Heybrook Primary and Nursery SchoolPSHE Consultation
Dear families,
At Heybrook Primary School, we are committed to supporting children’s personal development and wellbeing through our PSHE curriculum, which includes statutory Health and Relationships Education (HRE). Our aim is to help children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to stay healthy, safe and happy, both now and in the future.
From September 2026, schools will be required to follow the Department for Education’s updated guidance for Relationships Education and Health Education. We are currently reviewing our curriculum to ensure it reflects these changes; which place greater emphasis on areas such: as online safety, consent, positive relationships, safeguarding, puberty, mental health and the use of accurate scientific vocabulary. This will be delivered through an approved PSHE Scheme (Pol Ed) which is age appropriate for our children.
What is Health education?
Health Education focuses on helping children understand:
· How to keep themselves physically healthy, mentally well and safe
· Mental wellbeing: recognising emotions, managing feelings, and knowing where to get support.
· Internet safety and harms: staying safe online and understanding risks.
· Physical health and fitness: the importance of exercise and active lifestyles.
· Healthy eating: making healthy food choices and understanding nutrition.
· Health and prevention: personal hygiene, sleep, dental health, and preventing illness.
· Basic first aid: how to respond to common emergencies and seek adult help.
· Risks associated with drugs, alcohol and tobacco: in an age-appropriate way.
· Changes as we grow up: including puberty education before children move to secondary school.
What is Relationships Education?
Relationships Education focuses on helping children understand:
• The characteristics of healthy friendships and family relationships
• Kindness, honesty, boundaries, respect and personal space
• Permission-seeking and permission-giving
• How to keep themselves safe, including online
• How to recognise and report concerns
• The importance of respectful, inclusive relationships within a diverse society
This curriculum supports children emotionally, socially and physically as they grow, enabling them to develop resilience, confidence and an age-appropriate awareness of the world around them.
Our Reviewed HRE Curriculum
We have updated our HRE curriculum to ensure it:
• Meets statutory requirements
• Reflects pupils’ age, physical and emotional maturity
• Respects our children’s religious and cultural backgrounds
• Is inclusive of SEND and other vulnerable learners
• Aligns with our values and wider school ethos
• Prepares children to stay safe, healthy and confident in their relationships
From September 2026 our teaching will be delivered using Pol Ed’s PSHE/HRE curriculum, a carefully structured, spiral programme that revisits key themes in an age appropriate and sensitive way. The Pol Ed curriculum was developed by the West Yorkshire Police Force especially for Primary Schools and is fully aligned with the DfE’s new 2026 statutory requirements. It is used by a number of schools locally and has been well received by children and their families.
Working in Partnership with Families
As always, we value our partnership with parents and carers. While the school is required to teach the statutory curriculum, we recognise the importance of working collaboratively so families feel informed, reassured and confident about what is taught and when. Heybrook Primary School Park Road, Rochdale, OL12 9BJ 01706 647201 Headteacher Mrs Toni Moore
To support this, we will be holding a meeting for parents and carers on Monday 14th September at 2:30pm. The meeting will last approximately 30 – 45 minutes and will take place in the Hall at school. This will be an opportunity to look at curriculum materials and ask any questions you might have.
In addition to this our school website includes:
• A draft of our HRE policy
• An overview of our PSHE curriculum.
• A useful sheet with frequently asked questions answered
• A link to the DFE’s statutory guidance
If you are unable to attend the parent and carers meeting but would like to share your feedback please email: familyconsultation@heybrook.org
The consultation process is open for two weeks. It will close at 5pm on Monday 21st September 2026
All feedback received will be considered carefully before the policy and curriculum is finalised for Autumn 2026, in line with the updated Pol Ed curriculum and statutory expectations.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely
Mrs McQuillan
Deputy Headteacher
PSHE Frequently Asked Questions
Heybrook PSHE Curriculum Map 2026