A positive force in education

Our educational resources support teachers with unique sessions that develop children’s understanding, resilience and willingness to support each other.

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Our Vision

Pol-Ed supports schools in delivering expertly planned lessons designed to develop a deep awareness of risks, citizenship, and the law. The Pol-Ed team have focussed the coverage of the materials to address priority areas of policing, such as sexual violence and harassment; child on child abuse; and the perception that young people have of the police.

About Us

Why use Pol-Ed?

The aim of Pol-Ed is to keep our children safe through a range of interventions.

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We want to stop children becoming victims, or indeed perpetrators, of crime. These interventions are designed to be delivered to children in Phases.

The resources are in line with the current Policing Priorities, DfE Curriculum Frameworks, and the Ofsted Lines of Enquiry.

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The benefits for schools

All of the Pol-Ed content focuses on the Policing Priorities and Ofsted lines of enquiry and are linked to the DfE statutory guidance and PSHE Association Programme of Study to ensure we are best meeting the needs of our children and young people.

Aligned with Ofsted

When the ideas need to be generated fast and evaluated in a short period of time.

Teacher support

When the designer wants to make a sincere effort to allow all members of a team.

Created by experts

When there is a co creation workshop need customers and designers to get the ideas.

Flexible content

Paper prototype could be an excellent way to develop Visual Guides.

Pol-Ed resources are split into 3 topic areas

Covering age appropriate interactions with people and situations a child may come encounter both in and out of school.

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Relationships

This topic covers lesson themes including consent between friends and partners (including domestic abuse), sexual offences and grooming, bullying and much more.

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Keeping Safe

This topic area covers lesson themes including the role of emergency services, what can be perceived as anti social, Criminal exploitation, addiction and much more.

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Understanding the law

This topic area covers lesson themes including how to be a responsible citizen, what is a hate crime, what to do if stop and searched by the Police, what constitute public order and much more.

View example resources

Pol-Ed Conference

In June 2024, the Pol-Ed team held a conference for CPD leaders across West Yorkshire. Find out what attendees thought on the day, things they took away from the sessions and how Pol-Ed can benefit settings across education from EYFS through to Post-16.

Academic research

At Pol-Ed, we want to ensure that all our resources are fit for purpose and meet the needs of Forces, schools, and children. During early 2023 a short research program of Pol-Ed was undertaken by Huddersfield University, some of the findings are below:

On teachers
  • Increased confidence in delivering material (part. complex or sensitive issues)
  • 'Quality assurance' of police involvement in materials
  • Greater student retention of information.
  • Positive feedback.
On school community
  • Raised awareness of various community issues (e.g. alcohol, cyber-related crime).
  • Helps breakdown misperceptions (e.g. learned in home).
  • Greater understanding and appreciation of police role in community
On students
  • Increased knowledge and awareness of risk.
  • Greater awareness of issues in communities - also demonstrated how to keep themselves safe.
  • More knowledge of role of police in society, more positive perceptions, 'trusted people'.

Throughout 2024 and into 2025, a new research project of Pol-Ed will be undertaken by Huddersfield University. Throughout the research, both teachers and pupils will be spoken to and asked a range of questions about the Pol-Ed resources. With the intention of learning about our scheme’s good points, areas for improvement but also the impact the lessons and assemblies have had on them.  

Testimonials from our schools

Mrs L. Pitts

The online slides are clear and help you to structure lessons for my pupils. My class love the lessons and they have taught them so much.

Millbridge, A SHARE Primary Academy – Kirklees
Mrs R. Vernon

I have been teaching PSHE for over 20 years and these are the best set of resources that have ever come out and they are free and so up to date and relevant.

Woodhouse Grove School - Bradford
Mrs K. Watson

It’s great to know we have a local provider catering for local needs!

Lightcliffe Academy - Calderdale
Mrs K. Hemingway

The Pol-Ed materials helped my class understand the importance of making good and informed decisions. The materials are easy to use – everything you need is included. All the lessons are engaging, interactive, well-designed and age appropriate. Because they are so well written, our SLT have now included the units throughout our PSHE curriculum.

Gomersal St. Mary’s CE(C) Primary School - Kirklees

Frequently asked questions

What is Pol-Ed?

Pol-Ed is a range of resources that have been designed to be aligned with the PSHE Association Programs of Study. The materials consist of:

  • Lessons created by subject matter experts who specialise in Citizenship teaching and PSHE.
  • Assemblies created by subject matter experts.
  • CPD videos for professionals to support the teaching of difficult topic areas (coming soon)
  • Assessment tools in the guise of the Pol-Ed Passport stamps.
Who is it for?

Pol-Ed is currently aimed at all students in KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4 and KS5 the aim is to expand our library of lessons to cover EYFS and SEN provision.

How are the lessons structured?

Lessons in Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 can be delivered in either 20-, 40- or 60-minute sessions, the Scheme of Work highlights which slides to miss out in order to change the lesson length. Lessons can be delivered by teachers to full classes, small groups, individuals or as a full year group assembly. Key Stage 1 and 2 lessons are structured to be delivered in one session, but this can be at the discretion of the teacher.

What is the Pol-Ed Passport?

The Pol-Ed passport provides teachers and students with a number of ‘stamps’ in which key competencies can be demonstrated.

Will Pol-Ed replace our schools existing PSHE scheme?

No, Pol-Ed is designed so that the lessons can be embedded within your current scheme of work to  complement and enhance your existing PSHE provision. Although we advise embedded Pol-Ed lesson with your current PSHE long term plan, our lessons can be delivered at anytime and in response to emerging issues within a school setting.

Who has commissioned it?

Pol-Ed has been commissioned and developed by West Yorkshire Police to support its partnership working strategy and help keep our young people safe. The original Pol-Ed programme was funded by successful bids for money from the Proceeds of Crime fund.

‘Proceeds of crime’ refers to the assets, funds and property gained whilst undertaking criminal activity. Authorities such as The Crown Prosecution Service have the power to confiscate these assets thanks to the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Pol-Ed has funded the first 3 years of the programme from money which has been recovered from drug dealers, money launderers, fraudsters and other criminal enterprises. We are using these ill-gotten gains to fund the development of the Pol-Ed programme with the aim of helping young people understand the law and to assist them in making informed choices.

How much will it cost?

Pol-Ed is completely free to all schools in your Force area if your Force has purchased access to the Pol-Ed website. The aim is for Pol-Ed to become a national program and be given free of charge to all schools if their Police Force purchases Pol-Ed.

My Force has not purchased Pol-Ed, how can I access the resources?

If your Force hasn’t purchased access and you think your school and young people would benefit from Pol-Ed, please contact us via email (Pol.Ed@westyorkshire.police.uk) and we will contact your local Force to discuss.

Some of the subjects are quite tough to teach, is there any help available?

The Pol-Ed team will be producing some CPD videos for teachers to support them with teaching difficult topic areas.

Can I download the lessons?

The Pol-Ed lessons are designed to be delivered ‘on-line’ from the website; this ensures that you are getting the most up to date version of the lesson available. As legislation / education guidance changes, the Pol-Ed team will update any lessons which are affected to keep the content legally correct and relevant.

Can I suggest a lesson?

The Pol-Ed team are keen to have user input and suggestions for lessons. Please visit our suggestions section where you can make lesson topic suggestions to the Pol-Ed team.

I have forgotten my Log in / Password.

Please make contact with your school’s administrator / office who will be able to provide you with your log on details or set you up on Pol-Ed. If your Pol-Ed manager has moved roles and you no longer have access to the Pol-Ed website please email us at Pol.Ed@westyorkshire.police.uk.

How do I get a Pol-Ed Log in?

If your schools is already registered with Pol-Ed please make contact with your schools administrator / office who will be able to set you up on the Pol-Ed site and provide you with a Log in and Password. If your school is not registered with Pol-Ed please see the ‘Register your interest’ section at the top of this webpage.

I work for a third sector agency who assists with elements of PSHE in several schools can I get Pol-Ed?

At present Pol-Ed is only available to schools, we will opening this up to third sector agencies who operate in school environments. Please feel free to send an Email to the Pol-Ed mailbox for your area to register your interest as a provider and we will keep you informed of the progress around this. Our e-mail address is: Pol.Ed@westyorkshire.police.uk

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Register now to access the free Pol-Ed PSHE resources.

Let the inspiration begin!

Register Now