This consultation begins on Monday 25^th January 2021 and will close on Monday 8^th February 2021.

As a part of your child’s educational experience at Horniman Primary School, we aim to promote personal wellbeing and development through a comprehensive taught programme of Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE) that gives children and young people the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live healthy, safe, productive and fulfilled lives, both now and in the future.

The Department for Education has made changes to relationships and sex education following nationwide consultation which due to come into effect from September 2020 but was extended to April 2021 due to Covid, and all schools are required to comply with the updated requirements. The statutory guidance can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education

The guidance focuses on healthy relationships and keeping children safe in the modern world. It also covers a wide range of topics relating to physical and mental health, wellbeing, safeguarding and healthy relationships. Learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up will give children and young people the information, skills and positive values to have safe, healthy relationships and help them take responsibility for their own well-being.

Consequently, from April 2021, Relationships and Health Education, will be statutory, and form part of the National Curriculum. Sex Education in primary school will remain non-statutory but it is strongly recommended that it is taught.

We have reviewed our current RSE curriculum and policy so we can be sure our relationships, health and sex education (RHSE) provision is appropriate for our pupils based on their:

• Age
• Physical and emotional maturity
• Religious and cultural backgrounds
• Special educational needs and disabilities

As part of this process, the school is consulting with parents, staff and governors to help inform our schools’ decisions on when and how certain content is covered.

The Consultation Questions are as follows:

1. Would you like support at home, on how to speak to your child about relationships, health and sex?

2. Are there any changes or additions that you think should be made to the RHSE Policy?

3. Are there any changes or additions that you think should be made to the RHSE Curriculum Map?

4. Thinking about relationships, health and sex education, what do you believe is the most important subject area that should be taught for different age groups/key stages and why?

5. Thinking about relationships, health and sex education, is there an area that you think should not be taught for different age groups/key stages and why?

Whilst I am sure that there will be differences of opinion about this, we hope that consulting with you will help to inform our schools’ decisions on when and how certain content is covered, and enable us to reach a general consensus. Consequently, as part of our curriculum review, we would appreciate your views on our draft policy for Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE)

What is taught, and how, is ultimately a decision for the school and consultation does not provide a parental veto on curriculum content as schools are legally required to teach the National Curriculum. The right to withdraw children from some lessons is explained within the policy and FAQs which is on our website.

Please find below:

• a summary of what all pupils are expected to know by the end of primary school,
• A powerpoint presentation for parents (also saved as a PDF) which gives an overview of RHSE and the rationale behind the curriculum changes
• DfE FAQ sheet,
• Our  Policy for Relationships, Health and Sex Education
• DfE guidance that outlines statutory requirements.

A parent consultation survey will be uploaded and open from:

Monday 25^th January 2021 to Monday 8^th February 2021