Dear parent/carer,

This school year we have been using ‘Jigsaw’, the PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) Programme across school, which follows a mindful approach to PSHE.

These lessons have built children’s emotional literacy, self-esteem, and knowledge of who they are and how they relate to each other and the world in a positive and healthy way. We are sure you will have heard about the Jigsaw Friends and Calm Me time.

The Summer Term Puzzles (units) are about Relationships (unit 1) and Changing Me (unit 2).  Next half-term after the holidays  we will be focussing on the Changing Me Puzzle which includes, in every year group, 2 or 3 lessons to help children understand the changes puberty brings and how human reproduction happens. There is a very serious safeguarding aspect to this work and obviously the younger year groups are not looking at these issues directly and explicitly, but rather learning correct terminology for body parts and covering the foundation work for later year groups. The Year 5 and 6 lessons look more fully at puberty and human reproduction.

This next unit of Jigsaw will begin 30th May  and will include the following themes which will be managed sensitively:

Year 3 coverage and vocabulary: 

- How babies grow- changes, birth, animals, babies, mothers, growing up, survive, affection, womb, uterus, love, care

- Outside body changes and the changes genders experience when growing up, so we can have babies this will include vocabulary such as  puberty,  change,  male, female,  sperm,  ovaries, egg, pubic hair, breasts, penis, testicles, vagina.

- Inside body changes-  why these are necessary if we choose to have babies this will include vocabulary such as womb, uterus, sperm, ovaries and eggs.

- Family stereotypes and roles- stereotypes, roles, task and challenge.

- Transition to our next year group- change, looking forward, excited, nervous, anxious and happy.

Talking to your child about the lessons they have covered will help their learning and also give them a chance to ask further questions they might have.

If you have any questions or require any further information about the vocabulary and topics we will be covering, please contact  myself  or senior leadership team.

Thank you for your ongoing support.