Parent Consultation

Dear Parents/Carers,

As a part of your child's educational experience at Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, we aim to promote personal wellbeing and development through a comprehensive taught programme of Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education that gives children and young people the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live healthy, safe, productive and fulfilled lives, both now and in the future.

As you may already be aware, the Department for Education has announced changes to relationships and sex education following nationwide consultation. These changes will come into effect from September 2021 and all schools will be required to comply with the updated requirements. The statutory guidance can be found at Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The new guidance focuses on healthy relationships and keeping children safe in the modern world. It also covers a wide range of topics relating to physical and mental health, wellbeing, safeguarding and healthy relationships. Learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up will give children and young people the information, skills and positive values to have safe, fulfilling relationships and help them take responsibility for their own well-being.

Consequently, from September 2021, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), along with Health Education, will be statutory, and form part of the National Curriculum. This means that we have been reviewing our RSE curriculum and policy so we can be sure our RSE provision is appropriate for our pupils based on their:

  • Age

  • Physical and emotional maturity

  • Religious and cultural background

  • Special educational needs and disabilities

What is taught, and how it is taught, is ultimately a decision for the school and consultation does not provide a parental veto on curriculum content as schools are legally required to teach the National Curriculum . The right to withdraw children from some lessons is explained in the FAQs which accompanies this blog.

We are currently in unprecedented times, which makes it a little more challenging to consult with you. To help you understand the curriculum requirements, I have placed information on our website which I would encourage you to read. This includes:

  1. a summary of what all pupils are expected to know by the end of primary school (PDF)

  2. FAQ sheet (PDF)

  3. An overview of the changes (PDF)

  4. Sample training powerpoints (for staff) : Families. Healthy Eating (PDF) and Physical Health and Fitness (PDF)

In school, we will using the 3D dimension scheme to help teach the PSHE and RSE Curriculum. An example of a Year 6 lesson plan can be found here. An example of a Year 1 lesson plan can be found here.

Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions, I can not invite you into school, to look at the curriculum documents in more detail. However, I would like to invite parents to a TEAMs meeting on Wednesday 10th February at 10am, where I will discuss our RSE curriculum in more detail and share (virtually) some of the resources we will be using.

If you would like to attend the TEAMS meeting, please send me your email address (via the contact Miss Goodson button) and I will email you a link to the meeting.

If you are unable to attend the TEAMs meeting, but would like to share your views or any questions, please feel free to email me: again please use the contact Miss Goodson button. I will collate any questions and respond via a Frequently Asked Questions blog.

I look forward to hearing your views and thank you for your support in this matter.

Miss Goodson

Andrea Goodson