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Sex and Relationship Education Policy Rationale Sex and Relationship education is a lifelong learning about physical, moral and emotional development. It is about the understanding of the importance of family life, stable and loving relationships, respect, love and care. It is not about the promotion of sexual orientation or sexual activity, as this would be inappropriate teaching. Effective Sex and Relationship education is essential if young people are to make responsible and well-informed decisions about their lives. At the primary stage, the aim of sex and relationship education should be to prepare pupils to cope with the physical and emotional challenges of puberty and to give them an elementary understanding of human reproduction. Our school is committed to the National Healthy School Standards, whereby Sex and Relationship Education is a key element. Aims and objectives • Support and help our pupils through their physical, emotional and moral development. • Enable pupils to consider their own attitudes, make informed, reasoned and responsible decisions and to move with confidence from childhood through adolescence into adulthood. • Enable our pupils to develop self-esteem, a positive image and to respect themselves and others, to create an understanding for different lifestyles, needs and feelings of others • Encourage pupils to have due regard for moral considerations, the value of family life and understand the reasons for delaying sexual activity • Give accurate information and help to develop skills that will prevent and remove prejudice • Provide an appropriate vocabulary for discussing personal and social health matters • Present information to the pupils in an objective and balanced manner so as to enable pupils to comprehend the range of attitudes and behaviour in present day society • Give pupils an understanding of human reproduction Teaching and Learning Style We use a range of teaching and learning styles, e.g. watching videos, discussion, scenarios, investigations, worksheets and circle time. Sex and Relationship Curriculum Planning The curriculum being delivered is planned and supervised by the school, in accordance with the National Curriculum, National Healthy School Standard and following local and national guidance. Cross-phase liaison will be ensured through adherence to the National Curriculum PSHE framework and National Curriculum Science. Pupils should be taught: - about how the body changes as they approach puberty - that life processes common to all animals include nutrition, movement, growth and reproduction - about the main stages of the human lifecycle - to name parts of the body and describe how their bodies work - how a baby is conceived and born. The SRE education program will be regularly monitored in the same way as other curriculum areas. Amendments will be brought about to improve its effectiveness and to maintain its relevance to the whole school. Sex and relationship education in the school will contribute to the requirements of the Education Reform Act 1988, that the school curriculum should be one which: promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society and prepares such pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. Equal Opportunities in PSHE and Citizenship Education The policy will apply to all pupils regardless of their ability, gender, age or cultural back ground. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from sex and relationship education lessons and should put their request in writing to the Head Teacher. Guidelines 1. Sex and relationship education is taught as a discrete topic in Years 4 and Year 6, related to the Science Scheme of Work. 2. All teaching related to this aspect of the curriculum should be based on clearly formulated and stated objectives which are pursued in a co-ordinated manner by all persons charged with it’s delivery, i.e. teachers and health professionals who may be involved in teaching the programme in the school. 3. The sex and relationship education programme should provide information to all pupils, which is easy to understand, relevant and appropriate to the age and maturity of the pupils. It should address concerns and correct misunderstandings children may have gained from the media and their peers. 4. The aims and objectives for SRE should reflect the school ethos and demonstrate and encourage the following values: • Respect for self and others • Responsibility for their own actions 5. Sex and relationship will be delivered through Science lessons and Circle Time. Channel 4 videos and programmes will be used, as well as teacher led discussions using appropriate strategies. 6. SRE will be delivered in partnership with parents to complement their role. 7. Parents can withdraw their children from watching the Channel 4 videos and programmes, however Science lessons still need to be attended. Parents who withdraw their children will then be supported with a government based leaflet. 8. The policy will be available on request to parents and at all reasonable times to persons wishing to inspect it. This policy will be reviewed annually Reviewed February 2006
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