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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
Karen Summers
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

    Long-term planning
    The Programme of Study for PSHE education breaks things down into what you can cover by key stage.
    View Programme of Study
  • person holding programme builder open on grid page

    Build your programme
    Our Programme Builders help you design an engaging, effective scheme of work, and signpost to quality assured lesson plans to use.
    View Programme Builders
  • 4-3-scott-graham-5fNmWej4tAA-unsplashresized

    Subject audit and review
    Audit your current provision and get a personalised report with advice on next steps.
    Assess your school

Browse resources

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

Training and events

See all training and events

Guidance

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

Research and evidence

Drug and alcohol evidence review
Published: March 25, 2022
Evidence review exploring key research and strategies to help teach effective drug and alcohol education at KS1-4.
The link between pupil health and wellbeing attainment
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.
Good policy and practice in health education
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.