RSE
Overview
Curriculum Aims
Our RSE curriculum at East Dene Primary School aims to teach children several core concepts and skills. Some of these are to develop healthy, nurturing relationships based on respect, care and positive values. This includes teaching about different types of families. To understand and respect different people, their backgrounds, cultures, faiths, and beliefs which serves well in our diverse community. Thus promoting inclusion, equality and compassion.
We also aim to teach the correct biological/medical names for the genitalia and reproductive organs at an age appropriate level and understand the physical and emotional changes that take place during puberty. We teach children how to look after physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Children will understand personal boundaries, privacy and consent. Develop self-respect, confidence and responsibility and develop their understanding of staying safe online and offline, understanding potential risks. They will acquire the skills and knowledge to make safe, healthy and respectful relationships as children get older and they will develop critical thinking skills to interpret media messages about body image, gender roles etc.
The focus is on equipping children with age-appropriate knowledge, attitudes, values and skills they need to form healthy relationships, avoid harm and have a sense of their own identity and self-worth. The learning is reinforced throughout the years.
Intent, Implementation, Impact
Intent
At East Dene Primary School we believe we can teach children Relationship and Sex Education through showing children how to build and form positive relationships with the people around them. We endeavour to show children that healthy relationships can mean many things to different people and want the children to understand what is meant by a healthy relationship. Children are also taught about how to keep themselves safe and the changes that happen to their body over time.
Implementation
Children at East Dene Primary School follow the Jigsaw Programme to help them develop their knowledge in Relationship and Sex Education. This is mainly covered in the ‘Relationships’ and ‘Changing Me’ sections. To complement this knowledge children are also able to access ‘Big Talk’ workshops during the Summer Term and also workshops delivered by representatives from the Local Authority. Big Talk workshops have also been made accessible for parents and carers so they can broaden their understanding of what their child/ children will be learning as part of the Relationships and Sex Education.
Impact
The impact our RSE curriculum at East Dene has is that it improves knowledge about health, sex and relationships in an age-appropriate way and helps safeguard our children from sexual abuse, exploitation and coercive relationships when they are taught about consent and boundaries from a young age.
It also promotes respect and values like empathy, care and compassion through teaching about different types of families and healthy relationships and helps address sexist attitudes, gender inequality and challenges gender stereotypes from early on.
Our curriculum is delivered in a sensitive manner which means that children are taught the biological facts around issues like menstruation which increases confidence in children to talk openly about RSE issues and ask questions in a safe environment. They are given knowledge and skills to stay safer online and interpret harmful content critically before encountering it.
All these skills and knowledge ensure they have a better transition to secondary school RSE from their prior learning.
Cultural Capital
As well as following the Jigsaw programme at East Dene Primary School to support our children in their Relationship and Sex Education we also have Big Talk workshops for the children to access. This allows children to talk and ask questions with trained professionals regarding relationships and their changing bodies.
Parents are also given chance to access workshops regarding this prior to the children accessing the workshops. Alongside this we also have our School Nurse who comes into school to support our Year 5 and 6 children to understand more around their changing bodies and what is happening to them as they grow and develop.
During the Summer Term we have our Relationships Spotlight Day which is a day dedicated to developing children’s knowledge further surrounding relationships with others and giving them another opportunity to explore this subject. Representatives from the Local Authority support children within this as well as class based activities.
As this can be a sensitive subject we have our Learning Mentors who can support identified children who may be having difficulties with relationships or the changes to their bodies.
Progress Model
Progression of Language
EYFS
- Bodies – your physical structure
- Fears – something you are afraid of
- Growth – to grow/ get bigger
- Fun – something you enjoy
- Friendship – a relationship between friends
- Falling out – having a disagreement with someone
Year 1
- Life cycle – changes that happen over a life time
- Changes -when something different happens
- Male – a boy
- Female – a girl
- Belonging – to be part of a group or family
- Preferences – liking something more than something else
- Physical contact-to be touched
Year 2
- Life cycles (plants) –the stages of a plants life
- Young – to have lived for a short amount of time
- Old – to have lived for a longer amount of time
- Independence – to be able to do it on your own or have little help
- Boundaries – to limit something
- Secrets- something which is meant to kept unseen or unknown by others
- Trust -to believe someone or something is reliable or the truth
- Appreciation – to recognise good things about someone or something
Year 3
- Internal – on the inside
- External – on the outside
- Needs – something that is a necessary
- Roles – a part to play
- Impact – something or someone having a significant effect or influence
- Diverse lives – having a life made up of different people, objects, things
- Negotiation – a discussion which comes to an agreement
Year 4
- Being unique– being the only one of a particular type; single; sole. without equal or like; unparalleled.
- Body changes– when our body changes usually for good
- Transition – the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another
- Accepting change – seeing change as being able to try new things or improve yourself
- Having a baby -when a mother carries a baby inside her and then the baby is born
- Jealousy -feeling of unhappiness and anger because someone has something or someone that you want:
- Love -an intense feeling of deep affection
- Loss – the fact or process of losing something or someone
- Memories – something remembered from the past.
- Girlfriends – A person’s regular female companion with whom they have a romantic or sexual relationship
- Boyfriends– A person’s regular male companion with whom they have a romantic or sexual relationship
Year 5
- Self-image – the idea one has of one’s abilities, appearance, and personality.
- Media influence -the actual force exerted by a media message, resulting in either a change or reinforcement in audience or individual beliefs.
- Puberty – the period during which adolescents reach sexual maturity and become capable of reproduction
- Conception – the action of conceiving a child or of one being conceived.
- IVF– a medical procedure whereby an egg is fertilized by sperm in a test tube or elsewhere outside the body.
- Self-recognition – recognising the “self” as separate from others
- Self-esteem – confidence in one’s own worth or abilities; self-respect.
- Online communities – a group of people held together by a common interest or purpose who interact with each other online.
- Gaming – the action or practice of playing video games
- Gambling – take risky action in the hope of a desired result.
- Grooming– the action by a paedophile of preparing a child for a meeting, especially via an internet chat room, with the intention of committing a sexual offence.
Year 6
- Body image – a person’s perception of their physical self and the thoughts and feelings, positive, negative or both.
- Physical attraction – the fact that an individual finds another person appealing
- Consent- permission for something to happen or agreement to do something
- Sexting – the action or practice of sending sexually explicit photographs or messages via mobile phone
- Mental health – Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being
- Sources of support – can be natural (e.g., family and friends) or more formal (e.g., mental health specialists or community organizations. A place or person you can go to for help
- Control – the power to influence or direct people’s behaviour or the course of events.
- Power– the ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way
Research Around the Curriculum
RSE is an important part of our curriculum at East Dene Primary school. Here is a summary of some current research on the importance of the RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) curriculum in primary schools in the UK:
- RSE is now a statutory part of the curriculum in all primary schools in England. It was made compulsory in 2020 under the Children and Social Work Act 2017, indicating recognition from the government that RSE is essential for young children.
- Age-appropriate RSE teaches children the correct names for body parts, about puberty and reproductive health, and helps them develop skills for building healthy relationships and staying safe. This knowledge can help safeguard children from harm.
- Primary school is considered a key time to teach RSE before children reach puberty. A review by the Sex Education Forum in 2020 found that about a third of girls start puberty before leaving primary school. Teaching RSE early helps children understand the physical and emotional changes they undergo.
- RSE helps tackle issues like sexism, misogyny, homophobia and gender stereotypes from a young age. The Ofsted review of sexual abuse in schools in 2021 found that teaching about healthy relationships in RSE can help prevent abusive and coercive behaviour.
- A study by Lucy Emmerson at the National Children’s Bureau in 2019 found RSE improves school environment and relationships between pupils. It enables children to articulate boundaries and respect others.
- Age-appropriate RSE can help safeguard children from inappropriate content online by educating them to interpret media messages critically. A study from Middlesex University in 2020 recommended RSE start at age 4 before children access porn online.
In summary, research shows introducing RSE at primary level helps children develop positive values and skills needed for healthy, respectful relationships and keeping safe. It is a vital part of PSHE education.
Concepts
The curriculum at East Dene Primary covers various concepts appropriate for young children. Some of the main concepts include:
- Families and relationships – Teaching about different types of families, healthy friendships, caring relationships, and respect for others.
- Online safety and media literacy – How to stay safe online, behave respectfully online, and understand media messages critically.
- Mental wellbeing – Managing emotions, self-care, and getting help if feeling unhappy.
- Respecting self and others – Bodily autonomy, privacy, boundaries and consent. Saying no.
- Puberty and body changes – Learning about puberty before its onset, physical and emotional changes.
- Reproduction and human life cycle – Basic facts about life cycles, pregnancy and birth.
The focus is on developmentally appropriate information delivered through activities like stories, role play, and class discussions. Accurate vocabulary for body parts is introduced early on.
Information for Parents/Carers
How Parents/Carers Can Help
Relationship and Sex Education can be a sensitive subject to talk to your child about but it is extremely important that they develop their understanding of this at an age and stage appropriate manner. It can help to keep them safe, develop their understanding of the changes they face over their life time and help them to understand what a healthy and loving relationship means thus protecting them in the future. You can help by talking to your child about the following things
- Discuss what friendship means and special relationships we have with people
- Talk about what it means when we love someone
- Talk about different family set ups
- Name body parts using the correct terminology
- Discuss that there are rules and boundaries in relationships to help them stay healthy
- Explain it is ok to say no to someone
- Discuss how our bodies change as we get older/ puberty
- Talk about what bullying means and what to do about it
- Discuss what we mean by trust
- Talk about physical contact
- Talk about relationships online/ keeping safe
- Challenge stereotypes
- Talk about what happens when someone is having a baby
- Encourage confidence and boost self esteem
- Discuss body image and the media
- Name feelings and explain that these are ok/ support in how to manage different feelings.
Big Talk
We work alongside Big Talk Education, who are a social enterprise group that deliver age-appropriate information through well-resourced and sensitive workshops. Big Talk have also led staff and parental sessions to help inform all members of our school community about what a loving and healthy relationship is in Modern Britain.
Please see the link below for more information.