Relationship and Sex Education (RSE)
Relationship and Sex education is based on teaching the fundamental building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships, with particular reference to friendships, family relationships, and relationships with other children and with adults. This starts with people being taught about what a relationship is what friendship is, what family means and who the people are who can support them. From the beginning of primary school, building on early education, pupils are taught how to take turns, how to treat each other with kindness, consideration and respect, the importance of honesty and truthfulness, permission seeking and the concept of personal privacy. We want all children to grow up healthy, happy, safe, and able to manage the challenges and opportunities of modern Britain. That is why, from September 2020 all primary age children will be taught relationships and health education. This is in line with the DfE and our Catholic Values. To view our policy, please follow the link here or through our Policies tab.
These subjects are designed to equip your child with knowledge to make informed decisions about their well-being, health and relationships as well as preparing them for a successful adult life.
From the beginning, teachers talk explicitly about the features of healthy friendships, family relationships and other relationships which enable young people young children are likely to encounter. In drawing attention to these in a range of contexts we enable pupils to form a strong early understanding of the features of relationships that are likely to lead to happiness and security. This will also help them to recognise any less positive relationships when they encounter them.
Teaching about families require sensitive and well-judged teaching based on knowledge of pupils and their current circumstances. Families of many forms provide a nurturing environment for children. Care will be taken to ensure that there is no stigmatism of children based on their home circumstances and needs, to reflect sensitively that some children may have a different structure of support around them for example looked after children or young carers.
A growing ability to form strong and positive relationships with others depends on the deliberate cultivation of character traits and positive personal attributes, sometimes referred to as virtues, in the individual. We encourage the development and practice of resilience and other attributes, this includes character traits such as helping pupils to believe they can achieve, perseverance with tasks, work towards long-term rewards and continue despite setbacks. Alongside understanding the importance of self-respect and self-worth, pupils will develop personal attributes including honesty, integrity, courage, humility, kindness, generosity, trustworthiness and a sense of justice. This is achieved in a variety of ways including by providing planned opportunities for children to undertake social action, active citizenship and voluntary service to others locally or more widely. Parents can find more information by reading Understanding Relationships and Health Education in your Child’s Primary school: A Parent Guide
We teach relationship and sex education using a resource called Journey in Love.
A Journey in Love is a resource created by Sister Jude Groden of BRES. It is the recommended programme of study for Catholic Schools for Sex and Relationship Education, and has been written as a progressive scheme of work that supports a religious education, PSHE and Science Curricula taught within the school. Throughout a Journey in Love, and aspect of the mystery of love is focused upon in each group. Children are young people are encouraged to marvel at the wonder and beauty of God’s creative love. This is reflected in each stage of a person’s growth in the primary years to a series of suggested, progressive and developmental tasks, activities and reflections which focus on physical, social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual development. As with all aspects of learning, children are naturally curious and many will have questions related to their lessons. Opportunities to discuss questions form part of the lessons and again these are treated with care and understanding. A Journey in Love highlights the importance of parental input and the children will be asked to discuss their lessons at home.
Please see the question of focus for each year group below:
Early years: God loves each of us in our you can make uniqueness
Year One: We meet God’s love in our family
Year Two: We make us love in a community
Year Three: How we live in love
Year Four: God loves us in our differences
Year Five: God loves me in my changing and developing
Yes Six: The wonder of God’s love in creating create a new life