Discover and Explore 

At Mayfield School, our PSHE curriculum within the Discover and Explore Pathway is designed to equip pupils with the personal, social, emotional, and practical skills needed to lead fulfilling, safe, and as independent lives as possible. Rooted in the ethos of our Discover and Explore pathways, PSHE supports pupils in developing a secure sense of self, forming positive relationships, communicating their needs, and engaging safely in the world around them. 

Our Intent 

To support pupils to know themselves and regulate their emotions  

Within the Discover and Explore Pathway, many pupils are at an early stage of development and require a curriculum that prioritises emotional regulation, sensory needs, and the foundations of wellbeing. 
We aim to: 

  • Build pupils’ self-awareness through predictable routines, sensory exploration, and adult-modelled emotional language. 
  • Develop strategies for pupils to recognise and manage their feelings, reduce anxiety, and respond to sensory input. 
  • Promote confidence, autonomy, and a sense of security through nurturing relationships and consistent approaches. 

To develop social interaction, communication, and meaningful relationships  

Across the pathways, PSHE supports the growth of positive social engagement tailored to each learner’s developmental profile. 
We aim to: 

  • Enable pupils to communicate choices, express preferences, and recognise the needs of others. 
  • Foster tolerance, cooperation, and turn-taking through continuous provision opportunities. 
  • Create structured and unstructured environments where relationships with peers and trusted adults can flourish. 

To build independence and life skills through real-world, continuous provision experiences 

Within the pathway, pupils begin to apply emerging skills with increasing independence. 
We aim to: 

  • Provide embedded opportunities for problem-solving, self-care, and decision-making within everyday school life. 
  • Support pupils to develop practical life skills such as dressing, hygiene, eating, organisation, and participation in community routines. 
  • Encourage the safe exploration of new environments and experiences to broaden pupils’ understanding of the world. 

To empower pupils to keep themselves safe through experiential learning  

Safety and safeguarding are central components of PSHE. 
We aim to: 

  • Teach pupils how to recognise safe and unsafe situations through repetition, modelling, and structured practice. 
  • Support pupils to understand personal space, appropriate touch, and boundaries. 
  • Equip pupils with the skills to communicate discomfort, make choices, and seek help. 

To celebrate individuality, promote equality, and prepare for adulthood 

PSHE underpins pupils’ sense of identity, belonging, and future aspirations. 
We aim to: 

  • Recognise and value every pupil’s unique strengths, interests, and communication style. 
  • Prepare pupils for transitions within school and into adult life through personalised, continuous provision activities. 
  • Promote understanding of diversity, inclusion, and respect, enabling pupils to engage positively with their community. 

Explore and Enquire 

Within the Explore & Enquire Pathway, our PSHE curriculum aims to equip pupils with the knowledge, skills, and personal qualities needed to develop greater independence, confidence, and readiness for adulthood. Building on the foundations of the Discover and Explore Pathway, this next-level curriculum supports pupils who are increasingly able to question, investigate, make choices, and apply learning to real-life contexts. 

Our intent is to provide a rich, practical, and meaningful PSHE curriculum that empowers pupils to: 

Develop Self-Awareness, Confidence, and Emotional Literacy 

  • Further understand their own identity, feelings, strengths, and needs. 
  • Begin to recognise how emotions influence actions and how to self-regulate with increasing independence. 
  • Communicate preferences, make informed choices, and begin to reflect on personal goals. 

Strengthen Social Understanding and Relationships 

  • Explore a wider range of social situations and relationships, including friendships, family, community roles, and safe/unsafe interactions. 
  • Develop communication and interaction skills suitable for a variety of contexts, including teamwork and shared problem-solving. 
  • Learn how to show respect, empathy, and understanding of differences. 

Build Independence and Life Skills Linked to Preparing for Adulthood 

Our curriculum explicitly supports the four Preparing for Adulthood areas: 

Education & Employment 

  • Engage in enquiry activities that develop problem-solving, resilience, and readiness for future learning or supported work-related experiences. 

Independent Living 

  • Learn and practise practical skills in personal care, daily routines, organisation, and healthy lifestyle choices. 
  • Begin to make decisions about their own wellbeing and safety, supported but increasingly autonomous. 

Community Inclusion 

  • Explore the community with growing confidence, understanding personal safety, expectations, and appropriate behaviours in different public spaces. 
  • Develop awareness of diversity, community roles, and how to participate meaningfully in school and wider society. 

Health & Wellbeing 

  • Understand their bodies, changes as they grow, and how to seek help when needed. 
  • Develop strategies for maintaining physical and mental health, including healthy choices and personal safety. 

Make Safe and Informed Choices 

  • Deepen understanding of risk, consequences, and basic rights and responsibilities. 
  • Explore topics such as online safety, personal boundaries, consent in everyday interactions, and safe vs. unsafe situations. 
  • Begin to apply these concepts in increasingly complex and realistic scenarios. 

Enquire and Beyond 

The PSHE curriculum within the Enquire & Beyond Pathway aims to empower pupils with the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to become confident, self-aware and increasingly independent young adults. Pupils on this pathway are developing higher-level thinking, problem-solving and communication skills, and are ready to apply these within meaningful real-life contexts. The curriculum is designed to help pupils understand themselves, navigate relationships, make informed choices, and prepare for their future adult lives as fully as possible. 

Our intent is to provide a curriculum that: 

Strengthens Self-Identity, Emotional Literacy and Wellbeing 

  • Enables pupils to explore their sense of identity, personal strengths and developing aspirations. 
  • Supports pupils to recognise, express and regulate a wider range of emotions using increasingly sophisticated strategies. 
  • Builds resilience, self-esteem and confidence in their own decision-making. 

Develops Healthy and Respectful Relationships 

  • Equips pupils with the knowledge to form safe, positive and trusting relationships in person and online. 
  • Encourages pupils to understand the perspectives, feelings and rights of others, supporting empathy and social understanding. 
  • Promotes personal boundaries, consent, privacy and growing autonomy. 

 Enhances Independence, Responsibility and Life Skills 

  • Encourages pupils to take responsibility for their personal care, organisation, daily routines and wellbeing. 
  • Builds practical life skills including planning, problem-solving, communication, self-advocacy and accessing support when needed. 
  • Provides structured opportunities for pupils to apply these skills in real-life environments within school and the community. 

Prepares Pupils for Adulthood and Future Pathways 

  • Introduces the key components of adulthood: independent living, health and wellbeing, community participation and preparing for employment. 
  • Develops functional skills such as travel training, money management, safe use of technology, and participation in household and community tasks. 
  • Supports pupils in understanding their rights, choices and responsibilities as they move towards greater independence. 

Promotes Safety, Risk Awareness and Informed Decision-Making 

  • Ensures pupils learn about personal safety, including digital resilience, sexual health education at an appropriate level, and safe interactions with others. 
  • Develops awareness of risk, personal boundaries and strategies for keeping themselves and others safe in a range of contexts. 
  • Supports pupils to make increasingly informed decisions, understanding consequences and managing risk with growing independence. 

Builds Engagement with the Wider Community 

  • Provides meaningful experiences within the local community to help pupils understand social expectations, routines and opportunities. 
  • Fosters a sense of belonging, contribution and positive citizenship. 
  • Encourages pupils to communicate their preferences, interests and goals for adulthood.