1. Rationale

PSHE helps to give pupils the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives, in order to become informed, active and responsible citizens. Relationships and Health Education curriculum is taught as part of our PSHE curriculum.

2. Legislation and guidance

Under the latest guidance issued by the DfE, Relationships Education at primary schools will be compulsory. In addition, Health Education is compulsory in all state schools.  Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education if it is delivered as part of statutory Relationships and Health Education.    Schools must consult with parents regarding the implementation of the policy.

We believe that, to be effective, Relationships and Health Education should always be taught within a broader PSHE education programme. Relationships and Health Education enhances and is enhanced by learning related to topics including anti-bullying; keeping safe on-and off-line; keeping physically and mentally healthy, learning about drugs, alcohol and tobacco; and the development of skills and attributes such as communication skills, managing peer pressure, risk management, resilience and decision making.

The academy will continue to include lessons on puberty, menstruation and growing up as part of its work in Relationships and Health, tailoring teaching to take into account the age and physical maturity of its pupils and in alignment with the Science curriculum.  The academy will introduce lessons which will fall into the category of Sex Education in Upper Key Stage 2, and parents will be kept fully informed in the approach to this content to allow for their consideration of their child’s participation, again taking into account the age and physical maturity of the pupils.

3. Working with parents

Our academy seeks to work in partnership with parents to provide effective PSHE and Relationships and Health Education. Parents need to know that the school’s Relationships and Health Education programme will complement and support their role as parents. We have already and will continue to consult with parents during any future policy development and review.  This is achieved through regular PSHE updates that are sent home half termly as a process of continuous consultation. It should be noted that, in line with DfE advice, consultation does not give parents the right to veto any element of the policy.   Schools will consider the views of parents and try to ensure that different opinions are considered.  

Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education if it is delivered as part of statutory Relationships and Health Education. Parents do not have to give their reasons for withdrawing their children, but will be asked as a means of consultation and so that we can explain the implications of removing children where needed.  Sex Education is NOT compulsory at Primary School but the academy reserves the right to introduce it as a means of combating misconceptions and to equip our pupils for making safe and informed choices in the future.  This will always be undertaken with parental consultation, with clearly set out outcomes and prior notice given. Parents have a clear way to indicate their choice around withdrawing their child e.g. through the use of an online form.

4. Definitions in PSHE, RSE and Health

Relationships Education in schools is part of the life-long learning about the characteristics of positive relationships including friendships, family relationships, and relationships with other children and adults.  It also includes learning about positive emotional and mental wellbeing and how friendships can impact on this.  Learning will also include how to recognise different types of abuse, the rights children have over their own bodies and how to seek advice and how to stay safe both on and off line. We define Sex Education as lessons which teach specifically about sexual intercourse.  Children learning about their own bodies, puberty, health and hygiene is defined by our school as Health Education.

5. Aims of the PSHE (including Relationships and Health Education) policy

• to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of all pupils

• to help young people to learn to respect themselves and others so preparing them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life

• to allow pupils to acknowledge and appreciate difference and diversity

•to teach pupils how to make informed choices

•to prepare pupils to be positive and active members of a democratic society

•to teach pupils to understand what constitutes a safe and healthy lifestyle

•to provide a framework in which sensitive discussions can take place regarding issues that may affect their lives

•to promote safety in forming and maintaining relationships provide pupils with a toolkit for understanding and managing their emotions

•to help pupils to identify the characteristics of healthy relationships, how relationships may affect mental and physical health, and how to stay safe on-line

 •to prepare pupils for puberty and give them an understanding of sexual development and the importance of health and hygiene.

•to help pupils understand the key concepts included in British Values

• to support the KCSIE statutory requirements of safeguarding children and young people through our curriculum

There will also be a focus on teaching the characteristics of good physical health and mental well-being. Teachers make it clear that mental well-being is a normal part of daily life, in the same way as physical health.  This includes pupils being taught:

•the benefits and importance of daily exercise, good nutrition and sufficient sleep

•giving pupils the language and knowledge to understand the normal range of emotions that everyone experiences

•about issues such as isolation, unhappiness, bullying and the negative impacts of poor health and wellbeing.

6. Safeguarding

The school may invite outside visitors to support teaching and learning, e.g. school nurse, following the protocol for visitors. Staff are aware of the need for confidentiality and to handle sensitive and controversial issues carefully. The nature of this subject means that, at times, issues may arise that cause safeguarding concerns and staff are aware of the need to follow the child protection policy at all times.  It is school policy that PSHE is not delivered on a Friday or the day before a planned school closure e.g. INSET, Good Friday  etc.  This practice reflects the need for staff to have time to respond appropriately and effectively should any safeguarding matters arise within the PSHE lesson.

7. Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

The particular needs and vulnerabilities of SEND pupils will be considered when teaching PSHE including Relationships and Health Education.

8. Equalities

In meeting the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 the school is committed to the provision of Relationships and Health Education to all of its pupils through our PSHE curriculum. Every child is entitled to receive high-quality Relationships and Health Education regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, age, culture, disability, sexuality, language, special needs, and social circumstances.   Our PSHE curriculum directly supports Equality through the themes of valuing difference and relationships and by ensuring all groups are represented equally.

9. Assessment and monitoring

Assessment will be completed following the academy’s policy.  Pupil self-assessment will also take place throughout each Unit of work within the SCARF PSHE scheme of learning.  Monitoring of work in the classroom will form part of the school’s established programme of lesson monitoring and evaluation.

10. Scheme of Work

Our scheme of work was recently reviewed and developed in order to ensure the coverage of the latest statutory content for RSE, Health and Wellbeing within our PSHE curriculum. This was also done by considering the views of parents and carers during an initial period of consultation around the primary outcomes and through or ongoing practice of continuous consultation.  The school has adopted the SCARF Coram PSHE scheme (Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience & Friendship).  This introduces aspects from EYFS which are then built upon through a spiral curriculum, providing a broad and balanced curriculum across all eight year groups. It has a very gradual approach to health topics such as puberty, with some aspects of this being introduced in lower KS2, with sex education being taught in Y6. The school has adopted this scheme as we know our students often begin to experience puberty in upper KS2 (years 5 and 6), and we recognise that it is good practice that students have some knowledge and understanding before they experience it for themselves.

(See Appendices for whole school overview of content)

11. Review

This policy will be reviewed bi-annually, involving parental consultation when changes are being considered, and approved by the board of governors.