Sex & Relationships Education
Introduction
The objective of Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) is to help and support young people through their physical, emotional and moral development. A successful programme, firmly embedded in PSHE, will help children learn to respect themselves and others and move with confidence from childhood through adolescence into adulthood.
Aims of SRE
- To develop confidence in talking, listening and thinking about feelings and relationships.
- To locate and explain the reproductive system in relation to other body systems
- To know the main stages of the human life cycle and understand the changes
- Learn how to protect themselves from harm and how to ask for help and support.
- To show understanding of why changes take place at puberty
- To explain the function of the human reproductive organs, including conception and birth
- To make responsible, well-informed decisions about their lives.
- To feel supported through their moral and social development.
- To develop a respect for themselves and for others.
- To show understanding of the effect of puberty on personal hygiene needs
Planning and Provision
SRE at Kyson is developed and embedded within PSHE and Science teaching. In Early Years education, time is given to the personal, social and emotional development area of learning and is encompassed through daily routines and planned experiences. At key stage one and lower key stage two the emphasis is on skills development and relationships education, with only a small proportion of time given to biological aspects where appropriate links are made to the science curriculum. The core aspects of SRE outlined in the aims above are taught in year six. Generally this will take place in the summer term of year six however the headteacher and year six teachers may make the decision to bring this earlier in the school year depending on the needs of the cohort.
The teaching programme will provide opportunities for the exploration of attitudes and values and will use a range of teaching methods. This might include:
- scenarios
- role play
- discussion
- question and answer sessions
- listening activities
- group work
The school nursing team play an important role in SRE both in assisting the delivery of some sessions and in establishing links for the children in their transfer to high school.
Sensitive Issues
Clear rules will be established with the children for working together on SRE including establishing an appropriate sensitive, open and matter of fact discussion culture amongst the children and excluding personal questioning of staff or other pupils. Correct biological terms will be used throughout. These points will be agreed before the learning experience and will be re-visited as required.
Teachers will address, at appropriate stages of the curriculum, issues of a sensitive nature, using an informed unbiased approach. Teachers will be sensitive to personal beliefs and attitudes and parents retain the right to withdraw their children from all, or parts, of the SRE curriculum.
In responding to questions, staff will be truthful and factual whilst providing information only within the parameters of the aims stated above. When justified, pupils will be referred to parents for further information.
Safeguarding Children
Although there will be a level of confidentiality established during discussion in SRE, any child protection issues that arise from disclosures will be dealt with through the child protection procedures.
Informing Parents
Parents will be informed in advance of SRE commencing in year six through the letter exemplar (see Appendix 1 in SRE Policy).
Monitoring and Evaluation
The governing body maintains an overview of SRE and has the ultimate responsibility for determining the content and provision for SRE in school. SRE provision will be monitored and evaluated through the Learning and Attainment group taking account of feedback from staff, children governors and parents.
A copy of the SRE policy can be found here.
