ITT PSHE education curriculum plan

Why teach trainee teachers about PSHE education?

There are a number of crucial reasons for supporting trainees to develop their subject and pedagogical knowledge and skills to teach PSHE education:

• All teachers will almost certainly teach it at some point in their career and it is vital that they are equipped to do so safely and effectively.
• Statutory safeguarding guidance, Keeping children safe in education (2026) states that all schools should have a fully inclusive planned programme of evidence-based RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education), delivered in regularly timetabled lessons.
• Schools are encouraged to teach the statutory requirements within a wider programme of PSHE (Personal, social, health and economic) education (DfE, 2021). Statutory RSHE comprises approximately 90% of PSHE education. Careers and economic wellbeing make up the other 10%, currently non-statutory, topics - although still important and strongly recommended to be taught in schools.
• Ofsted (2025:7) stated that, in an ITE inspection, a factor focused on within the evaluation area of ‘Curriculum, teaching and training’ will be: “…an ambitious ITE curriculum that is designed around subjects, phases and statutory and non-statutory guidance to give trainees the necessary knowledge, teaching skills and experience”

Key features of this curriculum plan:

• Flexible structure - three sequential levels: Essential, Enhanced and Comprehensive, to meet the needs of all.
• Clear structure - reflecting that used  in the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF), with subject-specific component knowledge and skills stated. 
• Composite knowledge, understanding and skills - provided for each level.
• References to relevant ITTECF expectations - stated for all aspects of learning.
• Resources to support your PSHE sessions - provided for all levels, supporting subject knowledge development and session content creation.
• Suggested reading list - containing both suggested ‘Core’ references and ‘Recommended further reading’ references to support development of a subject-specific reading list.

How do I access the curriculum plan:

• The curriculum plan is available to ITT providers who have a school/organisational PSHE Association membership. Read more about benefits and fees. Note that this membership allows you and colleagues at your institution access to benefits but your students will need to sign up for discounted individual membership separately.
• Those with an existing school/organisational membership can just log in to access the curriculum plan. If you have an individual membership and wish to upgrade please get in touch.

Download the curriculum plan