RSE/RSHE
RSE- Relationships and Sex Education
Before September 2020, PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education) was a non-statutory subject, and section 2.5 of the National Curriculum framework document stated that:
‘All schools should make provision for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE), drawing on good practice.’
However, from September 2020 Relationships Education became statutory in Primary schools in England, with government guidance being offered during 2019 as to the expected content of this curriculum.
Why is RSE needed? (RSHE)
• More than ever before, children are exposed to representations of sex and sexuality through the media/ social media and the social culture around them, so we need to present a balanced view of RSE at St Peters and help them to be discerning and stay safe.
• Research shows that most parents say they want the support of schools in providing RSE for their children. This was also the case in our 2020 Survey, with 120 replies.
• Surveys of children and young people, as well as Ofsted, have repeatedly said that RSE tends to be “too little, too late and too biological”.
What will my child actually be taught in Sex Education?
The ‘Changing Me’ unit is taught over a period of 6 weeks in the second half of the summer term. Each year group will be taught appropriate to their age and developmental stage. Please note: at no point will a child be taught something that is inappropriate; and if a question from a child arises and the teacher feels it would be inappropriate to answer, (for example, because of its mature or explicit nature), the child will be encouraged to ask his/her parents or carers at home or reminded that they are learning what they need to know, and the question will not be answered to the child or class if it is outside the remit of that year group’s programme.)
Most lessons in this jigsaw unit are in line with the teaching of 'puberty' and 'health education' which are now compulsary. There are very few lessons that cover 'sex education' and most in year 6 are embedding science teaching of life cycles. Have a look at the policy and the coverage documents. If there are any lessons you would like to ask about, please come and speak to Mrs Harrison.
Foundation Growing up: how we have changed since we were babies
Year 1 Boys’ and girls’ bodies; naming body parts
Year 2 Boys’ and girls’ bodies; body parts and respecting privacy (which parts of the body are private and why this is)
Year 3 How babies grow and how boys’ and girls’ bodies change as they grow older
Year 4 External reproductive body parts, body changes in girls and menstruation
Year 5 Internal reproductive body parts, puberty for boys and girls, and conception
Year 6 Puberty for boys and girls and understanding conception to birth of a baby.
All lessons are taught using simple, child-friendly language and pictures, which help children understand changes more effectively.
The key concepts that children learn in Jigsaw are inner strength, self-esteem and resilience. These are really important as they help keep children safe and it helps them make healthy decisions later in life.
Accurate information is important but only part of the picture: help them now by building their inner resilience, so they become mindful children, mindful teenagers, and mindful adults.
In line with the equality Act, we ensure children are not discimminated against and have an awarenss of the LGBTQ community.
St Peters has worked with the diocese and been led by the Church of England guidance around RSE, in addition to 'Valuing God's Children' ensuring all children are respected equally and not discrimminated against, for any reason.
Please read the leaflets and contact school to ask questions. We have now shared the policy and resources with parents. We have consulted with parents and sent a parent survey to gain parent opinion/views. With this in mind, and of course to meet the needs of our children, we have tailored the 'Changing me' section.
Parents have the rigth to withdraw their child from Sex Education, but not Health or Relationships Education. In the policy, we outline, three lessons that would count as Sex education- in Year 3, Year 5 and Year 6. All other lessons are concerned with puberty, growth, change, health, feelings, coping with emotions. This education is much more than biology and is vital for our children to develop awareness of themselves, of others and to become resilient young adults as they leave St Peters.
Attached is a 'Right to Withdraw' template and the full RSE coverage.