Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education

.At May Park Primary School, we aim to promote personal wellbeing and development through Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education to give children and young people the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live healthy, safe, productive and fulfilled lives, both now and in the future. The curriculum aims to educate children about fairness, power, rights, and responsibilities It teaches children about, race, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, age, religion and gender diversity. It explicitly highlights differences and acceptance. 

The Department for Education announced changes to relationships and sex education following nationwide consultation. These changes came into effect from September 2020 and all schools are required to comply with the updated requirements. All primary schools are required to provide: 

• Relationships education 
• Health education 

Sex Education is non statutory. At May Park all the recommended Primary RSE is taught before children move to secondary school. There are some sections that have been moved so that they are taught when the children are a little older than suggested. 

May Park RSE policy and curriculum has been developed in consultation with staff, governors, pupils and parents. It takes account of: 

• Age 
• Physical and emotional maturity 
• Religious backgrounds 
• Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) 

Your Right as a Parent 

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from the non-statutory/non-science components of sex education within SRE. 

Parents do not have the right to withdraw from the relationships and health education curriculum. 

Parents will be informed of the content of the RSE curriculum and will be provided with the opportunity to discuss any worries they have. Parents will be asked to put their requests for withdrawal in writing using a school form.  

Curriculum Delivery 

Delivery of SRE at May Park Primary is through the JIGSAW programme. This provides pupils with the knowledge, understanding, attitudes, values and skills they need to reach their potential as individuals and within the community.  

Pupils are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and beyond the curriculum, contributing fully to the life of their school and communities. In doing so they learn to recognise their own worth, work well with others and become increasingly responsible for their own learning. They reflect on their experiences and understand how they are developing personally and socially, tackling many of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. They learn to understand and respect our common humanity; diversity and differences so that they can go on to form the effective, fulfilling relationships that are an essential part of life and learning.