Understanding Relationship and Health (RSE) at St John's 

• It is vital that all children grow up healthy, happy, safe, and able to manage the challenges and opportunities of modern Britain. That is why it is a statutory requirement for all primary age children to be taught about Relationships and Health Education.
• These subjects are designed to equip your child with knowledge to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, health and relationships as well as preparing them for a successful adult life. The world for all young people looks very different from the way it did 20 years ago when this curriculum was last updated – these changes bring the content into the 21st century, so that it is relevant for your child.
• As all schools have, we have the flexibility to deliver the content in a way that is age and developmentally appropriate and sensitive to the needs and religious background of its pupils.

Relationship Education

• Relationships Education will put in place the building blocks needed for positive and safe relationships, including with family, friends and online.
• Your child will be taught what a relationship is, what friendship is, what family means and who can support them. In an age-appropriate way, your child’s school will cover how to treat each other with kindness, consideration and respect.
• By the end of primary school, pupils will have been taught content on:

Health Education

• Health Education aims to give your child the information they need to make good decisions about their own health and wellbeing, to recognise issues in themselves and others, and to seek support as early as possible when issues arise.
• By the end of primary school, pupils will have been taught content on:
  • mental wellbeing
  • internet safety and harms
  • physical health and fitness
  • healthy eating
  • facts and risks associated with drugs, alcohol and tobacco
  • health and prevention
  • basic first aid
  • changing adolescent body
• You can find further detail by searching ‘relationships and health education’ on GOV.UK.

Your rights as a parent

• The important lessons you teach your child about healthy relationships, looking after themselves and staying safe, are respected and valued under this new curriculum. Teaching at school will complement and reinforce the lessons you teach your child as they grow up.
• As a school we do no teach anything that is non - statutory within PSHE lessons.
• Consequently, you will not be able to withdraw your child from Relationship Education. 
• The Science curriculum in all maintained schools also includes content on human development, including reproduction, which there is also no right to withdraw from. 
• The PDF at the bottom of the page show how our curriculum is designed and how our scheme of work is put together. It contains a skills progression progressions document that shows how each unit builds on prior knowledge as the children progress at St  John's
• If you have any questions or queries, please feel free to contact Mr Barton at school and he will be happy to answer. 

Helping your child with RSE at home

The role of parents and careers in the development of their children's understanding about relationships is vital. Parents are the first teachers of their children and know them the best. They have the most significant influence in enabling their children to grow and mature and to form healthy relationships. By talking to their child about these topics parents and careers are: 

Below are some website links to sites which can help you, should you feel like you need some more information on issues surrounding RSE. If you would like to speak to someone in school about these matters, please ask for Mr Barton.