Relationships & Health Education including Sex Education

Intent 

At Chacewater Primary School we enable children to become confident, capable and caring individuals with a knowledge and understanding of the value systems found in Britain. We teach them to have respect for other peoples’ views, to celebrate the diversity in society and gain an understanding of relationships, health and sex education (RSE) at an age appropriate level.

It is our intention that all children leave Chacewater Primary School being able to reflect on their own experiences; are able to develop a personal response to the fundamental questions of life; and be able to understand the importance of physical activity and diet for leading a healthy lifestyle. They will   feel empowered to manage their mental health, developing their self–esteem and ability to express their own views and feelings. Our school ethos nurtures and cares for every child from the day they begin their education at Chacewater School.

Implementation

Relationships and Health Education (RHE) at Chacewater School is implemented using the Discovery Education programme.  The programme consists of six broad themes:
Healthy and happy friendships;
Similarities and differences;
Caring and responsibility;
Families and committed relationships;
Healthy bodies, healthy minds;
Coping with change.
Each theme contains age-appropriate content, developing themes in a ‘spiral curriculum’ so that pupils are building on their skills and understanding each year. Content sometimes overlaps or is repeated across topics; this is to enable pupils to develop, practise and apply knowledge and skills across different contexts and situations. On-line safety is supported further by the use of Natterhub. Natterhub is a safe, gated social media platform. Lessons focus on: on how to be safe on-line; how to develop healthy screen behaviours; how to manage wellbeing and build digital resilience. Lessons are scenario-based, teacher-led and natter-led (animated for independent learning) lessons - KS1 follows program 4, KS2 follows program 3.

Weekly lessons are designed to take approximately 30 minutes to one hour of teaching time, to suit the circumstances and needs of the pupils. Teachers can extend or develop learning across more than one lesson, or develop objectives from a lesson further if required. These themes are also embedded through all other lessons and the whole school day, with everyone supporting and encouraging the children they interact with to use the skills they are developing and to make links to other areas of learning. Puberty including menstruation is covered in the Summer term: coping with change. Sensitive arrangements are made to allow use of staff toilets and the supply of menstrual products during menstruation.

Impact 

Children can approach a range of real life situations and apply their skills and attributes to help navigate themselves through modern life.  From exposure to a range of global issues and problems, children build up tolerance and a sense of responsibility of being a British Citizen.  Children understand the different lifestyles that people may live and be respectful and tolerant towards those leading different lives to themselves.