Lead teachers: Rebecca Hodgson and Ruth Elstone

Monitoring Governor : Kate Allison (Spring 2024)

 RHSE (relationships, health & sex education) is part of our PHSE curriculum (personal, health, social and economic education). In 2019, with changes in legislation, we made the decision to employ a local RSE specialist teacher to plan and deliver the new content and the key aspects of the RSE curriculum. 

Relationship and Health Education is compulsory in all primary schools in England (DfE 19).

The changes are to support children's development and their preparation for life.

INTENT: It is our intention that RHSE is high-profile and memorable and we believe the best way to do this is through employing a specialist teacher with significant experience. Our specialist teacher is already known to the school and the children through her previous work within the cluster. It was felt that having a specialist would ensure high-quality teaching and learning for all our pupils and we feel that the content is just too important to risk 'dilution' under different areas. We aim to be flexible and sensitive in our approach as we feel that the needs and experiences of particular cohorts can change year on year. It is our aim to promote safe, equal, caring and enjoyable relationships and to give a positive view of human sexuality with honest and accurate medical information so that pupils can learn about their bodies and sexual and reproductive health in ways that are appropriate to their age and maturity. We also aim to foster gender equality and LGBT+ equality and challenge all forms of discrimination through this subject in particular and to meet the needs of all pupils with their diverse experiences and including those with SEND.

IMPLEMENTATION: At Bolton, we focus on positive relationships, respect, and consent.

Some elements of the relationship and sex education will be taught in discreet sessions and age-appropriately by a specialist teacher. The specialist teacher is timetabled to come termly (three mornings). After reviewing schemes and following a recommendation, The specialist follows the Islington Borough Council Scheme which is outlined in detail below.  Other aspects, however, will be taught as part of regular topic work e.g. Science, PHSE, and through assemblies and philosophy for children. 

Real Love Rocks – The school will be using updated resources (April 2022) based on the Department for Education’s (DfE’s) statutory guidance, that specifically includes sexual harassment and sexual violence, including online. 

The updated resources reflect the different types of harms children and young people may face as they grow up. These include child sexual abuse, criminal exploitation, radicalisation, and extremism. 

These new Barnardo’s resources help teachers to talk to children about some difficult issues such as consent, grooming, technology, bullying, pornography, sexual harassment, and relationships. 

Real Love Rocks is interactive and has been designed to engage children and young people in an empowering and fun way through animations, activities, and games. 

The resource includes developing kindness, understanding and empathy for both themselves and others. This edition emphasises the importance of emotional regulation and the importance of creating a support network of safe and trusted people. 

Activities include talking through different scenarios like not being invited to play with friends or being dared to do challenges that are not okay and discussing how these things would make them feel. 

And the online safety section encourages children to explore what they watch online and how this makes them feel. 

It also includes activities around misinformation, scams and inappropriate content to help children develop their critical thinking to be able to navigate our ever-changing modern world. 

Session Coverage:

1 Feelings, brains, bodies, OK/ Not OK

2. Healthy Relationships (including LGBTQ+)

3. Grooming

4. Being Safe Online 

Parents are informed about the delivery and timetabling of the sex education as they do have the right to withdraw their child from this aspect of the lessons.

We also consulted with parents to ascertain their views on our provision and asked them for comments on our RHSE curriculum (see below). 

Parents do not have the right to withdraw from Health and Relationship Education. However, If you wish to discuss any of the content in more detail, please contact Ruth Elstone, Headteacher. 

IMPACT - We are extremely proud of our RHSE/PHSE work at Bolton Primary.  The evidence is seen through our well-rounded, confident, tolerant and independent students that leave us in Y6. They take with them skills, knowledge and understanding that will help them to further grow and develop personally, well equipped to make choices in the real world. Our children's behaviour and attitude in school and at break times also demonstrates their respect, tolerance and genuine care for each other and themselves. 

Ofsted 2020 (Jan) - 'Pupils say they feel safe, because everyone takes good care of each other.'

'Staff care deeply about the well-being of their pupils. This reflects the school's caring nature.' 

Year 1 of 2 year cycle Summary of RHSE lesson content for Class 1

There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions during and after each session

Session 1: Are we all the same? Similarities and differences

 To understand the similarities and differences between people

 To learn to respect, understand and enjoy differences in people

 To think about how someone might feel if they are different from others around them

 To try and empathise and be sensitive to other people’s feelings

Session 2: Growing and Changing, Friendship and Special People

 To explore how they change as they grow up

 To understand the changes that take place physically and socially as they grow up 

 To learn about friendship and how to be a good friend

 To describe what a friend is and what a friend does

 To demonstrate some of the skills needed to maintain friendships

Session 3: What does family mean to us? Understanding feelings

 To learn about families and how family members care for each other

 To describe a variety of family situations and know that family patterns are different for everybody

 To be able to describe different ways that families show they care for each other

 To learn how emotions affect us

 To be able to describe a feeling and how it affects them inside and out

Session Four: Keeping Safe , People who can help

 To learn about being scared and keeping safe

 To be able to describe how to keep safe and what to do if they feel scared

 To identify people who can help them

 To know when and how to ask for help

 To be able to identify people that they can ask for help

 To describe situations when they would need help

Year 2 of 2 year cycle Summary of RHSE lesson content for Class 1

There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions during and after each session

Session 1: Girls and boys can & What’s male and female

 To understand and respect the differences between people

 To understand that girls and boys can both do the same tasks and enjoy the same things, but this is not always shown in the media

 To learn the biological differences between males and females animals

 To understand the creation of new life requires a male and a female

 Learn that female mammals give birth and nurse their young

Session 2: Labelling male and female bodies & Human life cycles

 Learn to identify and name the main male and female sex parts

 To understand that male and female sex parts are related to sexual reproduction

 To learn about growing from young to old and that they are growing and changing

 To identify key stages in the human life cycle

 To understand that all living things including humans start life as babies and that they have changed since they were babies

Session 3: Everybody needs caring for & Review so far

 To know that everyone needs to be cared for and how to care for others

 To understand that we all have different needs and require different types of care

 To understand the link between needs, caring and changes throughout the life cycle

 Time to revisit any of these topics- particularly labelling body part

Year 1 of 2 year cycle - Summary of RHSE lesson content for Class 2

There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions during and after each session

Session 1: Who is in my family? Special and different families

 To learn about the way they grow and change throughout the human life cycle

 To understand that change is ongoing

 To be able to describe different types of family

 To learn the ways in which their home life is special

 To know that families care for each other in a variety of ways

Session 2: No more bullying please, What is it like having a new baby?

 To learn that there are different types of teasing and that bullying is wrong

 To know what to do in a bullying situation

 To learn about having a baby in the family

 To understand the changes a new baby brings

 To know something about caring for a new baby

 To know some qualities and skills parents need

Session 3: Feeling good about being different, Stories about gender

 To recognise their own worth as individuals and to challenge stereotyping

 To identify positive things about themselves and others

 To understand that boys and girls can do the same tasks and enjoy the samethings but that sometimes media, stories and people sometimes present different stereotypes

 To recognise and challenge stereotyping with confidence

 To understand the pitfalls of stereotyping

Year 2 of 2 year cycle - Summary of RHSE lesson content for Class 2

There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions during and after each session

Session 1 : Growing and changing & Public/Private body parts

 To learn about the way we grow and change throughout the human life cycle

 Understand that change is ongoing and individual

 To learn the public and private parts of the body and to be able to name these parts

 To know what type touching is OK and what is not

 To create a list of people for their own safety network

 To understand that it is their body and what they say goes

Session 2: Changing body parts & Growing up

 To learn the physical changes associated with puberty

 To know that each experience of puberty is individual , beginning and ending at different times

 Understand that changes at puberty are linked to human reproduction

 To know that they change as they grow

 To identify what they have achieved since starting school and plan what they would like to achieve in the future

Session 3: Changing the way we keep clean & How did I get here?

 Learn about the impact of puberty on physical hygiene and strategies for managing this

 To describe how to care for their bodies during puberty

 Recognise the similarities between the wants of boys and girls and challenge gender stereotypes around hygiene and grooming

 To learn about human reproduction

 To describe how babies are born

 Think about what foetuses can do in the womb

Year 1 of 2 year cycle - Summary of RHSE lesson content for Class 3

There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions during and after each session

Session 1: Puberty – How our bodies change, Understanding menstruation and wet dreams

 To learn about the physical changes at puberty

 To be able to define puberty: the changes that occur sometime between 8-17 that turn us from children into young adult

 To understand that everyone’s experience of puberty if different and that it begins and ends at different times

 To be able to describe menstruation and wet dreams and the relationship between the sex cells (sperm and ovum)

 To know and explain effective methods for managing menstruation and wet dreams

Session 2 : Changing feelings and changing lives, Building good relationships

 To know how puberty effects emotions and behaviour

 To learn about strategies for dealing with the changes associated with puberty

 To understand how changes during puberty can affect relationships with other people and devise some strategies for managing some of these changes

 To learn what values are important to them in relationships

 To appreciate the importance of friendship in intimate relationships

 To be able to describe that there are different types of intimate relationships including marriage

 To understand that sex or making love may be one part of an intimate relationship between adults

Session 3: Feeling, thinking and doing-Changing relationships, Sexual relationship 

 To learn some strategies to deal with feelings in the context of relationships

 To show awareness that feelings change during puberty and can affect our relationships

 To practice strategies for managing some of these relationships and changes

 To empathise with other people’s feelings in relationships, including parent and carers

 To learn about human reproduction in the context of the human life cycle

 To understand that sexuality is expressed in a variety of ways between consenting adults

 To know that sexual intercourse may be one part of a sexual relationship

 To be able to describe how babies are made and explain how sexual intercourse is related to conception

 To be able to name the male and female sex cells and reproductive organ

Year 2 of 2 year cycle - Summary of RHSE lesson content for Class 3

There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions during and after each session

Session 1: What’s all this about puberty? Becoming men and women

 To identify the physical, emotional and behavioural changes that occur during puberty for both males and females

 To understand that puberty is individual and can occur any time between 8-17

 To understand that body changes at puberty are a preparation for sexual maturity

 Consider different attitudes and values about gender stereotyping and sexuality and consider their origin and impact

 Understand how these attitudes can be affected by factors such as age, religion and culture

 Understand how media messages affect attitudes, can cause inequality of opportunity and affect behaviour

Session 2: Internet Safety & Sexual relationships (recap last year) and

 Learn how to stay safe online and how social media can be used in a positive way

 Plan their own social media profile showing they have understood how to stay safe online

 Understand that sexuality is expressed in a variety of ways between consenting adults

 Know that sexual intercourse may be one part of a sexual relationship

 To describe how babies are made, including the relationship between sexual intercourse and conception

 To name the male and female sex cells and reproductive organs

Session 3: Conception and pregnancy & Becoming a parent

 Know the male and female body parts associated with conception and pregnancy

 To define conception and understand the importance of implantation in the womb

 Know what pregnancy is, where it occurs and how long it takes

 Identify some of the skills and qualities needed to be a parent and carer

 Understand the variety of ways in which parents and carers meet the needs of babies and children

 To recognise that both men and woman can take on these roles and responsibilities

RHSE 2021 Parental Survey 

1. Are there any additions or changes that should be made to the Relationship, Health and Sex Education Policy?

I am happy with the Policy

I would like to see these changes:
(please comment)

I would like to see these additions: 
(please comment)

2. Are there any changes or additions that should be made to the RHSE programme and curriculum coverage?

I am happy with the content and coverage

I would like to see these changes:
(please comment)

I would like to see these additions:
Please comment

3. Considering your own children, which of these areas/ topics do you think are most important in Relationship, Health and Sex Education Curriculum?
(Please leave a comment if appropriate).  

Different types of families and different genders

Changing bodies (puberty) and growing up

Feelings and emotions in relationships (including sexual relationships in Y5/6)

Having and looking after babies 

Online relationships and keeping safe

Other (please specify)

4. Is there an area that you do not think should be taught in school? 
(please leave a comment to explain)

I am confident that the school will cover areas age-appropriately and sensitively.

I would prefer the school not to cover an area/ some areas because
(leave a comment)

5. Would you like support at home on how to speak to your child/ren about Relationships and Sex Education?

I am confident to talk about these matters with my child/ren and would get support if I needed it.

I would like the school to provide a workshop on talking to children about Sex and Relationships and explain more about what is covered at school. 

I would like written information sent to me on this subject. 

Thank you for taking part in our survey - results attached.