	School Policies

SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS

EDUCATION POLICY

Avenue Junior School Sex & Relationships Policy

CONTENTS PAGE

Summary of Policy 3

Sections:

1. Policy Statement 3

2. Aims and Objectives 4

3 Equal Opportunities 4

4. Teaching and Learning 4

6. Content 5

7. Outside Speakers 5

8. Specific Issues 6

I. Withdrawal

II. Confidentiality

III. Child Protection

IV. Controversial and Sensitive Issues

V. Dealing with questions

VI. Sexual identity and orientation

9. Dissemination 6

10. Review and Assessment 7

Appendix 1 8

Avenue Junior School Sex & Relationships Policy

Summary

Status

Statutory

Purpose

We aim to ensure that children at Avenue Junior have the opportunity to learn that Sex & Relationships Education is lifelong learning about physical, moral and emotional development. Our SRE is about understanding the importance of respect, love and care in stable and loving relationships, including marriage. It includes acquiring information, developing skills and forming positive beliefs and attitudes about sex, sexuality, relationships and feelings.

SRE is not delivered in isolation but firmly embedded in all curriculum areas, including Personal, Social Health Education (PSHE) and citizenship. At Avenue Junior School the main content is delivered in PSHE lessons in the summer term to all years.

Relationship to other policies

Other related policies and documents include the PSHE & Citizenship policy, Positive Behaviour, Anti-Bullying and Discipline Policy, Drug Education Policy, Safeguarding Policy incorporating Child Protection and Disability, Race and Equality Policy.

Formulation of the Policy

In drawing up this policy we have considered guidelines from the DFE, the local authority as well as Healthy Schools and Ofsted in addition to the National Curriculum guidance for Science and PSHE & Citizenship. Consultation of the policy included input from parents, teachers and governors.

A full copy of this policy and guidelines for the scheme of work are available from the school office or the website.

Avenue Junior School Sex & Relationships Policy

Policy Statement

Sex & Relationships Education is lifelong learning about physical, moral and emotional development. It is about understanding the importance of respect, love and care in stable and loving relationships, including marriage. It includes acquiring information, developing skills and forming positive beliefs and attitudes about sex, sexuality, relationships and feelings.

Effective SRE can make a significant contribution to the development of the personal skills needed by pupils if they are to establish and maintain positive and supportive relationships. It also enables young people to make responsible and informed decisions about their health and well-being.

The 1996 Education Act consolidates all relevant previous legislation and states that all primary schools must provide an up to date policy that describes the content and organisation of SRE provided outside the National Curriculum Science Order. The DfEE Sex and Relationship Education Guidance (2000) supports this legislation and recommends that all primary schools should have a sex and relationship education programme tailored to the age and physical and emotional maturity of the children.

Aims and Objectives

This policy is a working document which provides guidance and information on all aspects of SRE in the school for staff, parents/carers and governors. The policy is accessible to all of these groups and presented in a way that is easy to understand.

Moral and Values Framework

The SRE programme at Avenue Junior School reflects the school ethos and demonstrates and encourages the following values:

Ø Respect for self;

Ø Respect for others;

Ø Responsibility for their own actions;

Ø Responsibility for their family, friends, schools and wider community.

The principle aims of the school in Sex & Relationships Education are:

¨ to enhance self-esteem and recognise wide physical differences as normal

¨ to promote positive attitudes to the human body and body functions

¨ to promote confidence and competence in personal relationships

¨ to develop a basic understanding and knowledge of reproduction, growth and development

¨ to promote an understanding of the role of families and the needs of the young

¨ to develop skills to avoid exploitation and abuse

¨ to develop a positive attitude to caring relationships

¨ to maintain personal health and hygiene

¨ to develop understanding, awareness and the ability to cope with the changing emotions, moods and feelings of self and others

¨ to dispel rumours and discourage feelings of shame, anxiety or uncertainty in these matters

¨ to develop an appropriate vocabulary to discuss all of these.

Equal Opportunities Statement

The school is committed to the provision of SRE to all of its pupils. Our programme aims to respond to the diversity of children's cultures, faiths and family backgrounds. Equal time and provision will be allocated for all groups but there may be occasions where pupils with Special Educational Needs are given extra support from SEN staff.

Teaching and Leaning

We have planned our Sex and Relationships education provision to meet, as far as possible, the readiness, needs and understanding of the children at our school.

SRE should not be delivered in isolation but firmly embedded in all curriculum areas, including Personal, Social Health Education (PSHE) and citizenship. At Avenue Junior School the main content is delivered in PSHE lessons in the summer term to all years. This ensures a coherent spiral curriculum.

We believe it is essential to help our young people develop confidence in talking, listening and thinking about sex and relationships, so we aim to use informal and interactive teaching strategies within a safe and secure learning environment.

Teaching will be delivered by the class teacher whose knowledge of individual pupils will enable sensitive handling of this subject.

Most teaching will take place in mixed sex class groups, with additional opportunity for single sex or individual discussions if the teacher considers this to be necessary and/or appropriate. Teachers will be supported by appropriate training and support.

Materials used reflect the consultation with parents/carers and from the LA adviser. Age and cultural backgrounds of the pupils are regarded in relation to images used. The range of material used is available to parents.

Content

The National Curriculum requires the following elements of Sex and Relationships Education to be taught within the statutory Science curriculum:

At KS2

7-11 year olds should be taught:

¨ that the life processes common to humans and other animals include nutrition, growth and reproduction

¨ about the main stages of the human life cycle.

In Key Stage 2 pupils learn to express their opinions about relationships and bullying and to listen to and support others, including respecting other people's viewpoints and beliefs. They learn to recognise their own worth and identify positive things about themselves and try to balance the stresses in life in order to promote their own mental health and well-being of others. Life processes are discussed including the physical changes that take place at puberty, why they happen and how to manage them. We have prepared the scheme-of-work allowing for each year's teaching to build on and develop previous years' learning; as such much of each Year Group's content may look similar. This is because we believe that children need opportunity to continually revisit and consider many of the ideas encountered in this part of the curriculum.

(See APPENDIX 1 for more specific detail)

Involvement of outside speakers

Visits will be carefully planned by both visitor and class teacher to ensure that their contribution is integral to the programme of learning, and the class teacher will be present at all times. All input to lessons are part of a planned programme and negotiated and agreed with staff in advance;

Visitors will be aware of our school policy for Sex & Relationships Education, ensuring that their contribution is in accordance with our policy.

Visitors will be aware of the school's policy for dealing with disclosure and confidentiality issues. Pupils will be adequately prepared for any visits.

The input of visitors is monitored and evaluated by staff and pupils. This evaluation informs future planning.

Specific Issues within SRE

(i) Withdrawal

Parents/Carers have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of the sex and relationships education provided at school except for those parts included in statutory National Curriculum. Those parents/carers wishing to exercise this right are invited in to see the Headteacher who will explore any concerns and discuss any impact that withdrawal may have on the child. Once a child has been withdrawn they cannot take part in the SRE programme until the request for withdrawal has been removed.

Materials are available to parents/carers who wish to deliver SRE to their children at home.

(ii) Confidentiality

As a general rule a child's confidentiality is maintained by the teacher or member of staff concerned. If this person believes that the child is at risk or in danger, she/he talks to the named child protection coordinator who may confer with the headteacher before any decision is made.

The child concerned will be informed that confidentiality is being breached and reasons why. The child will be supported by the teacher throughout the process.

(iii) Child Protection

The school has a separate Safeguarding incorporating Child Protection Policy. SRE may bring about disclosures of child protection issues and staff should be aware of the procedures for reporting their concerns.

(iv) Controversial and Sensitive Issues

Staff are aware that views around SRE related issues are varied. However, while personal views are respected, all SRE issues are taught without bias. Topics are presented using a variety of views and beliefs so that pupils are able to form their own, informed opinions but also respect others that may have a different opinions.

(v) Dealing with Questions

Both formal and informal SRE arising from pupils' questions are answered according to the age and maturity of the pupil concerned. Questions do not have to be answered directly, and can be addressed individually later. The school believes that individual teachers must use their skill and discretion in this area and refer to the Senior Designated Teacher if they are concerned.

(vi) Sexual Identity and Sexual Orientation

Avenue Junior School believes that SRE should meet the needs of all pupils regardless of their developing sexuality and be able to deal honestly and sensitively with sexual orientation, answer appropriate questions and offer support. Homophobic bullying is dealt with strongly yet sensitively. The school liaises with parents on this issue to reassure them of the content and context.

Location and Dissemination of the Policy

All staff members and governors receive a copy of the SRE policy. Training is regularly delivered to staff on the policy content. The policy is available on the website or copies can be obtained from the school office on request from parents. A short summary of the policy is included in the school prospectus.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Impact and Review

The policy was first formulated in the summer term 2002 by the PSHE co-coordinator and the Curriculum Committee and was approved by the Governing Body. The policy is reviewed every three years. The next review is planned for 2014. The PSHE coordinator facilitates the gathering of policy feedback from parents, staff and pupils to inform this review. The school will monitor the number of children withdrawn from lessons on an annual basis.

Appendix 1

Key - Statements in italics = Relationships Education other statements = Sex Education

Y3

- to recognise similarities and differences between themselves and others and treat others with sensitivity

-Know what we do that makes each other happy, sad and cross, and what helps and what hinders friendships