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St Thomas' CE Primary School
St Clement & St James CE Primary School
St Thomas' Federation - Stronger together
School Gateway
RSHE
Relationships, sex and health education
Aims and purpose of Relationships and Health Education
Many children and young people today are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives both on and offline. This means that they are presented with many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their personal, economic, social and academic lives in a positive way. We also recognise the particular challenges and disadvantages that many of our pupils face in the local community. Therefore, the aim of Relationships Education at our school is to enable children to:
- flourish
- live and learn safely in the modern world
- respond to local challenges
- gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to make their own positive, safe and healthy choices
- to be respectful citizens
- develop their own values, attitudes and opinions
- be able to consider the consequences of their behaviour and choices
- safeguard and care for themselves and others
- develop resilience to cope with life’s ups and downs, but know how to access help if they need it
- respect themselves and others, and build positive relationships
- know how to advocate for themselves and what they believe in with dignity
Our intention is that when pupils leave our schools, they will do so with the knowledge, understanding and emotions to become positive role models in today’s diverse society. We have a diverse community and adopt an attitude in which we want each of our pupils to feel valued, respected and safe. We want all pupils to have a positive mind set and high aspirations to achieve. In an ever changing world, we want our pupils to become self-aware of risks that may be presented to them and develop the knowledge of how to deal with these so they are able to acquire good mental health and well-being.
Implementation
EYFS
PSED (personal, social, emotional development) and citizenship is taught through integral topic work and embedded throughout aspects of the Early Years curriculum. Objectives within this curriculum area are covered through the PSED statements in the ‘Development Matters in EYFS’ guidance in relation to the Early Learning Goals and the non-statutory ‘Birth to 5 Matters’ guidance. We have also developed our own curricular goals to meet the needs of our particular cohort of pupils.
In partnership with parents and carers, and utilising the age related SCARF schemes of work, children learn about safe and healthy relationships in an age appropriate way. They learn about the features of healthy friendships, family relationships and other relationships they are likely to encounter. This will start with family and friends and how to treat each other with kindness. Children explore how to manage feelings and are taught strategies to help them to self-regulate.
Children are taught about the importance of healthy eating and how we keep our bodies and minds healthy as we grow and change.
We also utilise NSPCC resources to promote children’s awareness of key safeguarding issues linked to personal space and privacy in an age appropriate manner. Staff sensitively ensure children are aware of and understand the boundaries that should exist linked to the private areas of their body.
KS1 and KS2
In KS1 and KS2, RSHE is taught through a comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum. Lessons are taught through a bespoke scheme of work that has been developed from the Coram Life Education, SCARF materials. SCARF stands for: Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience, Friendship. These materials have then been tailored to the context of our school and needs of our pupils. The RSHE curriculum provides a progressive scheme which enables pupils to revisit and deepen their knowledge as they progress through the years within their primary education. It has also been informed by our anti-racist ethos and an additional anti-racist curriculum has been designed as part of RSHE and wider school ethos. We also ensure there is time for teachers to respond to events, feelings and needs of their own classes so that they can design bespoke lessons as and when is needed.
Teaching of these essential skills and knowledge within RSHE are taught through six core themes:
- Me and My Relationships
- Valuing Difference
- Keeping Myself Safe
- Rights and Responsibilities
- Being my Best
- Growing and Changing
The knowledge acquired enables pupils to reflect on their individuality and value who they are in the ever changing world that they are living in. Within the curriculum, there is a strong emphasis on developing emotional literacy, building resilience and nurturing mental and physical health. We regular books as a vehicle for understanding and discussion.
Enhanced Curriculum (including hidden aspects)
Many aspects of our RSHE curriculum are also embedded as part of the wider aspects of school life:
- We aim to empower pupils with a growth mind set in which they are able to build their resilience and grow in confidence through the use of positive language.
- We encourage pupils to foster a love for learning and embrace challenge.
- We encourage pupils to develop self-worth by contributing to the school and the wider community.
- We teach SMSC and British and Global Human values as a whole school integral approach by putting our ethos and values at the forefront of everything we do.
- We choose books to read that represent a diversity of people and perspectives and a wide range of themes.
- Our relationships and behaviour policy and approach enables staff to be role models and pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour using a restorative approach.
We evaluate our RSHE curriculum and practices against evidence-based education research, leading subject associations and welcome cross school collaboration to ensure that our curriculum design successfully meets and challenges our pupils. All staff are involved in reflecting on the needs, design and effectiveness of the RSHE curriculum on a yearly basis.
Please refer to our RSHE policy for more information
Below are a number of useful links to further information and reading
Statutory guidance for Relationships, Sex and Health Education from the DfE, 2019