R.H.E.

At Yardley Primary School, we want all children to grow up healthy, happy, safe, and able to manage the challenges and opportunities of living in modern Britain.  Relationships and Health Education (R.H.E.) puts in place the building blocks needed for children to form and maintain positive and safe relationships, including with family, friends and online.  That is why the R.H.E. curriculum forms a core part of our wider curriculum provision and is taught alongside our other curriculum subjects, including Personal, Social, Health and Economic (P.S.H.E.) education, to ensure in-depth coverage of all aspects of the R.H.E. curriculum. 

Relationships education, along with health education, are statutory and form part of the National Curriculum.  The Department for Education (DfE) recommend that all primary schools should have a sex education programme tailored to the age and the physical and emotional maturity of the pupils.  Parents have the right to withdraw their child from sex education but not from statutory Relationships Education, Health Education or what is taught in the Science National Curriculum.

At Yardley Primary school we teach R.H.E. using the Kapow scheme of learning. This aims to give children the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that they need to effectively navigate the complexities of life in the 21st Century. The curriculum covers key areas which will support children to make informed choices now and in the future around their health, safety, wellbeing and relationships, and will support them in becoming confident individuals and active members of society. Kapow Primary’s R.H.E. scheme of work covers the Relationships and Health Education statutory guidance (as set out by the Department for Education), including the non-statutory sex education. 

The Kapow Primary scheme does not specifically cover gender identity, although identity is a theme that runs through all year groups and units more generally. Quality R.H.E. teaching is an important element in helping us to carry out our duty of care with regards to safeguarding. Our curriculum introduces and revisits ideas of personal boundaries, consent and communicating our boundaries with others. This prepares pupils for the challenges and responsibilities they will face in the future.

The Kapow Primary scheme is a whole school approach that consists of three areas of learning in E.Y.F.S. (Reception) (to match the EYFS Personal, social and emotional development prime area) and five areas of learning across Key Stage 1 (Years 1-2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6). 

The lessons are based upon the statutory requirements for Relationships and Health Education. Sex education has been included in line with the DfE recommendations and is covered in Year 6 of our scheme.

The scheme supports the requirements of the Equality Act through direct teaching, for example learning about different families, the negative effect of stereotypes and celebrating differences, in addition to the inclusion of diverse teaching resources throughout the lessons.

Once taught the full scheme, children will have met the objectives set out within the Relationships and Health Education statutory guidance and can utilise their learning within their daily lives, from dealing with friendship issues to resilience to making healthy choices and knowing where and how to get help when needed.

The curriculum overviews below are written specifically for parents, and set out what is taught in each year group about healthy relationships.

Can I withdraw my child from R.H.E.?

No - you cannot withdraw your child from R.H.E. because it is important that all children receive this content, covering topics such as friendships and how to stay safe. 

If you do not want your child to take part in some or all of the non-statutory sex education lessons (see below), you can ask that they are withdrawn from these. This request must be granted by the headteacher.

The science curriculum in all maintained schools also includes content on human development, including reproduction, which there is no right to withdraw from.

Which parts of the R.H.E. curriculum are non-statutory and that I can request to withdraw my child from?

There are two lessons in the Year 6 “Safety and the Changing Body” topic which is taught during the summer term.  The first lesson is “conception” where pupils are taught about how a baby is conceived. The second lesson is “pregnancy and birth” where pupils are taught how a baby develops in the womb during pregnancy.

Parents will be informed in writing before these lessons take place, so that they can notify the school to request to withdraw their child from these specific lessons.

How do I find out what my child is being taught about healthy relationships?

The curriculum overviews above are written specifically for parents, and set out what is taught in each year group about healthy relationships.

Do you cover gender identity in R.H.E. lessons?

No, the Kapow Primary scheme does not specifically cover gender identity as a topic, although lessons do cover identity more generally, helping children to understand themselves and others. Gender identity does not form part of the National Curriculum.

What do I do if I feel uncomfortable talking about certain topics with my child?

Creating a safe, open, supportive environment is important for children to be able to share their worries, concerns and thoughts. If you feel uncomfortable discussing topics with your child, be honest with them that you find it difficult and explain that you would like to give yourself some thinking time before you get back to them on any topics or questions. Seeking support from school to help, such as discussing with class teachers or pastoral staff, may help with how you could broach sensitive topics.

If you require any further information about this curriculum area or any other, please do not hesitate to contact us.