Relationships, Health and Education (RHE) – Life to the Full

At St Bernard's RC Primary School, we believe that every child is wonderfully made, deeply loved by God and created with a unique purpose.

Our Relationships, Health and Education curriculum helps children to understand this truth while equipping them with the knowledge, confidence and values they need to build healthy relationships, care for themselves and others and make wise choices throughout their lives.

We deliver the Life to the Full programme, developed by Ten Ten Resources and approved by the Catholic Education Service. Rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church, the programme helps children understand that they are called to live life to the full through love, compassion, responsibility and service to others.

Our aim is not simply to prepare children for the future.

It is to help them flourish today.

Intent

Our intention is to nurture children who understand their God-given dignity, value themselves and others and develop the confidence to build healthy, respectful and life-giving relationships.

We believe that children thrive when they know they are loved, accepted and valued. Our RHE curriculum therefore begins with identity, helping children recognise that every person is created in the image and likeness of God and deserves unconditional dignity and respect.

Through Life to the Full, children develop age-appropriate knowledge and understanding of:

• personal identity and self-worth
• friendships and healthy relationships
• family life
• physical, emotional and mental wellbeing
• personal safety
• emotional literacy
• growing and changing
• respect for themselves and others
• responsible decision-making.

Our teaching reflects the values of the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching, encouraging children to recognise that love is expressed through kindness, honesty, forgiveness, compassion and service.

Throughout the curriculum, children continue to explore our whole-school question:

"Who am I, and who am I called to become?"

Every lesson helps them answer that question with increasing confidence, maturity and hope.

Implementation

Relationships, Health and Education is delivered through the Life to the Full programme, providing a carefully sequenced curriculum that develops children's understanding progressively throughout their primary years.

Lessons create a safe, respectful and supportive environment where children feel comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas and reflecting thoughtfully. Staff encourage open discussion while ensuring that teaching remains faithful to Catholic teaching, age appropriate and sensitive to the needs of every child.

Children explore themes including personal identity, emotions, friendships, family life, respect, physical health, mental wellbeing, online relationships, personal safety and the changes that occur as they grow.

Learning is rooted in Scripture and the example of Jesus, helping children understand that healthy relationships are built upon love, trust, forgiveness, respect and responsibility.

Our RHE curriculum is closely connected to our wider work across the school.

Through Hearts, Bodies, Voices, Minds Ready, children learn to:

• understand and manage their emotions
• care for their physical and mental wellbeing
• communicate respectfully and confidently
• make thoughtful and responsible choices.

The programme complements our work in PSHE, safeguarding, online safety, British Values, behaviour and Catholic Social Teaching, ensuring children receive a coherent and consistent message throughout school life.

Parents are recognised as the first educators of their children. We work closely with families, sharing curriculum information and encouraging ongoing conversations at home so that children receive consistent guidance and support.

Above all, children are reminded that every relationship should reflect the love, compassion and respect that Christ showed to others.

Impact

The impact of our RHE curriculum is reflected in children who value themselves, respect others and understand the importance of healthy relationships.

Children develop confidence in recognising their own worth while appreciating the dignity and uniqueness of every person they meet.

Children build positive friendships based upon kindness, honesty, empathy and mutual respect. They learn how to resolve disagreements peacefully, communicate thoughtfully and recognise the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Children become increasingly aware of how to care for their physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. They know how to keep themselves safe, seek help from trusted adults and make responsible choices both now and in the future.

Our children understand that relationships are built upon love, trust and respect rather than pressure or popularity. They recognise that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion.

Families know that Relationships, Health and Education is taught with sensitivity, professionalism and faithfulness to Catholic teaching, helping children grow in knowledge while strengthening the values that begin at home.

Most importantly, our children leave St Bernard's with a deep understanding that they are loved.

Loved by God.

Loved by their families.

Loved by their school community.

They understand that they are called to love others in the same way.

They leave with confidence in who they are.

Hope for who they are becoming.

And the knowledge that living life to the full begins with recognising the immeasurable value of every human person.

That is the heart of Relationships, Health and Education at St Bernard's.

This is how we continue becoming the school God wants us to be.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
Psalm 139:14