I am a citizen. I am continually finding out who I am in this world, finding my own pathways and ideas. I understand relationships. I know that these are connections with others and know that these can change with different people and different contexts, including online, families and friendships. I know what healthy, positive and respectful relationships look like. My relationships with others are important and I develop the skills to know which ones are supportive and ones that are unsafe or unhelpful to me. I learn about how I change as I get older, on the inside and the outside, ready to become an adult. I am able to identify body parts and know how living things reproduce. I experience different feelings and emotions and learn to identify what these are with the help of others around me. I know how to look after my physical health and wellbeing. I know the benefits of exercise, good nutrition, hygiene and sleep and know where to find support if I am feeling worried about something. I develop my understanding that I am one person amongst different communities – virtual and real. I learn that I have rights but also responsibilities and know there are consequences to my actions, both to myself and to others. I develop my individual and collective voice and use it democratically. I learn how to stay safe in the real world and online, and how to keep healthy, both physically and mentally.
The Government guidance sets out the content under the following headings: ‘Families and people who care for me’, ‘Caring friendships’, ‘Respectful relationships’, ‘Online relationships’, ‘Being safe’. Relationships Education teaches the essential building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships, with particular reference to friendships, family relationships, and relationships with other peers and adults. We believe that children should learn about relationships as well as the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, human sexuality and sexual health in an age-appropriate way. In Relationships Education, children will learn about subjects including families, friendships, relationships and being safe, including characteristics of healthy family life. This covers varieties in family life, and how to recognise if family relationships are making them feel unhappy or unsafe, the rules and principles for keeping safe online, and appropriate boundaries in peer friendships.
Under the National Curriculum, the basics of sex education fall within the science curriculum. The statutory content requires maintained schools to teach children about human development, including puberty, and reproduction. Pupils should learn the correct terminology for parts of the body and know how the body changes as they get older in preparation for adulthood.
Physical Health education supports pupils to learn about making healthy choices and lifestyles, including topics such as sleep, first aid and dental care. Pupils learn how physical activity can provide immediate and long-term benefits, and reduce the risks of ill health. It also makes the links between physical and mental wellbeing. They learn about healthy foods and how healthy eating is an important part of keeping a healthy weight and protecting against some diseases.
Online safety education teaches pupils:
Mental health and Wellbeing Education supports children to understand their emotions and feelings, and how they can feel comfortable in sharing worries and concerns. It teaches pupils to understand what is normal and what may be an issue that they may need support with. It makes the link between physical health and mental health. It supports the development of self-regulation and how to deal with set-backs.
