Relationships and Health Education (RHE)
We all want children to grow up healthy, happy, safe, and able to manage the challenges and opportunities of modern Britain. That is why the Department for Education made Relationships and Health Education compulsory in all primary schools in England from September 2020.
The aim of relationships education is to teach the fundamental building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships, with particular reference to friendships, family relationships and relationships with other children and adults. Health education aims to provide children with the information they need to make good decisions about their own health and well being, to recognise issues in themselves and others, and to seek support as early as possible when issues arise.
At Gislingham, we aim to provide children with the information needed to develop healthy, nurturing relationships through their childhood and into adult life. Pupils are supported to treat each other with kindness, recognise the differences between online and offline friendships and to develop respect for others and for difference. We create opportunities that ensure children are taught about positive emotional and mental well being and how friendships can impact on this. Children will also be taught, in an age appropriate way, to recognise and report different types of abuse, including emotional, physical and sexual. This will include focusing on boundaries and privacy so that children understand that they have rights over their own bodies and know how to seek advice when they suspect or know something is wrong.
RHE enhances and is enhanced by learning related to topics including anti-bullying; keeping safe on and off line; keeping physically and mentally healthy, learning about drugs, alcohol and tobacco; and the development of skills and attributes such as communication skills, managing peer pressure, risk management, resilience and decision making which link with our Curriculum Framework for Independence.
In our school, we aim to meet the learning objectives as set out in the Relationships Education, Relationship & Sex Education and Health Education (England) Regulations 2019 for primary schools with a whole curriculum approach where possible as we feel this contributes significantly to a child’s knowledge and understanding. For example, computing lessons include online relationships and internet safety and harms; science lessons include healthy eating, physical health and fitness, health and prevention and the changing adolescent body; and, linked with RE, children reflect on family relationships, different family groups and friendship. They learn about rituals and traditions associated with birth, marriage and death and talk about the emotions involved. Since RHE incorporates the development of mental well being and relationships, pupils’ learning does not just take place through the taught curriculum but through all aspects of school life including the playground. Aspects of RHE that cannot be taught effectively through other subjects, is covered through our broader PSHE/RHE curriculum.
Top tips for talking to your child...
Talking to your child about their feelings, relationships and changing body is important. Building good channels of communication throughout childhood can help your child to communicate with you as future issues of increasing seriousness arise.
Your child needs to know that it's OK to talk, and that you're happy to talk. They will learn this through your body language, tone and manner when you talk so try to behave as you would in any other topic of conversation.
Below are simple strategies to make talking about feelings, relationships and the body more comfortable:
✔ Start by talking about something that you both find comfortable, such as feelings and emotions.
✔ Ask your child what they think their friends know/think about the topic, as this provides a way to talk about your child’s views indirectly.
✔ Avoid ‘The Chat’. Talk about these topics little and often over everyday events like playing, drawing, whilst driving in the car or watching TV. This
can help to normalise the conversation, easing uncomfortable feelings.
✔ Reading a story book containing relevant content is a helpful way to stimulate discussion with your child.
✔ Don’t leave it too late. Start talking about relevant topics before you feel your child is approaching a level of curiosity about it, so you establish
strong channels of communication in readiness.
✔ Be prepared to listen. Your child will want to have their voice heard without feeling judged. Feeling listened to will encourage your child to talk
about issues in the future.
✔ If your child asks you a question you are not sure how to answer, don’t panic! Let them know that you will answer it at another time, making sure
you remember to. Sometimes a simple answer can provide a sufficient response.
✔ Try to listen calmly, even if what they say surprises or concerns you. Remember that it is good that they are comfortable to discuss issues with
you. They need to trust that you will not respond negatively.