At Ouston Primary, good relationships are fundamental to our ethos. Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is learning about the emotional, social, moral and physical aspects of growing up. It is about the understanding of stable, loving, healthy, positive relationships, focusing on family and friendships, including those on and off line.
It involves acquiring information, developing skills and forming positive beliefs, values and attitudes. Giving children and young people the essential skills to build positive, enjoyable and non-exploitive relationships. RSE has a key part to play in the personal, social, moral and spiritual development of young people.
The aims of relationship and sex education (RSE) at our school are to:
- Provide a framework in which sensitive discussions can take place
- Provide balanced, factual information about physical and emotional changes that happen as children grow up
- Develop confidence in talking about feelings and relationships
- Help children develop feelings of self-respect, confidence and empathy
- Help children have the confidence and self-esteem to value themselves and others
- Create a positive culture around issues of relationships and sexuality and promote equality which is inclusive to all children and young people
- Understand about the diverse range of different relationships, and families, and their importance for the care and support of children
- Help children learn the value of family life, stable and loving relationships, marriage and civil partnerships
- Prepare children for puberty, and give them an understanding of sexual development and the importance of health and hygiene
- Teach children about human reproduction
- Teach children the correct vocabulary to describe themselves and their bodies
- Understand the consequences of their actions and behave responsibly within relationships
- Be able to recognise unsafe situations and be able to protect themselves and ask for help and support
- Develop an understanding of consent and understand that they have the right to say no in a range of situations
- Understand the role of the media in forming attitudes
- Understand that offence can be caused by the use of sexual terms as an insult
Implementation
Ouston Primary School delivers RSE as its own subject and also through a range of subjects, where appropriate, including RE, ICT, Rights respecting assemblies and Science.
Much of the RSE focuses on the emotional aspects of development and relationships. These lessons will be taught in planned topic blocks on a weekly basis. Evidence of lessons / outcomes will be kept by the teacher in an RSE file.
We teach lessons so that children
· feel safe, confident and comfortable to talk about a range of issues
· gain an understanding of what a relationship is and what makes a relationship good
· value and respect diversity within relationships
· understand the importance of mental well-being
Health and Safety/Safeguarding Activities for Children Overview
At our school we ensure that each year group has at least one Health and Safety activity per year at an age appropriate level. These are as follows:
- Early Years & Year 1: PCSO visits
- Year 2: Fire Safety (fire- engine and firefighters visit school)
- Year 3: Road Safety, Swimming
- Year 4: Thrills and Skills for Life – Outdoor Adventures and 1st Aid Responder Training, Cycling Proficiency (level 1)
- Year 5: Cycling Proficiency (level 2), NSPCC workshop (or in Y6)
- Year 6: Safety Workshops, (Local Emergency Services) Drug/Alcohol Education (School Nurse).
All year groups have annual E- Safety modules as part of our ICT curriculum and workshops with our PCSO.
All year groups have a bi- annual NSPCC information Assembly and a ‘Safety Around Dogs’ workshop by the Dogs Trust.
Healthy lifestyle activities and teaching form part of our PE and Science curriculum.
We also cover some of these aspects in our Sex and Relationships Policy and Curriculum.
