In this episode, Jessica is joined by Becky Dawson, National Wellbeing Lead at Twinkl, former secondary teacher, Head of Year, and SENCo. Together, they dive into why PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) and RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education) need to be treated as central to safety, wellbeing, and future life outcomes for children and young people, rather than peripheral subjects tucked away in registration slots or side projects alongside the main curriculum.

Jessica and Becky explore:

• The "Crucial Curriculum": Why PSHE and RSHE are foundational life skills that teach young people critical thinking, online safety, media literacy, financial management, and how to identify healthy, safe relationships.
• Supporting the Whole Child: How trauma-informed practice, relational approaches, and psychological safety directly impact attendance, engagement, regulation, and academic achievement across the entire school.
• The Educator Reality: The challenges facing non-specialist teachers expected to deliver complex or sensitive topics without adequate training, time, or funding - and how schools can better support staff.
• Inclusive & Whole-School Approaches: The necessity of ensuring SEND learners access meaningful RSHE, navigating parental engagement and transparency, and creating cross-curricular links that ease the burden on timetable space.

About Becky Dawson

Becky Dawson is currently the National Wellbeing Lead at Twinkl, bringing over 25 years of hands-on experience in secondary education. Beginning her career as a drama teacher, she quickly moved into pastoral leadership, overseeing PSHE, RSE, and year-group leadership. Her passion for inclusion and learner support also led her to serve as a SENCo, advocating for equitable curriculum access for young people with SEND.

Becky later worked with the London Borough of Newham as part of their Head Start initiative, implementing whole-school approaches to mental health and wellbeing. Today, she works to equip educators, school leaders, and support staff with high-quality resources, CPD training, and actionable guidance to help create safe, supportive, and trauma-informed environments for all young people.

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