PSHE • RSE • Physical Education • Outdoor Learning
Our curriculum is built on joy, curiosity and purpose. Organised into four interconnected strands: STEM, Creative Communication, Humanities, and Personal & Physical Development, our curriculum is designed to ensure that every child secures the foundational knowledge they need to succeed, while also developing the independence, curiosity and resilience required for life beyond school.
The Personal & Physical Development strand supports pupils’ wellbeing, character and physical competence. It ensures pupils are equipped with the knowledge, skills and dispositions they need to thrive personally, socially and physically.
This strand plays a vital role in developing emotional literacy, healthy relationships and self-regulation.
Our Intent
We believe every child deserves to feel safe, confident and prepared for life. Personal & Physical Development equips pupils to:
- Understand emotions, relationships and wellbeing
- Develop respect, empathy and social responsibility
- Make informed and healthy choices
- Build physical confidence, coordination and teamwork
- Develop resilience, self-regulation and perseverance
How We Organise Learning
Learning within this strand is carefully structured and progressive.
Foundational knowledge includes:
- Emotional vocabulary and self-awareness
- Understanding of relationships and personal safety
- Physical skills and movement patterns
These are taught through:
- Explicit teaching and discussion
- Modelling and practice
- Reflection and application
As pupils become more secure, they are supported to apply learning in real-life situations.
Foundational and Conceptual Learning in Personal & Physical Development
| Type | Examples | How it is taught |
| Foundational Knowledge | Emotions, rules, safety, movement skills | Explicit teaching and modelling |
| Foundational Processes | Regulating emotions, practising skills | Guided practice and reflection |
| Conceptual Knowledge | Wellbeing, responsibility, teamwork | Explored through discussion |
| Conceptual Processes | Decision-making, cooperation | Applied through real-life scenarios |
Independent Application and Personal Growth
We develop pupils to be ambitious, increasingly independent and secure in themselves. Opportunities for independent application allow pupils to practise self-regulation, collaboration and responsibility.
Pupils may:
- Reflect on choices and behaviour
- Work as part of a team
- Set personal goals
- Apply strategies for wellbeing and fitness
Progression and Coherence
Personal & Physical Development follows a clear progression:
- Emotional understanding deepens over time
- Physical competence and confidence increase
- Pupils develop growing independence and responsibility
In Practice: Personal & Physical Development at Nanstallon
Pupils apply personal, social and physical learning through meaningful, real-life experiences that build confidence, resilience and independence.
In a Dragon’s Den style project, Y5/6 pupils designed a robot to solve real-world problems, such as supporting people with physical disabilities. They worked collaboratively to identify needs, generate ideas, explain their designs and respond to questions, applying teamwork, empathy and problem-solving skills.
Y5/6 pupils take part in a summer residential where they apply swimming and water safety knowledge in outdoor contexts such as kayaking and quarrysteering. Throughout the week, pupils are expected to manage their own self-care, regulate emotions, encourage one another and work as a team to overcome personal challenges, including heights, unfamiliar environments and time away from home.
In Forest School, pupils learn practical skills such as knot tying, shelter building, whittling and safe fire lighting. They apply this knowledge responsibly, for example cooking their own pizza wraps on mini fires, developing independence, cooperation and respect for safety routines.
In Year 5/6, pupils also design and lead a sports festival for Early Years and Key Stage 1. They plan inclusive games, organise equipment and take responsibility for leading and supporting younger pupils, developing leadership, communication and responsibility.
These experiences enable pupils to apply foundational personal and physical knowledge in authentic contexts, strengthening self-regulation, resilience and readiness for life beyond school.
Our curriculum blends structure and freedom, enabling every child to gain foundational skills while exploring and expressing their thinking deeply through joyful, purposeful learning.
Outdoor Learning and Forest School Skills Progression
