Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education

How Jigsaw supports Curriculum Mapping and Progression in PSHE

Jigsaw is not just a PSHE resource – it is a whole-school, mindful and curriculum-aligned programme that ensures the statutory requirements for Relationships and Health Education (RHE) are delivered effectively and consistently. It supports pupils in developing essential skills for life, while building emotional resilience, social understanding, and personal wellbeing.

1. Fully aligned with statutory guidance

Jigsaw covers all statutory elements of the DfE Relationships and Health Education curriculum and supports wider PSHE objectives. It helps schools meet:

• Relationships Education – including families and friendships, online relationships, and safety.
• Health Education – including physical health, mental wellbeing, personal hygiene, and safety.
• Wider PSHE – including citizenship, emotional literacy, economic understanding, and safeguarding.
• Statutory responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE).

Each unit (called a Puzzle) clearly shows which objectives it addresses, ensuring confident coverage of all legal and developmental requirements.

2. Whole-school, sequenced curriculum from EYFS to Year 6

Jigsaw follows a whole-school approach where each year group studies the same theme at their own level, creating a shared language and culture across the school.

Six key Puzzles (units of work) are taught in sequence each year:

1. Being Me in My World – identity, belonging, and community
2. Celebrating Difference – diversity, inclusion, anti-bullying
3. Dreams and Goals – aspiration, teamwork, perseverance
4. Healthy Me – physical/mental health, decision-making
5. Relationships – communication, conflict, online safety
6. Changing Me – puberty, growing up, transition (includes optional age-appropriate RSE)

This structure ensures clear progression and avoids repetition, while reinforcing key personal development themes over time.

3. Mindfulness and emotional regulation built-in

Each Jigsaw lesson begins with Calm Me time – a mindfulness activity designed to help children manage emotions, regulate behaviour, and get ready to learn.

Other strategies include:

• Use of Jigsaw Chime and Jerrie Cat for Pause Points and self-awareness.
• Opportunities to reflect, listen, and speak safely about emotions.
• Emotional literacy and resilience taught explicitly and regularly.

This supports mental health and emotional wellbeing across the school, particularly for pupils with SEND or those facing emotional challenges.

4. Supports high-quality, confident teaching

Every Jigsaw unit includes:

• Detailed lesson plans with clear outcomes and vocabulary
• Built-in assessment opportunities
• Differentiated activities for a range of needs and learning styles
• Guidance for sensitive issues and safeguarding topics

This allows teachers to deliver PSHE with consistency and confidence, even if they are not PSHE specialists. It reduces workload while raising teaching quality.

5. Consistent, visible whole-school approach

With all year groups exploring the same themes each half term:

• Staff and pupils share a common language for discussing emotions and behaviour.
• Whole-school assemblies and celebrations reinforce key values and behaviours.
• Children across the school demonstrate improved empathy, kindness, and peer support.

This makes PSHE more visible, more meaningful, and more embedded in daily school life.

In summary, Jigsaw helps us ensure that:

• All statutory PSHE/RHE content is taught in a spiral, age-appropriate way
• Pupils develop the knowledge, skills, and emotional intelligence they need to succeed
• Teachers feel supported and well-equipped to deliver potentially sensitive topics
• The whole school benefits from a shared culture of wellbeing, respect, and resilience

It is a comprehensive, evidence-informed tool that aligns with our vision to nurture kind, confident, and socially responsible individuals.

PSHE - our impact

Our children are enabled to develop the vocabulary and confidence needed to clearly articulate their thoughts and feelings in a climate of openness, trust and respect, and know when and how they can seek the support of others. They will apply their understanding of society to their everyday interactions, from the classroom to the wider community of which they are a part. We develop a school culture that prioritises physical and mental health and wellbeing, providing children with the skills to evaluate and understand their own wellbeing needs, practise self-care and contribute positively to the wellbeing of those around them. 

Our PSHE education has a positive impact on the whole child, including their academic development and progress, but mitigating any social and emotional barriers to learning and building confidence and self-esteem. We feel that we have also been successful in helping disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils achieve to a greater extent by raising aspirations and empowering them with skills to overcome the barriers they face.