R.S.E. Policy
Living God’s Love through:Academic provision that recognises the need for excellence in teaching and learning.
Holistic provision that encourages Christian hope; building spirit and soul through faith orientated pastoral care.
Inspirational provision through a modern curriculum that celebrates diversity and provides new
Relationships, Sex and Health Education Policy (R.S.H.E)
What is Relationships, Sex and Health Education?
From September 2020 it was mandatory for all Primary Schools to teach Relationships Education and Health Education.
For Relationships Education:
‘The focus in primary school should be on teaching the fundamental building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships, with particular reference to friendships, family relationships, and relationships with other children and with adults.’ From The Department for Education
For Health Education:
‘The focus in primary school should be on teaching the characteristics of good physical health and mental wellbeing. Teachers should be clear that mental wellbeing is a normal part of daily life, in the same way as physical health.’ From The Department for Education
Schools are also encouraged to teach Sex Education, however parts of this are not mandatory and parents and carers do have the right to withdraw their child from some of the content. More on this is explained under the subheading ‘Right to Withdraw’.
Countess Anne will deliver Sex Education to its pupils.
Please refer to the appendix of this policy which includes the full curriculum content for Relationships Education, Health Education and Sex Education, as outlined by The Department for Education 2025 publication:
How was this policy developed?
In 2019 The children and their families were invited to give their opinions on what they would like to learn, when and how. Their opinions were gathered through the use of questionnaires and discussions. The views of the children and families were then considered by the staff and governing body to develop a policy and curriculum which reflected the community’s opinions and characteristics.
In 2026 children and families were invited to give their opinions on the reviewed policy. The policy was reviewed in the light of DfE 2025 guidance in readiness for implementation in Sept ‘26.
Principles and Values at Countess Anne
Countess Anne Primary School believes that R.S.H.E should:
- Be an integral part of the lifelong learning process, beginning in early childhood and continue into adult life and that this is an entitlement for all young people.
- Encourage every pupil to feel able to contribute to discussions in a safe and supportive environment.
- Be set within the wider school context and support family commitment and love, respect and affection, knowledge and openness. Family is a broad concept; not just one model. It includes a variety of types of family structure, and acceptance of different approaches.
- Recognise the legal requirement to be compliant with the Equality Act (2010) and the Malicious Communications Act (1988).
- Encourage pupils and teachers to share and respect each other’s views.
- Allow time to discuss and educate about the impact of technology on student attitudes and knowledge including social media apps. At the same time, we encourage the safe use of technology in line with our e-safety policy.
- Generate an atmosphere where questions and discussion on sexual matters can take place without any stigma or embarrassment.
- Recognise that parents/carers are the key people in teaching their children about sex, relationships and growing up and consult them about the content of programmes.
- Be taught in the context of a Christian ethos.
A timeline of R.S.H.E at Countess Anne: What is taught when?
Below is an outline of when key aspects of the Relationships, Sex and Health Education will be taught.
Year 1: Safe and unsafe touch / creating ‘ground rules’, learning and playing together Friendship and bullying / Consent – asking permission
Year 2: Scientific vocabulary for human body parts, including genitalia. Special people in our lives / the human life cycle
NSPCC: Talk PANTS – 5-7 https://pshe-association.org.uk/lesson-plans/nspcc-talk-pants
Year 3: Changing and growing relationships education / Personal Identity / What makes a good friend / Falling out with friends / Belonging and Community
Year 4: Changing and growing up / Time to change / menstruation / wet dreams / personal hygiene / emotions and feelings / building confidence / Family Relationships / Family relationships / Diverse families / Marriage and partnerships
NSPCC: Talk PANTS – ages 7-9 Link: https://pshe-association.org.uk/lesson-plans/nspcc-talk-pants
Year 5: Giving and seeking / Permission / Personal boundaries / Appropriate and inappropriate touch NSPCC: Talk PANTS – ages 9-11
Year 6: Puberty recap / Puberty – change and becoming independent / Positive, healthy relationships / How a baby is made
Conception: Growing and Changing 8-11 Conception* the parental right to withdraw their child from sex education applies here.
In addition, year 6 pupils are given the opportunity to ask questions about what they might have seen or heard; this is especially important is the social-media and internet accessibility age within which they are growing up. As with any year group, discussion can lead into content that is beyond what has been outlined for that year group; a child may be dealing with a context, knowledge or experience which is beyond what would normally be expected. In these cases, teachers may refer to senior members of staff or the family. Small groups discussions may take place, recognising that other pupils may not necessarily be ready for such content. All discussions will be delivered within the context of the school’s ethos and values.
Please note that the latest 2025 DfE guidance states ‘Relationships education doesn’t involve explaining the detail of different forms of sexual activity, but can cover sensitive topics such as sexual violence in order to keep children safe’.
It should be noted that your child will have a weekly Personal, Social, Health & Economic lesson throughout the school year which will cover a broad range of objectives and that R.S.H.E lessons ‘sit’ within these lessons. The content of this lesson will be planned by your child’s class teacher and will come from the curriculum medium term plans for PHSE.
How the content will be taught, assessed and inclusion
We intend our policy to be sensitive to the needs of different children and their beliefs and backgrounds. We also intend our teaching of R.S.H.E to cater for the needs of children with a special educational need or disability. This will be done through differentiation by the teacher facilitating the session, which will usually be the class teacher. For some children, it may be appropriate that an adult will support them on a one-to-one basis. We will respond to parental requests and concerns. We will refer children to specialist support where we deem it appropriate and this will be discussed by the Pastoral Care Team. Although certain aspects of the curriculum will be taught during a year group, if a child is identified as having a need for an aspect of RSE sooner, this will be provided, following a discussion with the child’s parent/carer and consent if necessary.
We aim to deal sensitively and honesty with issues of gender identity and sexual orientation. We aim to answer appropriate questions and offer support. The children, whatever their background and developing identity, need to feel that relationships, sex and health education is relevant to them.
Assessment of pupils’ progress will be phrased the same as in other curriculum areas, i.e. using Blooms’ Taxomony and assessed using a variety of assessment tools as set out in the school’s assessment policy.
Year 1: Safe and unsafe touch
This will be taught using the teacher’s judgement. It may include role-play, video, art or a whole class and/or group discussion and be age appropriate.
Year 2: Scientific vocabulary for human body parts, including genitalia.
This will be taught using the teacher’s judgement. It may include role-play, art or a whole class and/or group discussion. The children may be shown a video and may be asked to label body parts.
Year 3: Changing and growing relationships education
This will be taught using the teacher’s judgement. It may include role-play, art or a whole class and/or group discussion.
Year 4: Changing and growing up including Puberty and recognising different types of families
This will be taught using the teacher’s judgement. It may include role-play, art or a whole class and/or group discussion. The children may be shown a video and may be asked to produce a piece of writing linked with their activity.
Year 5: Giving and seeking / Permission / Personal boundaries / Appropriate and inappropriate touch
This will be taught using the teacher’s judgement. It may include role-play, video, power point, art or a whole class and/or group discussion. The children will be given opportunity to ask questions anonymously.
Year 6: Puberty recap / Positive healthy relationships / Sexual reproduction
This will be taught using the teacher’s judgement. It may include role-play, art or a whole class and/or group discussion. The children will be shown a power point and a video and may be asked to produce a piece of writing linked with their activity. The children will be given opportunity to ask questions anonymously.
The school is aware that children may ask questions and they are encouraged to do so. The teacher(s) facilitating the session will answer questions that are relevant to the curriculum content that is being covered. If a child asks a question which goes beyond that content they will be encouraged to speak to their adults who care for them at home. The teacher(s) may feel it will be appropriate to speak with the child’s parents/carers about their child after a session has taken place.
Right of Withdrawal of Pupils from Sex and Relationship Education
The school is aware that the primary role in young people’s relationships, sex and health education lies with parents and carers. We wish to build a positive and supporting relationship with the parents and carers of the children at our school.
Parents have the right to withdraw their child from sex education, but not any part covered in the statutory Science curriculum or set out in the new DfE 2025 guidance https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6970e7e67e827090d02d42e0/Relationships_education_relationships_and_sex_education__RSE__and_health_education__for_intro_1_September_2026_.pdf
If a parent wishes their child to be withdrawn from any aspect of relationships, sex and health education, they should discuss this with the Head Teacher, and make it clear which aspects of the programme they do not wish their child to participate in. The school always complies with the wishes of parents in this regard and will provide appropriate sources of information for parents who wish to withdraw their children.
Curriculum Monitoring:
Delivery of the R.S.E curriculum will be monitored as part of the P.S.H.E curriculum by the subject co-ordinator and the trustees Curriculum Committee. This includes the use of work scrutiny, pupil voice interviews and an annual subject report to the curriculum committee by the subject leader.
Date of policy: Summer 2026
Date approved by trustees:
Date of next review: Autumn 2027
