Relationships and Health Education

Why is the RSE curriculum needed?

There are four main aims for teaching RSE within the context of PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education):

• More than ever before, children are exposed to representations of sex and sexuality through the social culture around them. The unregulated content on the internet or social media, can mean children may be exposed to dangerous, confusing or frightening content. We can prepare them for this by presenting a balanced view of positive healthy relationships to help them to be discerning and to stay safe.
• There is much independent research showing most parents and carers value the support of schools in providing RSE for their children. Parents and schools want children to be safe and happy.
• A range of independent research consistently shows that effective RSE delays first sexual experience and reduces risk-taking in young people.
• Surveys of children and young people, as well as Ofsted, have repeatedly said that Relationship and Sex Education tends to be “too little, too late and too biological”. This is one of the many reasons why the Department for Education has made Relationships and Health Education compulsory in primary schools from September 2020, with an emphasis on Relationships Education.

Please note that science (also a compulsory subject), includes learning the correct names for the main external body parts, learning about the human body as it grows from birth to old age and reproduction in some plants and animals (which could include humans). Parents do not have the right to withdraw their child from the science curriculum.

Sex Education

Sex Education is not compulsory in primary schools. However, the DfE recommends, ‘that all primary schools should have a Sex Education programme tailored to the age and the physical and emotional maturity of the pupils.’ As part of our school’s PSHE curriculum, we have chosen to include Sex Education, as recommended, in Year 5 and Year 6 in Term 6. We use the Jigsaw scheme ‘Changing Me’ topic. This ensures that children get accurate, age-appropriate information before they start secondary education. All lessons are taught using correct terminology, child-friendly language and diagrams. We know that many parents will choose to talk to children about this subject at home and we actively encourage this. There are resources to support this at the bottom of the page. 

Sex Education Lesson content:

• Year 5 – conception explained in simple biological terms, including IVF.
• Year 6 – Understanding conception to the birth of a baby.

As a parent, you have the right to request that your child be withdrawn from Sex Education that is delivered as part of our Jigsaw programme. If you are concerned about the content of these lessons, please do come and talk to your child’s class teacher in the first instance as they will be able to show you what will be taught in more detail (including videos). We can also provide you with a link so that you can view the resources at home. If you are still concerned, please contact our PSHE leader (Mrs Dallimore) to discuss the matter further. 

The Changing Me Jigsaw Unit focuses on coping positively with change and also includes other content that is not Sex Education. 

• Reception – Growing up: how we have changed since we were babies
• Year 1 – Boys’ and girls’ bodies: correct names for external body parts
• Year 2 – Boys’ and girls’ bodies: body parts and respecting privacy (which parts of the body are private and why this is)
• Year 3 – How babies grow and how boys’ and girls’ bodies change as they grow older: introduction to puberty and menstruation
• Year 4 – Internal and external reproductive body parts: recap about puberty and menstruation
• Year 5 – Puberty for boys and girls in more detail including the social and emotional aspects of becoming an adolescent
• Year 6 – Puberty for boys and girls revisited; becoming a teenager

These topics are part of the statutory curriculum for Relationships and Health Education and children cannot be withdrawn from these lessons. However, we welcome parent involvement and invite any parent to view the resources we will be using either in person after school, or via an online link at home. Please see the class teacher.

If you have any questions about our PSHE and RSE curriculum, please contact the school office. 

Helpful leaflets for parents

pshe-3-11-knowledge-content-snapshot-overview (2)

parents-guide-to-rshe-in-primary-schools-2026

talking-about-puberty-sex-education-and-growing-up-with-your-child

hormones-and-relationships-parent-guidance

Policy

We follow the MNSP Policy which can be found by following this link: https://www.midsomernortonschoolspartnership.com/trust-policies.htm