Introduction

RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education) is learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, relationships, sex, human sexuality and sexual health in an age and stage appropriate manner. RSHE equips children and young people with accurate information, positive values and the skills to enjoy healthy, safe and positive relationships, to celebrate their sexuality and to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing both now and in the future.

At Sedlescombe we recognise the importance of RSHE in preparing children and young people to live safe, fulfilled and healthy lives. The overarching objective of RSHE is to support children and young people through a journey of physical, emotional and moral development via the teaching of essential knowledge, skills and values. Our RSHE vision ensures that our children learn, love and grow together, developing skills and positive values to have a safe, happy and healthy life.

RSHE Expectations

By the end of primary school know the following key information:

Families and People who Care for me:

• that families are important for children growing up because they can give love, security and stability.
• the characteristics of healthy family life, commitment to each other, including in times of difficulty, protection and care for children and other family members, the importance of spending
  time together and sharing each other’s lives.
• that others’ families, either in school or in the wider world, sometimes look different from their family, but that they should respect those differences and know that other children’s families
  are also characterised by love and care.
• that stable, caring relationships, which may be of different types, are at the heart of happy families, and are important for children’s security as they grow up.
• that marriage represents a formal and legally recognised commitment of two people to each other which is intended to be lifelong.
• how to recognise if family relationships are making them feel unhappy or unsafe, and how to seek help or advice from others if needed.

Caring Friendships:

• how important friendships are in making us feel happy and secure, and how people choose and make friends.
• the characteristics of friendships, including mutual respect, truthfulness, trustworthiness, loyalty, kindness, generosity, trust, sharing interests and experiences and support with problems and
  difficulties.
• that healthy friendships are positive and welcoming towards others, and do not make others feel lonely or excluded.
• that most friendships have ups and downs, and that these can often be worked through so that the friendship is repaired or even strengthened, and that resorting to violence is never right.
• how to recognise who to trust and who not to trust, how to judge when a friendship is making them feel unhappy or uncomfortable, managing conflict, how to manage these situations and how to
  seek help or advice from others, if needed.

Respectful Relationships:

• the importance of respecting others, even when they are very different from them (for example, physically, in character, personality or backgrounds), or make different choices or have
  different preferences or beliefs.
• practical steps they can take in a range of different contexts to improve or support respectful relationships.
• the conventions of courtesy and manners.
• the importance of self-respect and how this links to their own happiness.
• that in school and in wider society they can expect to be treated with respect by others, and that in turn they should show due respect to others, including those in positions of authority.
• about different types of bullying (including cyberbullying), the impact of bullying, responsibilities of bystanders (primarily reporting bullying to an adult) and how to get help.
• what a stereotype is, and how stereotypes can be unfair, negative or destructive.
• the importance of permission-seeking and giving in relationships with friends, peers and adults.

Online Relationships:

• that people sometimes behave differently online, including by pretending to be someone they are not.
• that the same principles apply to online relationships as to face-to-face relationships, including the importance of respect for others online including when we are anonymous.
• the rules and principles for keeping safe online, how to recognise risks, harmful content and contact, and how to report them.
• how to critically consider their online friendships and sources of information including awareness of the risks associated with people they have never met.
• how information and data is shared and used online.

Being Safe:

• what sorts of boundaries are appropriate in friendships with peers and others (including in a digital context).
• about the concept of privacy and the implications of it for both children and adults; including that it is not always right to keep secrets if they relate to being safe.
• that each person’s body belongs to them, and the differences between appropriate and inappropriate or unsafe physical, and other, contact.
• how to respond safely and appropriately to adults they may encounter (in all contexts, including online) whom they do not know.
• how to recognise and report feelings of being unsafe or feeling bad about any adult.
• how to ask for advice or help for themselves or others, and to keep trying until they are heard.
• how to report concerns or abuse, and the vocabulary and confidence needed to do so.
• where to get advice e.g. family, school and/or other sources.

Our Vision for RSHE

Effective RSHE can make a significant contribution to the development of personal skills and learning behaviours needed by children to make responsible and informed decisions about their health, wellbeing, relationships and lifestyles.

Aspiration

RSHE enables children to set goals, identify barriers to these goals and problem solve how they can overcome these barriers.

Creativity

Lessons are planned and delivered to harness children’s creativity and problem solving skills, developing skills to look at things from different perspectives and challenge ideas.

Curiosity

Children will be exposed to a range of differing lifestyles, cultures and values. This will foster an ability to ask sensitive questions and develop an interest and understanding of others.

Courage

RSHE encourages all children to participate in lessons in a safe environment. A “charter” is agreed upon and discussed at the start of every session which allows all children to have the courage to fully participate in learning.

Cooperation

Children are expected to work together, in a range of groupings to solve problems and discuss issues. Relationships, families and friendships are a crucial part of the RSHE curriculum, teaching children how to resolve conflict, develop self-worth and how to stay safe in a range of situations.

Independence

Through Sedlescombe’s RSHE curriculum children are taught the importance of self-identity, self-worth, keeping safe, making healthy and safe choices and respecting self. These are critical skills to becoming independent learners.