Department for Education (DfE) statutory requirements for Relationships and Health Education
Dear Parents/Carers
Previously, all schools have been expected to provide PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) Education in their curriculum. This expectation has been strengthened from September 2020, when Relationships and Health Education aspects of the primary curriculum became compulsory in all schools. You can read about these changes in this DfE guide for parents here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-sex-and-health-education-guides-for-schools.
The DfE also strongly encourages primary schools to deliver sex education to help prepare children for their transition to secondary school. Most schools, including ours, are already delivering very effective Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and the new guidance is simply about ensuring that all children get the information they need and want. The lessons will help children to learn about their bodies including the changes that take place at puberty, and will help keep them safe, so they can form healthy relationships (friendships) with others, now and in the future.
At our school we are using the leading children’s health and wellbeing charity, Coram Life Education (CLE) to support us in meeting these legal requirements. We do this by using their online SCARF (which represents their values for children of Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience and Friendship) teaching resources. It’s vital that schools continue to cover the full breadth of PSHE education subjects that are outside the scope of the DfE’s statutory requirements so that wider life issues can be explored; these include economic education, environmental and community issues, rights and responsibilities.
SCARF provides a comprehensive scheme of work for PSHE education and covers all of the DfE’s statutory requirements for Relationships and Health Education. It also covers the learning opportunities within the PSHE Association’s Programme of Study, therefore providing for elements such as the rights of the child, caring for the environment, economic education, and children’s social, moral, spiritual and cultural (SMSC) education, including British Values, which are statutory requirements.
More information about Coram Life Education and SCARF can be found on their website:
www.coramlifeeducation.org.uk
Research shows that delivering this vital education has a positive effect on mental health and is a protective factor when it comes to safeguarding children. It has also been demonstrated that children with better health (including mental health) and wellbeing are likely to achieve better academically. By learning about positive relationships, respect for themselves and others, and behaving appropriately and safely online, they are better able to enjoy their friendships and therefore focus more at school.
Please see below for our new PSHE Education Policy which includes the changes to the statutory requirements outlined above. We recognise that parents play a vital part in their child’s education and we encourage you to discuss these themes with your child at home as well. If further advice or support is required, or if you have any questions about the programme or would like to view the resources, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher or Miss Forth (our PSHE subject lead).
Kind regards
Mr W. Kirtley
Headteacher