSHEE 5-Year Plan.

Qualifications

Students in Year 10 and above across Blue, Green, and Purple pathways work towards ASDAN LifeSkills Challenges qualifications . These qualifications provide personalised recognition of student progress while supporting the development of independence, decision-making skills, and community participation. The LifeSkills Challenges framework aligns directly with Preparation for Adulthood outcomes.

Impact 

We evaluate the impact of our PSHEE curriculum through:

  • Feedback and discussions with parents, carers and students
  • Observations in school, community and workplace settings
  • Evidence for Learning portfolios

As a result of our PSHEE curriculum, students are increasingly able to:

  • Form and sustain positive, appropriate relationships with a range of people
  • Build caring friendships that improve wellbeing and social confidence
  • Understand intimate relationships and consent at a level appropriate to them
  • Care for their physical and mental health as independently as possible
  • Keep themselves safe, and know how to safeguard others both online and in daily life
  • Understand and contribute to their community with respect for all people, including those with protected characteristics
 

Blue Pathway

  • Relationships sit at the heart of everything we do
  • Learning is highly individualised and delivered through experiential and sensory approaches using texture, light, sound, movement and real-life contexts
  • A range of communication tools is used—including communication aids, switches, photographs and objects of reference
  • Students develop relationship-building skills through daily, meaningful interactions with staff and, where appropriate, with peers
  • Termly focus areas provide complete curriculum coverage
  • (e.g., Positive Interactions, Body Changes, Touch and Personal Space, Understanding Emotions)
  • Learners access different environments around school and the community to develop early skills, generalise learning and support confidence

Assessment: Progress is assessed using the Blue Pathway framework, into which early PSHE outcomes are interwoven, and EHCP outcomes.

Green Pathway

  • Semi-formal approach with a blend of discrete lessons and integrated learning opportunities
  • Lessons are often highly structured with clear routines
  • Regular repetition, modelling and reinforcement of skills
  • Adapted resources including visuals, objects of reference, and simplified language
  • Explicit teaching of core PSHE concepts with opportunities to practise skills in real contexts
  • Strong focus on communication development and functional understanding

Assessment: Assessment focuses on observed engagement, skill generalisation, and progress towards personalised PSHE and communication targets.  Assessment is against the Green Pathway Framework, into which PSHE outcomes are interwoven. 

Purple Pathway

  • PSHEE is delivered both through everyday learning and through planned, discrete sessions where appropriate
  • Highly individualised learning activities using visual, sensory and practical approaches
  • Repetition and over-learning built in to support retention
  • Planning guided by the PSHE Association SEND framework
  • Strong focus on communication, emotional regulation and developing independence
  • Teaching aligns with statutory framework but content is adapted to meet individual needs

Assessment: Pupils are assessed against our bespoke PSHEE framework, based on the PSHE Association SEND framework, as well as relevant personalised EHCP targets.

Yellow Pathway

  • Delivered through planned, discrete lessons and embedded learning opportunities throughout the school day
  • Uses the PSHE Association Planning Framework ensuring full statutory coverage
  • Topics revisited within a spiral curriculum
  • Learning happens through structured lessons and everyday interactions such as break times
  • Pupils are encouraged to share their news, interests and hobbies to support confidence, communication and personal identity
  • Risk assessment embedded daily (e.g., carrying scissors safely, safe behaviour in corridors, safe conduct during cooking/science/DT)
  • Repeated routines help pupils build lifelong safety awareness

Specific Topic Coverage: Students explore all six topic strands with increasing depth and independence, including:

  • Understanding what they are good at and managing pressure
  • Personal hygiene and online safety (keeping passwords private)
  • Strategies to understand, express and regulate emotions
  • Physical and emotional changes of puberty
  • Sensitive, personalised Sex Education for older pupils (touch, boundaries, consent, contraception)
  • Jobs, careers, rules and laws
  • Managing finances and preparing for adulthood

Assessment: Pupils are assessed against our bespoke PSHEE framework, based on the PSHE Association SEND framework, as well as relevant personalised EHCP targets.

 

PSHEE 5 Year Plan

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