Since September 2020, Relationships Education has been compulsory for all pupils receiving primary education and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) for all pupils receiving secondary education. Health Education is now compulsory in all schools too.
At Priorslee Academy, we aim to teach the fundamental building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships, with particular reference to friendships, family relationships, and relationships with other children and with adults.
This starts with pupils being taught about what a relationship is, what friendship is, what family means and who the people are who can support them.
In Reception, building on early education, pupils are taught how to take turns, how to treat each other with kindness, consideration and respect, the importance of honesty and truthfulness, permission seeking and giving, and the concept of personal privacy.
Throughout both KS1 and KS2, respect for others is taught in an age-appropriate way, in terms of understanding one’s own and others’ boundaries in play, in negotiations about space, toys, books, resources and so on.
When teaching the relationships content, teachers address online safety and appropriate behaviour in a way that is relevant to pupils’ lives. Teachers include content on how information and data is shared and used in all contexts, including online.
When teaching about families, teachers use their knowledge of the pupils and their circumstances to ensure that there is no stigmatisation of children based on their home circumstances and needs in order to reflect sensitively that some children may have a different structure of support around them.
we use a variety of programs to ensure we cover the Relationship Education (RSE) and Health Education as laid out by the Government.
We use elements of:-
- Jigsaw
- NSPCC’s Underwear Rule (PANTS)
- Expect Respect – Healthy Relationships
RSHE is taught through blocked units of work (delivered over a half term) led by the class-teacher. Correct terminology will be used in class to avoid confusion. For example, Key Stage 1 Science and RSHE lessons will include naming external parts of the body including sexual organs.
From the beginning, teachers talk explicitly about the features of healthy friendships, family relationships and other relationships which young children are likely to encounter.
At the start of each term, a letter will be sent to all parents and carers informing them of the elements of the RSHE curriculum that will be taught that term. Parents will be able to contact either the RSHE lead (Caroline Bagshaw) or their child’s class teacher to discuss any concerns that they have or to find out further information about what will be taught.
Right to be excused from sex education:-
Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education (how babies are made and born) delivered as part of statutory RSE. There is no right to withdraw from Relationships Education or Health Education.
Before granting any such request, the head teacher would need to discuss the request with parents and, as appropriate, with the child to ensure that their wishes are understood and to clarify the nature and purpose of the curriculum. Schools will want to document this process to ensure a record is kept.
The head teacher will discuss with parents the benefits of receiving this important education and any detrimental effects that withdrawal might have on the child. This will include any social and emotional effects of being excluded, as well as the likelihood of the child hearing their peers’ version of what was said in the classes, rather than what was directly said by the teacher.
RSHE LTP 2024 2025 For Website
