Shenton Primary School

Empowering and nurturing young minds to achieve excellence



RHE; Relationships & Health Education

 

The Government introduced new statutory guidance on this subject for all schools, for September 2021. Our policy regarding the teaching of sex education and the protected LGBT+ characteristics has been agreed with you, as our parental community. The Governing Body and I recognise our community sensitivities, and have agreed this policy, which we believe meets your needs as well as those of our wider community, and Government law. 

No changes will be made to this policy without consultation with you, so please ask if you are unsure about anything.

 

WE DO NOT TEACH SEX EDUCATION at Shenton Primary School.

This is left to secondary schools to complete as per national guidance.

We do however, as part of the science National Curriculum, teach children in Year 6 about puberty. As parents you will receive a letter stating exactly what we will be covering. The lessons are taught to girls and boys separately to avoid unnecessary embarrassment and allow the children to ask any questions they may have. The lessons are focussed on understanding how our bodies change during puberty, so they are better prepared for this stage in their lives.

 

Below is an outline of how the protected characteristics are taught through the school, as well as details of other elements of our RHE curriculum.

 

Background Information:

The protected characteristics are listed below, and it is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of them:

  • age
  • gender reassignment 
  • being married or in a civil partnership
  • being pregnant or on maternity leave
  • disability
  • race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
  • religion or belief
  • sex
  • sexual orientation

 

What do we teach? Please note we will always refer the children to you, if they have additional questions.

Early Years (Nursery & Reception) Year 1 & Year 2 (Key Stage 1) Year 3 & Year 4 (Lower KS2) Year 5 & Year 6
  • How to share, be polite to others.
  • Recognise our physical similarities as people as well as our differences.
  • Learn about the word respect.
  • Children will talk about their families; 

    We will say: ‘Families are all different, and that is okay. We have to respect each others’ families and the people who belong in that family.’

We will not be introducing any LGBT+ terminology

  • How to build good friendships.
  • Recognise and respect our physical similarities and differences as individuals.
  • Recognise that some language can cause offense and is disrespectful - introducing sexism and racism and bullying.
  • Children will talk about their families, similarities and differences. We will say: ‘Families are all different, and that is okay. We have to respect each others’ families and the people who belong in that family.’

We will not be introducing any LGBT+ terminology

  • Learn to recognise sexism, racism and ageism. 
  • Recognise and respect our physical similarities and differences as individuals.
  • Recognise that some language can cause offense and is disrespectful.
  • Children will talk about their families, looking in more detail at similarities and differences. We will say: ‘Some families have two mums, and some have two dads and we should respect these families too.’ We will not elaborate, children will make their own links e.g. a child may have a family with Auntie, Mum and no Dad, and see a link to the 'two mums'. We will say- ‘There are many differences and similarities between us, and our friends and families. Families are all different and that is okay. We have to respect each others’ families and the people who belong in that family.

We will not be introducing any LGBT terminology

  • Children will continue to learn about healthy relationships, how good friends behave and how they can be a good friend.
  • We will introduce all the protected characteristics: We will say: 

    Lesbian – a woman who prefers to be in a relationship with another woman

    Gay – a man who prefers to be in a relationship with another man

    Bisexual - a person who chooses to be in a relationship with another man or woman

    Transgender – a person who has changed gender from the one they were born as.

We will say:

 ‘In this country 2 men are allowed to marry and so are 2 women. This means we have to respect other people’s choices. We have to respect everyone in this country, just as we respect each other’s beliefs and religions.’

Resources Used

 

 

Children will explore the following scenarios:

  • My employer did not allow me to do a training course because she thought I was ‘too old’, but allowed my younger colleagues to do the training. (Age discrimination)
  • A female pupil was told that she could not become a plumber because it was a male job. (Sex discrimination)
  • A letting agency would not let a flat to a family because of the colour of their skin. (Race discrimination)
  • A child was bullying another boy because they were wearing a skirt. (LGBT+ discrimination)

 

 

 

Children will share the following text, 'And Tango Makes Three'.

 

It is a story about penguins. Two male penguins are good friends, other penguins have a baby but the parents die so these two friends look after the baby.

 

 

The text is available in school should you wish to read it.

Other Themes include:

 

  • Self-confidence and self-awareness

This aspect is about how children come to develop confidence in who they are and what they can do and in expressing their own ideas

  • Managing feelings and behavior

This aspect is about how children can understand their own feelings and other people’s feelings, and how they learn to manage their feelings. They can follow simple rules for communication, sharing and keeping everyone, including themselves safe.

  • Making relationships

This aspect is about how young children learn to get along with other children and with adults; how they can see something from somebody else’s point of view and take that into account when they play and work with other children. It is also significant in developing friendships. 

 

 

Other Themes Include:

  • Bullying, fair/unfair, kindness
  • Citizenship and rule of law
  • Road safety
  • Managing our emotions
  • Looking after our environment
  • ESafety
  • Sexism and stereotypes
  • Personal safety
  • Healthy Lifestyles
  • Rules & Responsibilities
  • First Aid
  • Respecting cultures and religions
  • Money
  • Communication skills

 

 

 

Other Themes Include:

  • Mental Health & emotions
  • Aspirations and goals
  • Communication skills
  • Nutrition & Food
  • Challenging stereotypes
  • Economics and money management

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Themes Include:

 

  • Collaboration
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Growing and puberty
  • Emotions; death and grief
  • Personal safety; drugs, smoking and alcohol
  • Rights & Responsibilities; The Law
  • Peer Pressure; preparing for secondary school and maintaining positive relationships.