From Summer 2021 primary schools in England need to teach Relationships and Health Education as compulsory subjects and the Department for Education strongly recommends this should also include age-appropriate Sex Education.
The new guidance focuses on healthy relationships and keeping children safe in the modern world. It also covers a wide range of topics relating to physical and mental health, wellbeing, safeguarding and healthy relationships. Learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, it will give young people the information, skills and positive values to have safe, fulfilling relationships and will help them take responsibility for their own well-being. All of the sessions will be age-appropriate and meet the needs of all pupils in the class.
Parents’ right to request their child be excused from Sex Education
“Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education
delivered as part of statutory Relationships and Sex Education” DfE Guidance p.17
At Baschurch School, puberty is taught as a statutory requirement of Health Education and covered
by our Jigsaw PSHE Programme in the ‘Changing Me’ Puzzle (unit). We conclude that sex education
refers to Human Reproduction, and therefore inform parents of their right to request their child be
withdrawn from the PSHE lessons that explicitly teach this i.e. the Jigsaw Changing Me Puzzle (unit)
e.g.
Year 5, Lesson 4 (Conception)
Year 6, Lesson 4 (Conception, birth)
The school will inform parents of this right by letter and curriculum overview before the term in
which we teach the changing me unit.
DFE Guidance RSE and Health Education
Parent consultation letter
FAQ-RSE
Jigsaw-whole-school-overview
RSHE-A-Guide-for-Parents-and-Carers-leaflet-
Jigsaw-Information-Leaflet-for-Parents-and-Carers-2020-2
6. PSHE & RSHE Policy – Baschurch