RHSE
RHSE: Relationships, Health and Sex Education
"Today’s children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives seamlessly on and offline. This presents 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 academic, personal and social lives in a positive way." DfE 2019
Effective RSHE can make a significant contribution to the development of the personal skills needed by pupils if they are to establish and maintain relationships. It also enables children and young people to make responsible and informed decisions about their health and well-being.
What is RHSE:
RSHE stands for Relationships, Sex and Health Education. It is a statutory part of the curriculum in all schools in England, meaning schools are legally required to teach it.
RSHE is designed to give pupils the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe, develop healthy relationships, and make informed decisions as they grow up. It also enables children and young people to make responsible and informed decisions about their health and well-being.
RSHE helps children and young people learn about:
- Healthy, respectful relationships with family, friends and peers.
- Physical and mental health, including wellbeing, safety and healthy lifestyle choices.
- Respect for differences, including understanding the diverse families and communities around them.
- Develop confidence, resilience and an understanding of how to stay safe both offline and online.
- Sex education, to help prepare them for adolescence.
‘RSE is lifelong learning process of acquiring information, developing skills and forming positive beliefs and attitudes about sex, sexuality, relationships and feelings’ (Sex Education Forum, 1999).
It is important to note that the RHSE at our school sits within the school’s values framework and that we consider it vital to do this work in partnership with parents and carers.
Sex Education in Primary School
Sex education is not compulsory in primary schools, but the Department for Education encourages schools to teach age‑appropriate content that helps prepare children for changes during puberty and the human life cycle.
Parents/carers have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of the Sex and Relationships Education provided at school, which is part of the PSHE (Jigsaw) Programme, whilst we hope they do not feel the need to do so.
Those parents/carers wishing to exercise this right are invited in to see the head teacher and/or RHSE Co-ordinator who will explore any concerns and discuss any impact that withdrawal may have on the child. Once a child has been withdrawn they cannot take part in the RHSE programme until the request for withdrawal has been removed. Materials are available to parents/carers who wish to supplement the school RHSE programme or who wish to deliver RHSE to their children at home.
Answering Difficult Questions and Sensitive Issues
Staff members are aware that views around RHSE- and Drug and Alcohol Education-related issues are varied. However, while personal views are respected, all RHSE and Drug and Alcohol Education issues are taught without bias using Jigsaw. Topics are presented using a variety of views and beliefs so that pupils are able to form their own, informed opinions but also respect that others have the right to a different opinion.
Both formal and informal RHSE and Drug and Alcohol Education arising from pupils’ questions are answered according to the age and maturity of the pupil(s) concerned. Questions do not have to be answered directly, and can be addressed individually later. The school believes that individual teachers must use their skill and discretion in this area and refer to the Child Protection Coordinator if they are concerned.
In Jigsaw Pieces that cover RHSE provision, this should be regardless of their developing sexuality and be able to deal honestly and sensitively with sexual orientation, answer appropriate questions and offer support. Homophobic bullying is dealt with strongly yet sensitively. The school liaises with parents/carers on this issue to reassure them of the content and context.
At Ashcombe, we teach RSHE through the Jigsaw curriculum. The following parent leaflet offers more guidance as to how Jigsaw approaches these subjects.
Please also refer to the following leaflet for guidance on the teaching of issues surrounding LGBTQ+ and relationships.
The following document below explains how protected characteristics has become an essential part of the RSHE curriculum and how it is taught.
During Term 6, all classes work through the ‘Changing Me’ unit of work which includes learning about puberty and conception through to child birth in Key Stage 2. Please refer to the following document for further details.
Towards the end of Term 5 there will be an opportunity for parents to attend a meeting that will provide information and guidance about Relationships, Sex and Health Education. Details about this are sent via School Ping beforehand.
An overview of each Year group’s lessons for the ‘Changing Me’ unit are attached below. This will help you to understand what your child is being taught and also help you with conversations at home.