PSE – Jigsaw
At Ysgol Bro Carmel, PSE is at the core of all we do and enables our children to become independent, confident, healthy and responsible members of society, as well as developing the ‘whole child’ intellectually, morally and socially.
PSHE is taught across the school from nursery to Year 6 on a weekly basis and the whole school follows and adapts the Jigsaw PSE scheme. Our PSE curriculum equips children with relevant and meaningful content, which is supported through a strong emphasis on emotional literacy, building resilience and nurturing mental and physical health.
What is PSE?
PSE (Personal and Social Education) is a planned programme of learning through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to successfully manage their lives, now and in the future. As part of a whole-school approach, PSE develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.
What is Jigsaw, the mindful approach to PSE, and how does it work?
Jigsaw is a whole-school approach and embodies a positive philosophy and creative teaching and learning activities to nurture children’s development as compassionate and well-rounded human beings as well as building their capacity to learn.
Jigsaw is a comprehensive and completely original PSE programme (lesson plans and teaching resources) for the whole primary school from ages 3-11. Written by teachers and grounded in sound psychology, it also includes all the statutory requirements for Relationships and Health Education, and Sex Education is also included in the Changing Me Puzzle (unit).
Jigsaw has two main aims for all children:
• To build their capacity for learning
• To equip them for life
Jigsaw brings together PSE, compulsory Relationships and Health Education, emotional literacy, mindfulness and social skills development. It is designed as a whole school approach, with all year groups working on the same theme (Puzzle) at the same time at their own level. There are six Puzzles (half-term units of work) and each year group is taught one lesson per week. All lessons are delivered in an age- and stage-appropriate way so that they meet children’s needs.
Each Puzzle starts with an introductory assembly, generating a whole school focus for adults and children alike. There is also a Weekly Celebration that highlights a theme from that week’s lesson across the school encouraging children to live that learning in their behaviour and attitudes.
To find out more about Jigsaw please click on the link below to access a Parent/Carer information guide. Our RSE policy is available on the Polices page of the website.
By providing you with the curriculum coverage and the key vocabulary that we use in each year group, you as parents will develop an awareness of what children are expected to understand at what age. This will help you to be able to speak openly at home about these topics, which is a starting point for safeguarding and improving mental health.
