Relationship and sex education

Relationship education for primary age pupils, and relationships and sex education and online safety for secondary age pupils, became a mandatory part of the school curriculum from September 2020.

Most parents and carers support the provision of comprehensive Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in schools, but they might want clear information about what is being taught and why.

Schools can help by letting them know what resources and techniques they can use at home to supplement school lessons.

Why not invite parents and carers to experience an RSE lesson so they know what it will be like for their children. You can even ask them to submit their questions in advance, so you get a feel for what they are thinking.

It’s a great time to share some of the resources you use and the importance of teaching the right topic at the right time.

The Kent school health team have a number of narrated webinars and resources to support schools in this process.

High quality RSE should:

• be accurate and factual, covering a comprehensive range of information about sex, relationships, the law and sexual health, in order to support young people to make informed choices
• be positively inclusive in terms of gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, culture, age, religion or belief or other life-experiences including HIV status and pregnancy
• support young people to develop the skills needed for healthy and safe relationships including ways to communicate with sexual partners
• promote a critical awareness of the different attitudes and views on sex and relationships within society such as peer norms and how these are portrayed in the media
• provide opportunities for reflection in order to nurture personal values based on mutual respect and care
• make sure children and young people are clearly informed of their rights including how they can access confidential advice and health services within the boundaries of safeguarding;
• be delivered by competent and confident educators;
• take place in a safe environment based on the principle that prejudice, discrimination and bullying are harmful and unacceptable
• be relevant to the needs of children and young people, and actively involve them as participants, advocates and evaluators in developing good quality provision;
• be part of lifelong learning, starting early in childhood and continuing throughout life. It should reflect the age and level of the learner.

Healthy relationships and domestic abuse

Forming healthy, positive relationships helps children and young people feel safe and supported as they grow. Abusive relationships including witnessing domestic abuse, impacts on young people's mental and physical health. They may feel anxious or not free to make their own decisions, they may suffer from low self-esteem and depression, experience headaches or have other ongoing physical health symptoms.

It is important children are taught about healthy relationships from an early age. Knowing how to recognise a healthy relationship, how to maintain healthy boundaries and what the early warning signs of abuse are is vital. It will help them have less chance of staying in unhealthy or abusive relationships throughout childhood and later as an adult.