You will be aware that as part of your child’s educational experience at Brinkworth Earl Danby’s, we aim to promote personal wellbeing and development through a comprehensive taught programme of Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE) that gives young people the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live healthy, safe, productive and fulfilled lives, both now and in the future.

From September 2020, schools will have to teach Relationships and Health Education.

You can read about these changes in this DfE guide for parents here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-sex-and-health-education-guides-for-schools

The DfE also strongly encourages primary schools to deliver sex education to help prepare children for their transition to secondary school.

Most schools are already delivering very effective Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and the new guidance is simply about ensuring that all children get the information they need and want. The lessons will help children to learn about their bodies including the changes that take place at puberty, and will help keep them safe, so they can form healthy relationships (friendships) with others, now and in the future.

At our school we are using the leading children’s health and wellbeing charity, Coram Life Education (CLE) to support us in meeting these legal requirements. We do this in a two ways:

• A visit from a trained educator who will deliver aspects of the Relationships Education and Health Education programme
• Using Coram Life Education’s online SCARF teaching resources.

More information about Coram Life Education and SCARF can be found on their website:

www.coramlifeeducation.org.uk.

What does the guidance mean?

The new guidance focuses on healthy relationships and keeping children safe in the modern world.  It also covers a wide range of topics relating to physical and mental health, wellbeing, safeguarding and healthy relationships.

Learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, it will give young people the information, skills and positive values to have safe, fulfilling relationships and will help them take responsibility for their own wellbeing.

All of the sessions will be age-appropriate and meet the needs of all pupils in each class.

How will this be delivered?

This guidance will form part of our school’s PSHE education programme, which is taught throughout the school in every year group and is monitored and reviewed regularly by the staff and Governing Body.  All teaching in PSHE will take place in a safe learning environment and is underpinned by our school ethos and values. 

We have attached an informative PowerPoint along with the statutory guidance, a glossary, FAQs and guidance for parents. We also send out parents' information letters each year to inform you that RSE week is coming up, with details of what your child will learn, and we aim to offer an in-school parents' information session each year also.

What if I have questions?

As a school community, we are committed to working with parents.  If you wish to find out more, make any comments or provide feedback on the policy, please contact the Head Teacher. Alternatively provide your comments in an envelope for the attention of the Headteacher.

Book Suggestions

If you require book suggestions, please see your child's class teacher. You may also find the following books helpful:-

Let's Talk About Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families and Friends Paperback, R Harris - KS1

Let's Talk About Where Babies Come From: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families, R Harris - KS2

Statutory right to withdraw from Sex Education

Parents have the right to excuse their children from the Sex Education aspect of RSHE and can do so by making concerns known and applying in writing to the Headteacher. The school will invite any enquiring parents or legal guardians to talk through concerns. Full details of this right to withdrawal process are provided in the RSE policy below.