Relationships and Sex Education
Name of Primary School
Briefing Sheet for Parents on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)
1. School Introduction
- Add how RSE fits within the ethos/values of the school.
- Where the policy can be accessed.
2. Statutory Elements
All schools have a statutory obligation to deliver the elements of Relationships and Sex Education which fall under the National Science Curriculum for KS1 and 2 and the Early Learning Goals for Reception, these are as follows:Early Years including Reception (age 2-5)
Physical Development
Health and Self-Care
- Children know the importance for good health of physical exercise and a healthy diet, and talk about ways to keep healthy and safe. They manage their own basic hygiene and personal needs successfully, including dressing and going to the toilet independently.
Self-Confidence and Self-Awareness
- Children are confident to try new activities, and to say why they like some activities more than others. They are confident to speak in a familiar group, will talk about their ideas, and will choose the resources they need for their chosen activities. They say when they do or don’t need help.
- Children talk about how they and others show feelings, talk about their own and others’ behaviour, and its consequences, and know that some behaviour is unacceptable. They work as part of a group or class, and understand and follow rules. They adjust their behaviour to different situations, and take changes of routine in their stride.
- Children play cooperatively, taking turns with others. They take account of one another’s ideas about how to organise their activity. They show sensitivity to others’ needs and feelings, and form positive relationships with adults and other children
People and Communities
Children talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members. They know that other children don’t always enjoy the same things, and are sensitive to this. They know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions.
Key Stage 1 (age 5-7 years)
Year 1 pupils should be taught to:
- Children talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members. They know that other children don’t always enjoy the same things, and are sensitive to this. They know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions.
- Identify, name, draw and label the basic parts of the human body and say which part of the body is associated with each sense
- Notice that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults
- Describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food, and hygiene
Key Stage 2 (age 7-11 years)
Year 5 pupils should be taught to:
- Describe the life process of reproduction in some plants and animals
- Describe the changes as humans develop to old age
- Recognise that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parents
3. Non-Statutory Elements
The difference between a science lesson and an RSE lesson is that the latter focuses on the social and emotional aspects of growing up alongside the physical ones. It also gives children and young people essential skills for building positive, enjoyable, respectful and non-exploitative relationships and staying safe both on and offline.RSE plays a vital part in meeting schools’ safeguarding obligations. Ofsted is clear that schools must have a preventative programme that enables pupils to learn about safety and risks in relationships.[1]
4. Parents Right to Withdraw
Parents have the right to withdraw their childfrom all or part of the relationships and sex education provided at school except for those parts included in the statutory National Curriculum (see top of page)
5. Complaints Procedure
1 / If you have a complaint about the delivery of RSE in your child’s school these should initially be directed to the Headteacher/Governing Body.2 / The next step would be to contact the Local Authority: Family and Children’s Response Service (covers LBHF, WCC and RBKC)
Phone:020 7745 6501
Post: Complaints Team, Children's Services, Second Floor, Kensington Town Hall, Horton Street London, W8 7NX
3 / The final step would be to contact the Department for Education -
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[1] Taken from SRE in the 21st Century – supplementary advice produced by the PSHE Association, Brook and the Sex Education Forum, to be read alongside the statutory SRE Guidance from the DfEE from 2000