PSHE
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but rather the lighting of a fire." — William Butler Yeats
Why do we teach PSHE?
We teach PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education) to help children stay safe, build healthy relationships, and develop the confidence and skills they need to thrive in school and beyond. At Herne View Church of England Primary School we use SCARF as our PHSE scheme.
The SCARF (Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience, Friendship) programme of study, developed by the charity Coram Life Education, is designed as a whole-school approach to PSHE and wellbeing. Its core mission is to enable children to gain the vital life skills needed to thrive, focusing on helping them be their best—physically, mentally, and academically.
Core Mission Statement & Values
The overarching goal of the SCARF programme is to provide a safe, nurturing, and engaging framework for PSHE that supports schools in fostering a positive school culture.
Vision: "For all children to acquire the life skills needed to thrive".
Values: The SCARF acronym defines its core values: Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience, and Friendship.
Key Objectives of SCARF PSHE
Whole-Child Development: Supporting the development of the whole child, including mental and physical health, social-emotional skills, and academic progress.
Equipping for Life: Enabling pupils to develop the vocabulary, confidence, and resilience to articulate thoughts and feelings while understanding how to manage risks and build positive relationships.
Statutory Compliance: Providing a comprehensive, spiral, and age-appropriate curriculum that fully meets the DfE statutory requirements for Relationships and Health Education.
Community & Values: Promoting British values, respect for difference, and a sense of responsibility as global citizens
How do we teach PSHE?
We teach PSHE through the SCARF scheme, using weekly lessons that build children’s skills in safety, wellbeing and relationships. Our approach provides consistent, age‑appropriate learning that supports pupils to develop confidence, respect and resilience across the school.
Core Themes
The SCARF curriculum is structured around six key themes:
Me and My Relationships: Friendship, teamwork, and resolving conflict.
Valuing Difference: Equality, diversity, and recognizing bullying.
Keeping Safe: Risk, safety, and identifying trusted adults.
Rights and Responsibilities: Environmental awareness and community.
Being My Best: Physical health, mental wellbeing, and growth mindset.
Growing and Changing: Physical and emotional changes, including puberty.
"I love PHSE, we get to see and hear other people's views and opinions and we share how we feel."
Matilda
"My favourite thing about PHSE and SCARF is we getto think through scenarios and act them out to better understand them."
Ailsa
"I like debating ideas and trying to empathise with others who may have a different opinion than you"
Seren
"I like learning how to keep myself and my friends and family safe"
Eva-Marie
