From September 2020, schools have the statutory obligation to teach RSHE. This area sits alongside the PSHE curriculum and teaches the children knowledge that will enable them to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, health and relationships and to build their belief in their own abilities. Pupils put this knowledge into practice as they develop the capacity to make sound decisions when facing risks, challenges and complex contexts. The subject enables pupils to develop resilience, to know how and when to ask for help, and to know where to access support when they face difficulties in their lives.

We have RSE lessons from EYFS up to year 6 and follow the Christopher Winter Project (CWP) resource ‘Teaching SRE with Confidence in Primary Schools’. This programme reflects the recent developments in RSE and the Science National Curriculum and has been quality assured by the PSHE Association.

PSHE Association Training and Development Lead Jenny Barksfield says:

“We awarded the Christopher Winter Project’s ‘Teaching SRE with confidence in Primary Schools’ our quality mark as it achieves exactly what it says on the tin: it provides everything a Primary practitioner would need to be confident that the SRE they’re providing is comprehensive, balanced, developmental and in line with best practice in PSHE teaching and learning.  The lessons incorporate a wide variety of learning activities and a range of assessment opportunities.  The teacher’s guide is thorough and supportive.”

Within the resource there is an increased focus on safeguarding/keeping children safe. The resource also encourages children to develop the skills of listening, empathy, talking about feelings and relationships with families and friends.

The resources in this scheme are age and developmentally appropriate, for example, in EYFS the focus is on daily routines. Keeping clean and families. From Year 1, children will learn the scientific names of the body parts, the differences between males and females and the ways in which they will develop and grow. Importantly, they will recognise unsafe and risky situations and know who to ask for help.

The curriculum continues to develop our pupil’s knowledge and skills as they learn about the physical and emotional changes of puberty and about reproduction.

In Year 6, there is an additional lesson on internet safety and communication in relationships which runs alongside our school’s computing curriculum.

The RSE programme is delivered during the second half of the summer term and we communicate with parents before the start date to provide an outline of what will be delivered.