At Vermont School, we recognise that personal, social, and emotional development is just as important as academic progress, especially for our pupils with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs. That’s why we use the Jigsaw PSHE programme across the school to support our children’s personal growth, emotional regulation, and understanding of the world around them.

Jigsaw is a whole-school, spiral PSHE curriculum that brings together Personal, Social, Health Education, emotional literacy, mindfulness, social skills, and spiritual development in a cohesive and engaging way. It is carefully designed to help children build resilience, develop healthy relationships, and make positive, safe choices in life.

Each half term, pupils explore a different Jigsaw 'Puzzle' (topic) such as Being Me in My World, Celebrating Difference, or Changing Me. Lessons are structured to include discussion, stories, games, and calming mindfulness activities, all of which are adapted to meet the emotional and developmental needs of our learners. In our mixed-age classes, teachers personalise the content to ensure every child can access and benefit from the learning at their own level.

Jigsaw also supports our commitment to promoting SMSC (spiritual, moral, social, and cultural) development and British Values. Through weekly lessons, children learn about respect, tolerance, democracy, and the rule of law, while developing a strong sense of identity and belonging.

Most importantly, Jigsaw helps our pupils understand and manage their feelings, connect with others, and build the confidence to succeed—both in school and beyond.