SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION POLICY

Prestbury St Mary's Church of England Junior School is a voluntary aided school, which provides education for both sexes, and all abilities. The ethnic background of the pupils is mainly white and this reflects the local population.

This governor policy was revised by N M Bennett (member of staff responsible) and the governor’s curriculum committee in the Spring term 2008. It was then shared with staff and the school community for consultation The policy will be reviewed fully in January 2009 following extensive consultation with parents and pupils at the end of this year’s programme, and also following input from the Local Authority Sex and Relationships Education consultant. It will be evaluated annually according to legal requirements.

What is Sex and Relationships Education?
The DfCFS Guidance defines Sex and Relationships (SRE) as:

‘lifelong learning about physical, moral and emotional development; love and care; and about the teaching of sex, sexuality and sexual health. It is not about the promotion of sexual orientation or sexual activity – this would be inappropriate teaching. Its three main elements are; attitudes and values; personal and social skills; knowledge and understanding.’

Morals and Values Statement
As a church school, we believe that SRE should be delivered within the following morals and values framework.
Our programme promotes:

Mission Statement

Consultation
During consultation the following issues were considered:

Aims and Objectives

All pupils are entitled to receive SRE regardless of gender, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, disability, social circumstances  or individual special needs. Through SRE we seek to develop a positive view of female and male sexuality.  See Equal Opportunities Policy and Behaviour Policy.

Confidentiality
Pupils’ confidentiality is respected in all SRE lessons and pupils are made aware of the fact that what they say in SRE lessons will not be repeated to anyone else unless a member of staff suspects that the child or anyone else is at risk from harm. See Confidentiality policy and Child Protection policy for further details.

Organisation of Sex and Relationships Education
Throughout the school, staff respond to children’s questions and needs as they arise giving the information required with sensitivity and in a manner appropriate to the maturity and needs of the child. All pupils, from years 3 to 6, follow the Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education programme (see PSHCE Policy).  In addition to this,  there is a specific programme of Health, Sex and Relationships education for Year 5 girls and all Year 6 pupils (male and female). This is led by the school nurse (who is appointed by the NHS) in conjunction with the Year 5 and 6  teachers.

Mother (carer) and Daughter/ Dads (carer) and Lads Evening
There is a bi-annual, informal mother and daughter / dads and lads evening aimed at Year 5 and 6 pupils, which is led by the School Nurse and the Local Authority Sex and Relationships Education Consultant and attended by Year 5 and 6 class teachers. This gives advice and information on puberty and growing up in two separate gender groups. It generates conversations between parents/ carers and their children.

Year 5 Girls
Each year there is an in-house 45 minute session on puberty for Year 5 girls, led by the school nurse and attended by the Year 5 female class teachers. Due to the physical development of year 5 girls at this stage, it is not felt that this session is applicable to year 5 boys. After consultation with their parents, this session may also be made available to younger girls in the school who are experiencing mature physical development.

Year 6 –  Both Sexes
The programme consisting of three sessions, which involves both male and female pupils is as follows.:

A typical session is run in the classroom, with the whole class, class teacher and School Nurse and will involve discussion based on video materials. This will take place in the Summer term.

Session One
Good Health – addresses ways in which pupils take responsibility for their own bodies which includes personal hygiene, exercise, rest, relaxation, healthy eating, preventing disease and immunisation, smoking, safety, care of drugs and medicines.

Video ‘Some Of Your Bits Ain’t Nice.’ Keep it clean booklet distributed to pupils.

Session Two
BBC Sex Education programme in three parts. Part one ‘Growing’ looks at development from baby – toddler – child – adolescent- adult (parent). Uses vocabulary for body parts.
Part two ‘Someone New’. The growth of the baby inside the womb and its birth.

Session Three
Part three ‘Life Begins’.  Puberty and conception. Menstruation covered in detail. Access to see and handle sanitary towels and tampons.

After some of the sessions, each child has an appropriate back-up leaflet to take home, to promote further discussion at home and at school. Children who require additional assistance accessing written material can be given extra support by the class teacher or Teaching Assistant. Each session, which lasts 45 minutes, involves the whole class and the class teacher. The School Nurse is also available for a lunch time session when individual pupils can ask questions.

The resources used are specifically designed for primary children. Parents are free to view the materials used.

Continuity is maintained through liaison with local Secondary schools and the class teachers and the school nurse (who also works in the Secondary schools concerned).

Specific Issues
Parents wishing to discuss any issue relating to SRE should consult the Headteacher. Where parents wish to withdraw a child from SRE, they should contact the Headteacher and confirm their request in writing and alternative arrangements will be made.

If a child demonstrates inappropriate sexual knowledge, child protection procedures will be consulted.
The school follows the Local Authorit’s guidelines relating to suspected child abuse – See Child Protection Policy.

Working with parents/ carers
Parents will be consulted about the school’s proposals for SRE. Copies of the policy are available to parents and members of the community on request and on the school web-site. Where appropriate, parents will be informed of SRE issues raised.

Opportunities to discuss individual pupils’ needs are provided throughout the year during Parents’ Consultation Evenings or at other times by arrangement with the class teacher and / or the Headteacher.

Pupils will be encouraged at all times to discuss what they have learnt and to direct any further questions they may have to their parents/ carers. They will be discouraged in talking to younger pupils who have not yet received SRE so as not to cause misunderstandings and misconceptions.

Monitoring and Evaluation
The School Nurse is fully up to date with current thinking and available materials. Through consultation with the Year 5 and 6 teachers, the School Nurse is able to amend and adapt SRE according to the year group’s needs.

N M Bennett             Headteacher
A Hopton             Deputy Head and Governor
J Munn             Year 6 teacher and Governor
J Savage             School nurse

Revised Spring 2008
Full revision and update to be completed in Spring 2009