Whole School Approach

From September 2020 all schools must consider the statutory guidance when teaching relationships, sex and health education.

Working with subject experts , the Department for Education has developed training modules so subject leads or other staff members can train groups of teachers in a variety of ways. Each module contains:

Key knowledge and facts to help teach the statutory guidance
Activities and templates to help run a training session
Guidance to help teachers tackle difficult questions

The training modules have been split into different topics within the curriculum which can be adapted to suit the needs of the school.

DfE Training Modules

At all times when developing curriculum and teaching relationships, sex, and health education, maintained schools must comply with their duties under the 1996 Education Act regarding political impartiality. The local authority, governing body and head teacher must:

forbid the pursuit of partisan political activities by junior pupils
forbid the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject in the school
take reasonably practicable steps to secure that where political issues are brought to the attention of pupils, they are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views

Schools should be aware that the meaning of political issues does not refer solely to the discussion of party politics. Schools are advised to consider the range of issues on which there could be political views, which may include global affairs, equalities issues, religion, and economics.

A Checklist for Commissioning Healthy Relationships Training and Teaching Resources

Developing the Curriculum

To help school leaders plan and develop the RSHE curriculum, the DfE has produced guidance on:

curriculum planning
creating an inclusive classroom
developing a policy for the new curriculum
adapting an existing programme of study

Click here for the guidance:

Plan your relationships, sex and health curriculum

Schools, however, may need to consider the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak when delivering the curriculum and should adhere to health and safety and safeguarding policies.

Timeframe for the implementation of RSHE

Engaging with parents and Carers

Schools must engage parents and carers about the relationships and sex education curriculum at the planning stage. It is important that schools set out their approach to the subjects fully and clearly. See engaging parents with relationships education policy for more information. Although aimed at primary schools, much of this guide is applicable to secondary schools.

The DfE has provided guides for parents to help schools communicate with parents/carers about the new curriculum and what it includes.

When planning the curriculum, state-funded schools should be mindful of the requirement under the Human Rights Act 1998 – to respect the right of parents to ensure education and teaching in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions. All schools should be mindful of their duties under the Equality Act 2010.

Pupils with SEND

In special schools and for some pupils with special educational needs or disability (SEND) in mainstream schools, schools may need to tailor content and teaching to meet the specific needs of pupils at different developmental stages.

For pupils with an education, health and care (EHC) plan, it may be appropriate to link lesson outcomes with statutory preparing for adulthood outcomes. See SEND code of practice, section 8 for more information about preparing for adulthood.

For pupils with SEND, it is important that teaching within this curriculum area is:

sensitive
age-appropriate
developmentally appropriate
delivered with reference to the law

Source: DfE December 2020

The Cambridgeshire Learn Together website provides a central hub of information and resources for all main curriculum areas and is supported by a host of local authority organisations.

Visit the Cambridgeshire Learn Together Website

Local Support

Cambridgeshire Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) Service

Cambridgeshire Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) Service The Cambridgeshire PSHE Service provides guidance, consultancy, training and resources to support and enhance the health and wellbeing of children and young people and their learning. This includes the curriculum for PSHE and Citizenship: its content, approaches to teaching and learning and monitoring and assessment. We also

Dhiverse

Dhiverse’s mission is to provide high quality sexual health and HIV support, education and information for all. Click on the links below to find out about the full range of services available as well as to visit the website. Call:01223 508805E-mail: [email protected]

Life Education Cambridgeshire & Peterborough

Life Education is a primary prevention programme focusing on drug and health education. We explore with young people how amazing their bodies are and how the human body can be affected by drugs. We develop understanding around physical and mental health. Through the ‘life skills’ approach, children are enabled to practise how to make healthy

Nessie

Nessie is commissioned by Cambridgeshire County Council to provide free support to families of children and young people who self-harm. Nessie will be offering: parent workshops across Cambridgeshire schools, in community settings and online targeted 1-1 parent support telephone and online parent support school based group support for targeted group of young people NESSie is

SAFE

We are a voluntary service focused on supporting young people identified by services as being at significant/moderate risk of Criminal Exploitation within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. We can work with young people up to the age of 17, currently we have no minimum age restriction. We take referrals from a range of statutory and community services

Terrence Higgins Trust

THT is part of the Cambridge and Peterborough Sexual Ill-Health Prevention Service We offer a range of services around sexual health. These include: Supporting schools to deliver RSE by offering free workshops. Offering free workshops on sexual health issues in community venues and online. Delivering free and confidential gonorrhoea/chlamydia screening in schools, community venues and

The Kite Trust

The Kite Trust offers tailored staff training packages for all schools and colleges on LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning plus other related identities) inclusion and combating LGBTphobic bullying (also known as HBT – homophobic, biphobic and transphobic- bullying). We also deliver assemblies and workshops for students across the age ranges and offer support around