Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)

All schools have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of their pupils who are under 18. Guidance about these duties is contained in Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE, 2016). This includes ensuring that they are safe and prepared in relation to relationships, sex and safeguarding.

SEND pupils may need more help than others in coping with the physical and emotional aspects of growing up; they may also need more help in learning what sorts of behaviours are and are not acceptable. They may need to be warned and prepared against unacceptable behaviour by some adults. They will need help to develop skills to reduce the risks of being abused and exploited. RSE should enable them to make positive decisions in their lives. Teaching RSE may need to be repeated to ensure understanding.

Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) is learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, friendships, relationships, sex, human sexuality and sexual health. Some aspects are taught in science and others are taught as part of personal, social, health and education (PSHE).

A comprehensive programme of RSE provides accurate information about the body, reproduction, sex and sexual health. It also gives children and young people essential skills for building positive, enjoyable, respectful and non-exploitative relationships and staying safe both on and offline.

• The most important thing you can do is to start the conversation with your child early before topics and content could potentially become embarrassing.

• Talk about how you felt growing up and how you managed and reassure children that it’s nothing to worry about and that talking / communicating always helps.

• Let children know who their safe adults are and who they can talk to.

• From an early age use the correct terminology for the body which gives private parts,  the respect that they deserve.

• Teach your child the importance of talking about worries especially in relation to growing up this can aid communication in the future.

• If a child does not get the opportunity for RSE,  it is likely they will speak with other children and then even more worryingly, seek advice and information online

• Ensure age restrictions are placed on devices to avoid children and young people seeing explicit or harmful content online.

• Check out the Online Safety pages on the Local Offer

• Ask your school who is the subject lead for SRE. You can ask the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) or the Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) Co-ordinator.

• Ask if you can have a copy of the school’s SRE policy.

• Ask what provision is made for people that learn in a different way (if your young person is in mainstream provision).

• Ask what resources will be used with your young person.

• Ask how you could be involved to support and endorse your child’s learning at home.

• How will your child have access to school nurses?

• Ask school how they will assess your child’s/young person’s understanding of what they have learnt.

• Discuss with the SENCO or PSHE Co-ordinator about the regularity of RSE Education.

• Ensure that your child is not withdrawn from PSHE to catch up on other National Curriculum subjects.

• Discuss with the SENCO what support your child needs and how often this should take place.

• If more support is required ask for it at review meetings.

• If your young person is in a further education setting ask who is responsible for or can continue the RSE.