PSHE Curriculum at Eastway Primary School
At Eastway Primary School, we deliver our statutory Primary Relationships Education and
PSHE curriculum through the myHappymind framework—an NHS-commissioned, science-
backed programme grounded in positive psychology and neuroscience.
From September 2026, the school will follow the long-term plans set out by My Happy Mind
Plus. These plans ensure clear progression of knowledge and skills, alongside opportunities
for consolidation. The LTPs also include ‘buffer weeks’, which can be used flexibly to
revisit learning, consolidate key concepts or catch up on any missed lessons as
appropriate.
In addition to core content from My Happy Mind, weekly Values assemblies are delivered
to ensure children know and understand all of the British Values and can apply them in
real life contexts. Eastway has an extensive Personal Development programme which
ensures that, beyond the statutory curriculum content, children have a wide range of
experiences that will improve their life chances and increase their cultural capital.
Our Relationships Education curriculum builds children’s self-esteem, emotional
resilience, and interpersonal skills from the inside out. By teaching pupils how their brains
work, myHappymind equips them to understand their emotions, manage their behaviour,
and form healthy, respectful connections with family, peers, and the wider community.
Core Modules & Statutory Content Alignment
Meet Your Brain: Pupils learn about the Amygdala, Hippocampus, and Prefrontal Cortex.
Understanding emotional regulation and self-control helps children manage their feelings
and reactions during day-to-day social interactions.
Celebrate: Focuses on character strengths, self-worth, and celebrating individual
differences. Building this foundational self-esteem teaches pupils personal boundaries,
self-respect, and appreciation for diversity.
Appreciate: Explores gratitude and perspective-taking. Children learn how empathy and a
positive mindset foster strong, supportive family and peer relationships.
Relate: Directly addresses statutory Relationships Education outcomes. Pupils develop
active listening, constructive communication, boundary recognition, and conflict-
resolution skills.
Engage: Encourages goal-setting and active community contribution, helping pupils build
resilience and understand their role in fostering a safe, supportive school environment.
The 2025 DfE guidance recommends that sex education is taught in Years 5 and 6
alongside the statutory content delivered through the science curriculum.
At Eastway Primary School, we believe it is important that children develop an accurate
and age-appropriate understanding of human reproduction before they leave primary
school.
For this reason, sex education lessons are delivered in both same-sex and mixed groups, as
appropriate. From 2026, and in line the MyHappy Mind Plus materials the following will
take place:
● In Year 4, we will deliver a lesson for girls on periods and body changes, in
response to the decreasing average age at which girls are beginning menstruation.
Parents will be informed in advance about the lesson(s) and will have the option to
withdraw their child if they wish.
● In Year 5, pupils learn about the human life cycle, adolescence and puberty, as
well as sexual reproduction in mammals. This learning is delivered as part of the
statutory science curriculum.
● In Year 6, pupils build on this knowledge by learning about puberty and how babies
are made. These lessons are taught sensitively and, in an age-appropriate way,
reflecting the needs and maturity of the pupils. Parents and carers of pupils in Year
6 are provided with information about the sex education lessons delivered in school
and have the right to view the lesson content from September 2026.
Parents and carers are informed of their right to request that their child be withdrawn
from some or all of the Sex Education content delivered as part of statutory Relationships
and Sex Education. Parents do not have the right to withdraw their child from Sex
Education that forms part of the statutory science curriculum in Year 5.
Responding to Age-Inappropriate Questions
Pupils may sometimes ask questions about sex or relationships that are not appropriate for
their age. Staff will respond calmly and professionally, acknowledging the question
without giving explicit detail. Teachers will use their judgement to give a brief, age-
appropriate response, redirect discussion if needed, or explain that the topic will be
covered in future learning.
Adaptive Teaching
Our PSHE curriculum is inclusive and accessible to all pupils, including those with Special
Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Lessons are adapted to meet diverse needs so
every pupil can participate and make progress from their starting points. Teachers use
strategies such as differentiated tasks, adapted resources, visual supports and flexible
grouping to ensure accessibility. Additional adult support and personalised approaches are
provided where appropriate, in line with pupils’ EHCPs or support plans. Staff handle
sensitive content carefully, considering pupils’ developmental and communication needs,
and work with the SENCo and parents/carers to ensure learning is safe and appropriate.
At Eastway Primary School, we deliver our statutory Primary Relationships Education and
PSHE curriculum through the myHappymind framework—an NHS-commissioned, science-
backed programme grounded in positive psychology and neuroscience.
From September 2026, the school will follow the long-term plans set out by My Happy Mind
Plus. These plans ensure clear progression of knowledge and skills, alongside opportunities
for consolidation. The LTPs also include ‘buffer weeks’, which can be used flexibly to
revisit learning, consolidate key concepts or catch up on any missed lessons as
appropriate.
In addition to core content from My Happy Mind, weekly Values assemblies are delivered
to ensure children know and understand all of the British Values and can apply them in
real life contexts. Eastway has an extensive Personal Development programme which
ensures that, beyond the statutory curriculum content, children have a wide range of
experiences that will improve their life chances and increase their cultural capital.
Our Relationships Education curriculum builds children’s self-esteem, emotional
resilience, and interpersonal skills from the inside out. By teaching pupils how their brains
work, myHappymind equips them to understand their emotions, manage their behaviour,
and form healthy, respectful connections with family, peers, and the wider community.
Core Modules & Statutory Content Alignment
Meet Your Brain: Pupils learn about the Amygdala, Hippocampus, and Prefrontal Cortex.
Understanding emotional regulation and self-control helps children manage their feelings
and reactions during day-to-day social interactions.
Celebrate: Focuses on character strengths, self-worth, and celebrating individual
differences. Building this foundational self-esteem teaches pupils personal boundaries,
self-respect, and appreciation for diversity.
Appreciate: Explores gratitude and perspective-taking. Children learn how empathy and a
positive mindset foster strong, supportive family and peer relationships.
Relate: Directly addresses statutory Relationships Education outcomes. Pupils develop
active listening, constructive communication, boundary recognition, and conflict-
resolution skills.
Engage: Encourages goal-setting and active community contribution, helping pupils build
resilience and understand their role in fostering a safe, supportive school environment.
The 2025 DfE guidance recommends that sex education is taught in Years 5 and 6
alongside the statutory content delivered through the science curriculum.
At Eastway Primary School, we believe it is important that children develop an accurate
and age-appropriate understanding of human reproduction before they leave primary
school.
For this reason, sex education lessons are delivered in both same-sex and mixed groups, as
appropriate. From 2026, and in line the MyHappy Mind Plus materials the following will
take place:
● In Year 4, we will deliver a lesson for girls on periods and body changes, in
response to the decreasing average age at which girls are beginning menstruation.
Parents will be informed in advance about the lesson(s) and will have the option to
withdraw their child if they wish.
● In Year 5, pupils learn about the human life cycle, adolescence and puberty, as
well as sexual reproduction in mammals. This learning is delivered as part of the
statutory science curriculum.
● In Year 6, pupils build on this knowledge by learning about puberty and how babies
are made. These lessons are taught sensitively and, in an age-appropriate way,
reflecting the needs and maturity of the pupils. Parents and carers of pupils in Year
6 are provided with information about the sex education lessons delivered in school
and have the right to view the lesson content from September 2026.
Parents and carers are informed of their right to request that their child be withdrawn
from some or all of the Sex Education content delivered as part of statutory Relationships
and Sex Education. Parents do not have the right to withdraw their child from Sex
Education that forms part of the statutory science curriculum in Year 5.
Responding to Age-Inappropriate Questions
Pupils may sometimes ask questions about sex or relationships that are not appropriate for
their age. Staff will respond calmly and professionally, acknowledging the question
without giving explicit detail. Teachers will use their judgement to give a brief, age-
appropriate response, redirect discussion if needed, or explain that the topic will be
covered in future learning.
Adaptive Teaching
Our PSHE curriculum is inclusive and accessible to all pupils, including those with Special
Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Lessons are adapted to meet diverse needs so
every pupil can participate and make progress from their starting points. Teachers use
strategies such as differentiated tasks, adapted resources, visual supports and flexible
grouping to ensure accessibility. Additional adult support and personalised approaches are
provided where appropriate, in line with pupils’ EHCPs or support plans. Staff handle
sensitive content carefully, considering pupils’ developmental and communication needs,
and work with the SENCo and parents/carers to ensure learning is safe and appropriate.
PSHE & RSE Implementation at Eastway
To achieve these aims, we have carefully mapped out exactly what children learn in each year group, the summary of this is shown below:
PSHE & RSE Impact
To check your child has learned what we have intended them to, we set short tasks within lessons to see how much your child has understood and adapt our lessons from their to meet their needs.
To get a picture of what your child is retaining over time, we use the prior learning checks at the beginning of each lesson, complete quizzes at the end of each week and complete end of unit impact summaries. These reviews of learning are completed by their class teacher, our PSHE & RSE lead and our SLT
We will let you know how your child is getting on in PSHE & RSE in their end of year report and will give you opportunities to see what they have learned in their class throughout the year. If you would like any further information, please contact your child's class teacher or contact the school office.
