PSHE

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

- A. A. Milne

Personal Social and Health Education is crucial in supporting our pupils to live healthy, safe, productive and balanced lives. We believe that effective teaching of this subject will increase pupils' understanding of a set of overarching concepts including: identity, risk, diversity and equality, rights and change. Our curriculum will give pupils the opportunity to explore their attitudes, values and beliefs and develop the skills, strategies and language necessary to manage these issues in their lives. At MMAP we are dedicated to integrating trauma-informed principles, ensuring that our lesson materials foster equality, compassion, and safety. All our lesson materials are provided by Pol-Ed to ensure that the content is age-appropriate and effective, helping pupils feel secure and enabling us to deliver lessons with confidence.

Pol-Ed is a resource created by West Yorkshire Police and specialist teachers to support schools in delivering PSHE education. It provides age-appropriate lessons that help children and young people understand how to stay safe, make positive choices, and develop important life skills. The topics covered through Pol-Ed include areas such as:

• Online safety
• Healthy relationships
• Bullying
• Personal safety
• Understanding the law
• Making informed choices

All materials are written by experienced teachers, working in collaboration with the police, local authorities, and other partners, to ensure the information is accurate, relevant, and appropriate for children and young people. Pol-Ed is designed to support schools in meeting statutory requirements for PSHE and Relationships and Health Education, while also responding to real issues affecting young people in local communities. Lessons are delivered by school staff in a safe and supportive environment, where pupils are encouraged to ask questions, discuss ideas, and develop their understanding in a way that is appropriate to their age.

This broad approach to teaching the PSHE curriculum will avoid teaching the topics as one-off subjects and enable pupils to revisit subjects and build on their previously acquired knowledge and make links to other topics, ensuring that learning is embedded and remembered by pupils, helping them to manage their lives now and in the future. We aim to give all pupils the opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns they may have about the important issues facing them in their everyday lives, whilst encouraging them to look at the wider issues and supporting them to increase their resilience and equip them with the tools to take responsibility for their choices.

We have taken into consideration that not all pupils access the provision for the same amount of time, and generally we offer 12-week intervention placements, with a return to the mainstream setting. We support the individual needs of our pupils and so no journey is the same. The Pol-Ed resources enable us to address emerging issues within the academic year and support the needs of individual pupils, sometimes 1 to 1 but mainly in small group settings.

Believe, Achieve, Exceed:

In PSHE, we contribute to the BELIEVE curriculum by addressing the SMSC/BV and careers in different topics. For example, we address the wider ethical issues generated by the use of social media and the increasingly pertinent issues around consent and positive relationships. The opportunity for students to discuss these often controversial and difficult subjects in a safe and supportive environment develops their ability to make positive decisions which will protect their physical and mental health, now and in the future. PSHE contributes to the ACHIEVE curriculum by supporting the core subjects, allowing students to explore issues covered in the science curriculum and how these topics affect them personally. It also supports students within the English curriculum, allowing students to develop constructive and balanced arguments. Finally, PSHE contributes to the EXCEED curriculum by supporting students to see their lives in a wider context, as part of a family, community and wider society. Supporting students to lead empowered and fulfilling lives and helping them to positively contribute to society now.

Right to Withdraw

Parents and carers can ask for their child to be taken out of the sex‑education parts of RSHE. The head teacher, Stacie Smith will speak with you to explain what is taught and what your child might miss. We believe that an open and collaborative approach is essential when working with parents and pupils, so if you would like to see what is taught in PSHE lessons, or would like to discuss your right to withdraw your child, please contact the school, where a member of the teaching staff will meet with you to explore your concerns and share our teaching materials with you.

From three terms before their 16th birthday, pupils can choose to take part in sex education even if parents and carers previously withdrew them. If a child is withdrawn, the school will provide suitable alternative work. Parents/carers cannot withdraw children from relationship education, health education, or science lessons that include topics like puberty or reproduction. MMAP and Pol-Ed are confident that all resources linked to romantic and sexual relationships are age appropriate, culturally sensitive, inclusive, and promote healthy, respectful relationships.

Parent Consultation on the Statutory RSE Curriculum

At MMAP, we are committed to delivering high-quality Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) that supports our students’ personal development, wellbeing, and preparation for life beyond school. In line with the Department for Education’s statutory guidance, we regularly review our RSE curriculum and policy to ensure it meets the needs of our pupils and reflects our school values.

As part of this process, we actively consult with parents and carers, giving you the opportunity to share your views and help shape how RSE is taught. Your feedback is important in ensuring our approach is age-appropriate, inclusive, and relevant.

Details of our current RSE policy can be found here : https://www.m-map.co.uk/_site/data/files/policies/2025-26/6E6D1B68A29B7333E87926AEA4F43936.pdf?pid=8   

And link to our online parent consultation can be found here: PSHE Parent Consultation – Fill in form

We welcome your input and look forward to working together to provide the best possible education for our young people.

Lessons are delivered by school staff in a safe and supportive environment, where pupils are encouraged to ask questions, discuss ideas, and develop their understanding in a way that is appropriate to their age. More information about Pol-ed can be found here: