At Cherbourg Primary School, PDL (Personal Development Learning) encompasses both PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) and SRE (Sex and Relationship Education). We believe that SRE should not be delivered in isolation and should be firmly rooted within our PDL framework. In our school, SRE is more than just biological facts and hygiene, it also has moral, legal, cultural and ethnic dimensions. Although this does involve a knowledge of how the human body functions, it also involves feelings about love, sexuality and responsibility towards oneself and towards others.

Within our PDL sessions we provide opportunities for pupils to express themselves within a trusted and safe environment, we encourage them to articulate their thoughts, doubts and anxieties in order that they can build the skills they need to make responsible decisions, communicate effectively and develop healthy and appropriate relationships. PDL is at the core of what 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, socially and spiritually.  Through our whole school approach we believe that excellence in these areas will lead to excellence across the curriculum and throughout later life. We provide a tailored curriculum that is both broad and balanced, meeting the unique context of our school and equips children with relevant and meaningful content, which is supported through a strong emphasis on emotional literacy, mindfulness, building resilience and nurturing mental and physical health.

Our PDL is taught across the school from EYFS - Year 6 on a weekly basis and follows the Jigsaw scheme. With an ever changing society, we are able to provide our children with a strong understanding of the diverse world around them and support them in playing a positive role in contributing to the school and the wider community. Weaving through the heart of our PDL teaching, is a commitment to enhancing and promoting our core Values; Respect, Kindness, Honesty, Resilience and Inclusiveness.

Further Reading

If you wish to carry out further reading around RSE, the following documents may be of use to you: