Millbrook Primary School and Nursery - Personal Development

Our Intent

At Millbrook Primary School, PSHE is at the heart of our ethos and central to all we do. It empowers our children to become independent, confident, healthy, and responsible members of society while supporting the development of the whole child—intellectually, morally, socially, and spiritually.

We deliver PSHE through a whole-school approach, teaching it weekly from Nursery to Year 6 using the Jigsaw PSHE scheme, which we adapt to meet the specific needs of our pupils. The curriculum provides relevant, meaningful content and emphasizes emotional literacy, resilience, and the importance of mental and physical health. At the core of our PSHE education is a commitment to promoting our core values: responsibility, respect, perseverance, wisdom, compassion, and forgiveness.

In an ever-changing world, we help our children understand and value diversity and equip them to contribute positively to their school, community, and the wider world. We encourage them to view themselves as global citizens—respectful, thoughtful, and resilient individuals who can navigate life’s challenges with confidence.

We also place a strong emphasis on the importance of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), helping pupils to understand how to build safe, healthy, and fulfilling relationships now and in the future. Financial education and careers education are also integral to our personal development curriculum, helping pupils begin to understand economic responsibility, choices, and opportunities from an early age.

Furthermore, we are currently developing our Philosophy for Children curriculum to enhance critical thinking, reasoning, and open dialogue. This complements our wider personal development aims by fostering curiosity, empathy, and respect for diverse perspectives.

We believe that excellence in personal development supports high aspirations across the curriculum and beyond, enabling pupils to become lifelong learners.

Implementation

We implement PSHE through the Jigsaw scheme, a whole-school spiral curriculum that builds upon children’s knowledge and skills year after year. Teachers adapt the scheme to reflect the needs and context of their pupils. Each year group studies the same half-termly unit simultaneously to create a cohesive learning experience. The six Jigsaw units are:

• Being Me in My World
• Celebrating Difference
• Dreams and Goals
• Healthy Me
• Relationships
• Changing Me

These themes are explored through weekly, structured Jigsaw lessons that include mindfulness practices to enhance emotional awareness, self-regulation, and focus. The curriculum is supplemented by assemblies, themed weeks, external visitors, and community links, which embed PSHE across the wider curriculum.

Key PSHE concepts are reinforced throughout our broader curriculum and form part of our whole-school culture. Our school assemblies nurture children’s spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development and provide opportunities to reflect on our core values and wider British values.

Our approach ensures that children learn about the wide range of beliefs, values, and attitudes held by different individuals and societies. Through PSHE, pupils develop confidence in expressing their feelings, respecting others, and understanding their roles as citizens in both a British and global context.

Impact

By the time children leave Millbrook Primary School, they will:

• Demonstrate kindness and respect towards themselves and others.
• Show courage and perseverance in trying new things and challenging themselves.
• Take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
• Understand how to stay safe, healthy, and build positive relationships.
• Have a secure, age-appropriate understanding of physical changes and RSE.
• Be able to recognise and regulate their emotions effectively.
• Understand how to maintain good mental health and wellbeing.
• Appreciate diversity and demonstrate inclusive, respectful attitudes.
• Apply the British values of democracy, tolerance, mutual respect, the rule of law, and liberty.
• Be equipped with the tools to navigate real-life situations with empathy and resilience.
• Be confident, articulate, and informed members of their community and the wider world.

We are committed to prioritising both physical and mental health and wellbeing, equipping our children with strategies for self-care and helping them support the wellbeing of others. Through our nurturing environment, children learn to articulate their feelings, seek help when needed, and interact positively in all areas of their lives.

We continually monitor the implementation and impact of our PSHE curriculum to ensure that all children make meaningful progress and are supported to reach their full potential.

Our PSHE and wider personal development offer has a profound impact on the whole child. We aim to build a foundation that prepares children to be caring, confident, and capable individuals who can contribute meaningfully to society.