Core theme: Health & Wellbeing
Physical health

Learning about physical health includes food choices, physical activity, balanced lifestyles, drugs and alcohol education, first aid, sleep, dental health and more.

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Teaching about physical health helps pupils make informed decisions. Our tools and resources support effective, age (and stage) appropriate teaching.
Subject Specialist
Subject Specialist

Teaching about physical health

Schools must now teach about physical health as part of statutory Health Education. We’ve got all the tools and resources you need to plan, sequence and deliver this content effectively through your PSHE education curriculum.

The Association really helped me to introduce preventative drugs education to my PSHE curriculum. I see a real difference in my pupils’ understanding of the risks and harms.

PSHE Association member

See where physical health fits within your PSHE education curriculum using our Programme of Study (key stages 1-5). Use our Programme Builders to build a programme tailored to your pupils’ needs.

We update these Programme Builders regularly with quality assured resources. These include our suite of lesson plans on food choices, physical activity and balanced lifestyles and our Sleep Factor and drugs education materials. You’ll also find lessons on first aid and much more in our resources library.

Planning PSHE in your school

Here's everything you need to audit your provision, break down what you need to cover by key stage, and design an engaging scheme of work.
  • person holding hard copy programme of study
    The Programme of Study for PSHE education breaks things down into what you can cover by key stage.
  • person holding programme builder open on grid page
    Our Programme Builders help you design an engaging, effective scheme of work, and signpost to quality assured lesson plans to use.
  • 4-3-scott-graham-5fNmWej4tAA-unsplashresized
    Audit your current provision and get a personalised report with advice on next steps.

Browse resources

Plan PSHE for pupils with SEND in mainstream and special schools.
SEND FPC

Training and events

  • KS1-2

    Online CPD: Embedding statutory Relationships & Health Education (primary)

    18 Jun
    £195 per person
    Want to get up to speed with the statutory requirements for primary Relationships Education and Health Education? This interactive online course will explore practical ideas and classroom strategies for planning, teaching and assessing high quality, inclusive Relationships and Health Education. You will consider the interrelationship between the statutory content and broader PSHE education, whilst building confidence in policy writing and parental engagement.
  • KS3-4

    Online CPD: Embedding statutory Relationships, Sex & Health Education (secondary)

    2 Jul
    £195 per person
    Want to get up to speed with the statutory requirements for secondary RSE and Health Education? This interactive online course will explore practical ideas and classroom strategies for planning, teaching and assessing high quality, inclusive RSE and Health Education. You will consider the interrelationship between RSHE and broader PSHE education, whilst building confidence in policy writing and parental engagement.
See all training and events

Guidance

KS1-5
Ensure external visitors or speakers make a safe and effective contribution to your school's PSHE programme.
KS1-5
15 top tips to help you choose PSHE education resources to use in the classroom.
KS1-5
Gain invaluable feedback on what’s working well and what to improve.
KS1-5
Guidance and top tips on setting ground rules and distancing learning in PSHE education.
See all guidance

Research and evidence

Published: March 25, 2022
Evidence review exploring key research and strategies to help teach effective drug and alcohol education at KS1-4.
Published: October 11, 2021
KS1-4
Published by Public Health England, this report outlines evidence that promoting pupil health and wellbeing as part of a whole-school approach can also have a positive impact on educational outcomes.
Published: October 11, 2021
Collaborative report from the UNODC, UNESCO and the WHO, examining the fundamental responsibility the education sector has to protect children and young people from substance use.