Relationships and Sex Education Policy 2024
Contents
- Aims
- Statutory requirements
- Policy development
- Definition
- Curriculum
- Delivery of RSE
- Roles and responsibilities
- Parents’ right to withdraw
- Training
- Monitoring arrangements
Appendix 1: Progression Of Skills and Curriculum map
Appendix 2: By the end of primary school pupils should know
Appendix 3: Parent form: withdrawal from sex education within RSE
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Aims
The aims of relationships and sex education (RSE) at our school are to:
- Provide a framework in which sensitive discussions can take place and a culture of trust between staff, pupils and families
- Prepare pupils for puberty, and give them an understanding of sexual development and the importance of health and hygiene
- Help pupils develop feelings of self-respect, confidence and empathy
- Create a positive culture around issues of sexuality and relationships
- Teach pupils the correct vocabulary to describe themselves and their bodies
- To ensure pupils are equipped with the skills and knowledge to recognize and report abuse (emotional, physical and sexual)
RSE is part of our National Curriculum Science programme. Other aspects are taught through COSMIC and some areas of relationships through lessons in Literacy and RE. In science we will also use the correct vocabulary. Occasionally, where appropriate experienced visitors may be invited.
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Statutory requirements
As a maintained primary school, we must provide relationships education to all pupils as per section 34 of the Children and Social work act 2017.
However, we are not required to provide sex education but we do need to teach the elements of sex education contained in the science curriculum.
In teaching RSE, we must have regard to guidance issued by the secretary of state as outlined in section 403 of the Education Act 1996.
At Warren Park School we teach RSE as set out in this policy.
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Policy Development
This policy has been developed in consultation with staff, pupils and parents. The consultation and policy development process involved the following steps:
- Review – a member of staff or working group pulled together all relevant information including relevant national and local guidance
- Staff consultation – all school staff were given the opportunity to look at the policy and make recommendations
- Ratification – once amendments were made, the policy was shared with governors and ratified
- Parent/stakeholder consultation – parents sent a copy of the policy and invited to ask questions or make suggestion about the policy. This will be followed up by a parental questionnaire regarding curriculum, communication and parental support
- Pupil consultation – we investigated what exactly pupils want from their RSE
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Definition
The term Relationships and Sex Education RSE is used in this policy rather than Sex Education. This is to stress that our approach goes beyond the provision of biological information to also focus on clarifying attitudes and values, and developing self-esteem and the skills to manage relationships.
RSE is about the emotional, social and cultural development of pupils, and involves learning about relationships, sexual health, sexuality, healthy lifestyles, diversity and personal identity.
RSE involves a combination of sharing information, and exploring issues and values.
RSE is not about the promotion of sexual activity.
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Curriculum
Our curriculum is set out as per Appendix 1 but we may need to adapt it as and when necessary.
We have developed the curriculum in consultation with parents, pupils and staff, considering the age, needs and feelings of pupils. If pupils ask questions outside the scope of this policy, teachers will respond in an appropriate manner so they are fully informed and don’t seek answers online.
Primary sex education will focus on:
- Preparing children for the changes that adolescence brings
- How a baby is conceived and born
For more information about our curriculum, see our curriculum map in Appendix 1.
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Delivery of RSE
The majority of the RSE is taught within our regular COSMIC sessions. The children will have worked with the team over many years and will have built up trust within those sessions as well as the expectations we have around sharing and contributing to lessons. Biological aspects of RSE are taught within the science curriculum, and other aspects are included in religious education (RE). Throughout the school we support the RSE and PSHE curriculum through our school values. Our School Council and our Pupil Values Committee have worked very hard to link our school values with the Fundamental British Values, our curriculum and The Six Strands curriculum.
Ground rules:
Teachers and pupils will mutually agree ground rules to create a safe environment where all concerned do not feel embarrassed or anxious.
These may include
- No one pupil or teacher will have to answer a personal question
- No one will be forced to take part in a discussion
- Only the correct names for body parts will be used
- Meanings of words will be explained in a sensible and factual way.
- Gender neutral language and awareness of gender identification
Dealing with questions:
Questions arising from RSE teaching will be answered in accordance with the ground rules established by the school. Questions which are deemed too explicit, too old or inappropriate for the whole class or raise questions of abuse should be dealt with later by the teacher having sought guidance from the PSHE manager if appropriate. If abuse is suspected the teacher will follow the school’s child protection guidelines. As a school we take report child on child abuse from children seriously and follow school protocol.
Parents:
The school recognises that parents are key in:
- Teaching their children about sex and relationships;
- Maintaining the culture and ethos of the family;
- Helping their children cope with the emotional and physical aspects of growing up; and
- Preparing them for the challenges and responsibilities that sexual maturity brings.
However, the school is also aware the parents may need support in:
- Helping their children learn the correct names of the body;
- Talking to their children about feelings and relationships; and
- Answering questions about growing up, having babies and relationships.
Additional Support / SEND / Wellbeing:
We consider all the needs of our children and we may choose to provide children with additional support. This may include:
- Additional aids to help explain lessons
- Working with One to Ones, to form a team approach / lesson plan
- Working with parents and careers to support and issues raised by them
- Working with outside agencies to help deliver the curriculum
- Work with one to ones and families to develop the best approach to delivering the curriculum
- Reduced groups sizes and pre and post teaching sessions
Relationships education focuses on teaching the fundamental building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships including:
- Families and people who care for me
- Caring friendships
- Respectful relationships
- Online relationships
- Being safe
- Preparing children for the changes that adolescence brings
- How a baby is conceived and born
- In response to the Review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges (Published 10 June 2021), we acknowledge and teach that girls (and those who identify as girls) are more likely to experience harassment (this includes child on child, sexual, online, emotional and physical)
For more information about our RSE curriculum, see Appendices 1 and 2.
These areas of learning are taught within the context of family life taking care to ensure that there is no stigmatisation of children based on their home circumstances (families can include single parent families, LGBT parents, families headed by grandparents, adoptive parents, foster parents/carers amongst other structures) along with reflecting sensitively that some children may have a different structure of support around them (for example: looked after children or young carers).
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Roles and responsibilities
7.1 The governing board
The governing board will approve the RSE policy, and hold the headteacher to account for its implementation.
7.2 The headteacher
The headteacher is responsible for ensuring that RSE is taught consistently across the school, and for managing requests to withdraw pupils from [non-statutory/non-science] components of RSE (see section 8).
7.3 Staff
Staff are responsible for:
- Delivering RSE in a sensitive way
- Modelling positive attitudes to RSE
- Monitoring progress
- Responding to the needs of individual pupils
- Responding appropriately to pupils whose parents wish them to be withdrawn from the [non-statutory/non-science] components of RSE
- Responding to reports or concerns of abuse (this includes child on child, sexual, online, emotional and physical)
Staff do not have the right to opt out of teaching RSE. Staff who have concerns about teaching RSE are encouraged to discuss this with the headteacher.
Although all staff are responsible for implementing RSE and this policy within the school. Mat Jones and Jo Tester are responsible managers for teaching RSE in your school.
7.4 Pupils
Pupils are expected to engage fully in RSE and, when discussing issues related to RSE, treat others with respect and sensitivity.
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Parents’ right to withdraw
Parents do not have the right to withdraw their children from relationships education.
Parents have the right to withdraw their children from the [non-statutory/non-science] components of sex education within RSE.
- Preparing children for the changes that adolescence brings
- How a baby is conceived and born
Requests for withdrawal should be put in writing using the form found in Appendix 3 of this policy and addressed to the headteacher.
Alternative work will be given to pupils who are withdrawn from sex education.
The COSMIC team make a note of withdraws and review this annually.
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Training
Staff are trained on the delivery of RSE as part of their induction and it is included in our continuing professional development calendar.
The headteacher will also invite visitors from outside the school, such as school nurses or sexual health professionals, to provide support and training to staff teaching RSE.
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Monitoring Arrangements
The delivery of RSE is monitored by GB, SLT and Mat Jones through:
- Curriculum Overviews
- Book Looks
- Learning Walks
- Parent and Children Questionnaires
- Emails and updates
- Cluster Meetings
- Pupil Voice (School Council and Values Committee)
- CPD
Pupils’ development in RSE is monitored by class teachers as part of our internal assessment systems.
This policy will be reviewed by Mat Jones and Jo Tester. At every review, the policy will be approved by GB and Head Teacher