The Mindful Approach to PSHE for Ages 3-12

Jigsaw PSHE 3-12 is a whole-school and evidence-informed PSHE curriculum that integrates mindfulness, social-emotional learning (SEL), and academic knowledge. Our programme not only focuses on developing key life skills such as resilience, empathy, and emotional regulation but also equips children with the tools to thrive academically.

Jigsaw's comprehensive curriculum draws insight from psychological theory and mindfulness philosophy to support children's holistic development. By incorporating evidence-informed approaches and mindfulness practices into each lesson, we enable children to build essential life skills, develop positive relationships, and apply their learning both within and beyond the classroom. Our spiral, and carefully reviewed programme enables children to build their learning year after year, providing them with the foundations for lasting personal growth and lifelong success.

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What does Jigsaw PSHE 3-12 include?

Jigsaw PSHE 3-12 is a spiral, RSE compliant, curriculum programme that covers ages from 3 to 12, with planned weekly lessons designed to foster emotional wellbeing, resilience, and academic engagement.

In addition to structured lessons, Jigsaw provides additional resources, engaging activities, and ongoing assessment opportunities to track student progress in both emotional and academic areas, ensuring personalised learning for every child. Our whole-school elements include Launch Assemblies, Weekly Celebrations and the Resilience Toolkit, creating a unified environment that reinforces key PSHE messages and cultivating a strong sense of belonging throughout the school community.

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Our Puzzle Pieces

Each of the six Puzzle pieces in Jigsaw PSHE 3-12 is carefully crafted to build on key life skills year after year. These are progressive modules that align with children’s developmental needs, from emotional resilience to healthy relationships, self-regulation, and mindfulness.

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This puzzle sets the foundation for the year and focuses on building self-identity, self-esteem, and a strong sense of belonging in the classroom and school community. It encourages children to recognise their role within the class and beyond, helping them build relationships, understand their responsibilities, and respect others.

Key Topics

  • Self-awareness - Children learn to reflect on who they are, what they value, and their role within a community.

  • Classroom rules and expectations - This is a vital time for establishing the Jigsaw Charter, a set of agreements that all children agree to follow, promoting respect, kindness, and inclusivity.

  • Belonging - Through activities that explore identity and empathy, children begin to understand the value of being part of a larger community, whether in their class, school, or the world.

  • Rights and responsibilities - The focus is on recognising their rights as individuals and understanding their responsibilities within their community.

Key Skills and Outcomes

  • Children gain confidence and a sense of pride in who they are and their unique qualities.

  • They practice collaboration and respect for others’ viewpoints and contributions.

  • Understanding fairness and taking responsibility for their actions helps them engage positively with peers and adults.

  • They become aware of classroom expectations and begin to actively contribute to creating a respectful learning environment.

In this puzzle, children explore the concepts of diversity, empathy, and inclusivity. They learn to celebrate both their similarities and differences, building respect for a wide range of people, cultures, and perspectives. This puzzle also addresses bullying and the importance of standing up for what is right.

Key Topics

  • Diversity and inclusion - Activities explore how everyone is unique and how differences can be celebrated, including differences in race, culture, family structure, and beliefs.

  • Friendship and empathy - Children are encouraged to reflect on their relationships with others, learning to empathise and appreciate those who are different from themselves.

  • Anti-bullying -They learn how to identify bullying behaviours and how to address them, including strategies for being a positive bystander.

  • Equality - The importance of fairness, equal treatment, and respect for everyone is emphasised.

Key Skills and Outcomes

  • Children develop empathy and tolerance for people from different backgrounds and with diverse perspectives.

  • They practice conflict resolution and positive problem-solving to deal with misunderstandings and bullying.

  • They learn how to promote equality in the classroom by respecting individual differences.

  • Self-confidence is built as children learn that their unique qualities are valuable and contribute to the richness of the class.

This puzzle fosters goal-setting, perseverance, and the development of a growth mindset. It helps children reflect on their future aspirations, set achievable goals, and understand the steps needed to reach them. It also teaches children how to deal with disappointment and challenges they face along the way.

Key Topics

  • Personal aspirations - Children think about their hopes and dreams for the future, whether in school or personal life, and begin to set realistic goals to achieve them.

  • Resilience and perseverance - The focus is on how to overcome challenges, failures, and setbacks, viewing them as opportunities for growth.

  • Teamwork and collaboration - This puzzle highlights the importance of working together and supporting each other in achieving personal and group goals.

  • Self-motivation - Children are encouraged to develop intrinsic motivation and understand how setting and achieving goals can lead to personal satisfaction.

Key Skills and Outcomes

  • Children develop self-regulation skills and become aware of how their effort can directly impact success.

  • They gain an understanding of self-motivation, focusing on effort over outcome.

  • Resilience and problem-solving are key skills they practice as they set and work toward their goals.

  • Children learn how to support peers in achieving their goals, practicing collaboration and shared success.

The Healthy Me puzzle focuses on children’s mental health, physical wellbeing, and developing healthy habits that will serve them throughout their lives. It teaches children how to make good choices, manage their emotions, and build resilience in the face of life’s challenges.

Key Topics

  • Physical health - Children learn the importance of exercise, nutrition, and good hygiene practices, helping them make choices that support their physical health.

  • Mental health - This puzzle provides tools for managing stress, anxiety, and emotions, with an emphasis on mindfulness and emotional regulation.

  • Body awareness - Children become familiar with their bodies, including healthy practices like proper hygiene and self-care.

  • Substance awareness - Topics like smoking, alcohol, and healthy eating are explored, helping children understand the importance of making healthy choices.

Key Skills and Outcomes

  • Self-awareness is developed as children understand their bodies and emotions.

  • They gain skills in self-regulation and learn how to manage their feelings in difficult situations.

  • Healthy decision-making becomes an integral part of their daily life as they apply their learning in choosing healthy foods, habits, and activities.

  • Mindfulness practices are embedded to help children deal with stress and improve their emotional health.

This puzzle focuses on healthy relationships, communication skills, and personal boundaries. It teaches children how to form respectful relationships with peers and adults and how to recognize and maintain boundaries in various contexts, including friendships, family, and online.

Key Topics

  • Friendship and communication - Children learn how to communicate effectively, manage disagreements, and build trust in their relationships.

  • Respecting boundaries - The focus is on the importance of boundaries in relationships and how to communicate consent and respect.

  • Dealing with conflict - Children explore strategies for managing and resolving conflicts with peers, including using restorative approaches to maintain friendships.

  • Online safety - Understanding how to manage relationships online, and recognizing healthy vs unhealthy behaviours in digital communication is explored.

Key Skills and Outcomes

  • Children learn to develop positive relationships through open communication, trust, and shared respect.

  • They gain conflict resolution skills and understand how to work through disagreements in healthy ways.

  • Boundary-setting and understanding consent in both physical and digital spaces are critical skills for fostering safe, respectful relationships.

  • Empathy and active listening are central to the development of relationships with others.

The Changing Me puzzle is designed to help children understand the changes they experience as they grow. It tackles topics like puberty, emotional growth, self-esteem, and transitioning into adolescence. It also prepares them for the physical, emotional, and social changes they will face in the coming years.

Key Topics

  • Puberty and body changes - Children learn about puberty, understanding the physical and emotional changes that come with it, as well as how to care for their bodies during this time.

  • Self-esteem and body image - The focus is on building self-confidence and addressing the pressures children may feel about their appearance and body image.

  • Transitioning to secondary school - This puzzle also prepares children for the changes associated with moving to secondary school, including academic and social adjustments.

Key Skills and Outcomes

  • Children develop self-esteem and body confidence, learning to appreciate their unique qualities.

  • They understand the importance of self-care during puberty, including hygiene and emotional wellbeing.

  • Healthy body image and respect for others’ experiences and identities are promoted.

  • Children gain a better understanding of relationships, boundaries, and personal growth as they prepare for adolescence.

Our Jigsaw Friends

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At Jigsaw, we believe social-emotional learning (SEL) is fundamental to children's development and wellbeing. Each school receives a full set of specifically designed physical Jigsaw Friends, Jerrie Cats and Chime bars, creating a thoughtful framework for mindfulness and emotional learning.

Our Jigsaw Friends serve dual purposes: as a 'talking object' during circle time discussions, encouraging structured, respectful dialogue, and as a thoughtful distancing tool for exploring sensitive topics. The Chime marks the beginning of Calm Me time, while Jerrie Cat guides children through mindfulness aspects of their lessons.

Together, these elements enable pupils to explore personal topics comfortably and develop mindfulness skills, making PSHE learning accessible and meaningful for every child in a safe, supportive environment.

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Key Skills and Outcomes for Every Child

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Emotional Resilience

Children learn to manage their emotions and bounce back from setbacks, helping them approach challenges with a positive mindset.

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Social Skills

Through cooperative learning activities, children develop communication, empathy, and teamwork skills.

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Self-Confidence

Jigsaw fosters self-awareness, allowing children to develop self- esteem and a strong sense of identity, essential for personal and academic success.

Impact in Schools

Jigsaw PSHE has shown transformative results in schools across the UK and beyond. Schools implementing Jigsaw report improvements in student engagement, emotional resilience, and academic performance. Teachers also notice a reduction in behavioural issues and an increase in positive peer relationships.

Our PSHE programme helps create a unified school culture, where students feel supported, valued, and empowered. With measurable improvements in mental health and wellbeing, Jigsaw has become a trusted partner in building emotional intelligence and preparing children for future life challenges.

PSHE 3-12 Related Programmes

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Jigsaw Outdoors

The Jigsaw Outdoors programme offers a unique opportunity for children to learn about nature, in nature, while enhancing their PSHE provision and supporting mental wellbeing. Designed for children aged 3-12, this engaging outdoor learning programme seamlessly links to the PSHE curriculum, providing practical, hands-on experiences that encourage connection with the environment.

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Jigsaw Families

Jigsaw Families is an innovative programme designed to strengthen the bond between children and their caregivers by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to build healthy, lasting relationships. Grounded in psychology and attachment theory, the programme helps families navigate the complexities of parenting with a focus on emotional wellbeing and positive communication.

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FAQs

Jigsaw PSHE is organised into six themed puzzle units, each with a series of age-appropriate lessons designed to build on one another. The spiral curriculum ensures continuity and progression, reinforcing learning year after year.

Jigsaw PSHE is designed for children aged 3-11, covering the entire primary school experience with developmentally appropriate content at each stage.

Yes! Jigsaw PSHE is flexible and can be adapted to suit the unique needs of your school community. Teachers are provided with detailed lesson plans, resources, and support to ensure the program is relevant and accessible to every student.

Jigsaw offers a comprehensive support package, including CPD (Continuing Professional Development), ongoing training webinars, and a dedicated support team. Teachers also have access to lesson plans, teacher notes, and a community of educators for advice and shared experiences.

Getting started is easy! Simply book a demo with one of our Partnership Managers who will walk through the Prorgamme and show you our platform.

While Jigsaw PSHE is one of our flagship programmes, we also offer Jigsaw RE to support schools in nurturing the whole child. Each Jigsaw programme is designed to complement the others, helping schools build a cohesive approach to PSHE, RE, and emotional wellbeing.

Jigsaw PSHE was originally created by an experienced teacher and a qualified psychotherapist. The programme is kept up to date and compliant by teachers, for teachers, combining in-depth knowledge of education with therapeutic techniques. This ensures the content is both practical and effective, addressing the emotional and educational needs of children at every stage of their development.