PSHE - Celebrating Differences, RSE, Drugs and Alcohol Ed.
Welcome to our PSHE page.
At Crosslee Primary we recognise the value of PSHE to enable our children to develop knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives, both in the present and in the future. Our school works in partnership with the Manchester Healthy Schools Team to improve the health and wellbeing of children through our PSHE curriculum which includes Relationships, Health and Sex Education. There are 7 thematic areas within the Healthy Schools curriculum: Healthy Lifestyles, Social and Emotional Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Sex Education, Drugs and Alcohol Education, Unintentional Injury Prevention and Personal Social and Health Education.
Through our PSHE curriculum we aim to:
- Provide engaging and enjoyable learning experiences which are meaningful and appropriate for the children in our school.
- Meet the statutory requirements for relationships and health education.
- Develop the knowledge and skills pupils need to keep themselves healthy and safe, and to feel confident and prepared for living a fulfilling life.
- Develop personal skills and attributes such as resilience, self-esteem, teamworking, risk-management and critical thinking.
- Encourage our children to become responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society.
Please have a look at the Primary IMatter PSHE Curriculum Overview which has been added to the files below.
Celebrating Differences
At Crosslee Primary School Equality is one of our School Values and we believe that all children should feel safe and respected. There are a variety of family situations in British society; some children will have parents who are separated, some may live with a mum and a dad, some may have step-parents, and some may be fostered or adopted. Some may have other family arrangements; and some will have LGBTQ parents or other LGBTQ family members. Any child who lives in a family that is different from the stereotypical household of mum, dad, and children should not be made to feel less accepted, or that their family is any less loving and caring. Our curriculum celebrates differences through age appropriate books - have a look at the booklist added to the files below.
We have included some links to resources that are useful to support our pupils, parents and carers with learning about differences.
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/tf-or-35-we-are-all-different-story-powerpoint
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-p-83-embrace-our-differences-powerpoint-1
http://www.standup2racism.org.uk/resources/teaching/
https://www.bullying.co.uk/advice-for-parents/what-to-do-about-racist-bullying/
Relationships and Sex Education & Health Education
From September 2020, all primary schools are required by the government to teach Relationships and Health Education. Health Education will help children to make good decisions about their health and wellbeing and enable them to know how to seek support if any health issues arise for themselves or others. If you would like more information about statutory Relationships and Health Education, please click below to read the government guide “Understanding Relationships and Health Education in your child’s primary school: a guide for parents”.
Why teach RSE? (Relationships and Sex Education)
The Government’s definition is this:
“It is lifelong learning about physical, moral and emotional development. It is about the understanding of the importance of marriage for family life, stable and loving relationships, respect, love and care. It is also about the teaching of sex, sexuality, and sexual health. It is not about the promotion of sexual activity – this would be inappropriate teaching.” (Department for Education and Employment, SRE Guidance, 2000)
Please have a look at the RSE lessons from Year 1 - Year 6 which have been added to the files below. Please note that the RSE lessons are age appropriate for your child's year group.
Why is RSE needed?
• More than ever before, children are exposed to representations of sex and sexuality through the media/ social media and the social culture around them, so we need to present a balanced view of RSE and help them to be discerning and stay safe.
• Rates of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) and teenage pregnancy in the UK are relatively high – as is the regret felt by young people after early sexual experiences.
• Research shows that most parents say they want the support of schools in providing RSE for their children.
• Research consistently shows that effective RSE delays first sexual experience and reduces risk- taking.
• Surveys of children and young people, as well as Ofsted, have repeatedly told us that RSE tends to be “too little, too late and too biological”RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) is designed to help children to have positive and safe relationships with family, friends and online.
What are the aims of RSE?
There are four main aims for teaching RSE within the context of Primary School PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education):
• To enable young people to understand and respect their bodies, and be able to cope with the changes puberty brings, without fear or confusion
• To help young people develop positive and healthy relationships appropriate to their age, development etc. (respect for self and others)
• To support young people to have positive self-esteem and body image, and to understand the influences and pressures around them
• To empower them to be safe and safeguarded
Here are some tips for talking to your child:
• Be honest: if you don’t know the answer to a question, be honest and say so. Tell your child that you will need to find out and that you will get back to them with more soon.
• Remember that children are curious and want to know and understand. We tend to place our adult perspective on children’s questions and comments, allowing our brains to fill up with all the possible horrors that an innocent question could be about, when actually a child just wants (and needs) a very simple, matter-of-fact answer. This answer will not involve an ‘adult’ understanding of a topic – it needs to be at a child’s level, with opportunity given for the child to be able to ask further questions if needed. Give yourself time to respond by asking something like, “What do you think that means?” or “Why do you ask?”
• Keep lines of communication open: having an open and honest relationship with your child can really help make conversations easier, so make sure that you are always willing to talk when your child needs you; if you can’t, explain why and find another time when it is more mutually convenient.
• Use correct terminology: it helps that children aren’t confused by hints, euphemisms and innuendo; use correct terminology whenever you can, especially for body parts. This is hugely important for safeguarding too.
• Respond to what children say they need: bear in mind that children’s lives today are very different from even five years ago.Therefore, the education they receive needs to reflect this. Research shows us time and time again that children want and need RSE that is age- and stage-appropriate, that teaches them about relationships and emotions, and that is returned to consistently throughout their education. We may feel that they know too much, when actually ignorance is the enemy of innocence: we believe effective RSE delays sexual activity, ensures children are safer and empowers them to make their own healthy choices.
• Answer questions and don’t be afraid to say: ‘I really don’t know – let’s work it out or look it up together’. Have a phrase for awkward moments, such as: ‘That’s a good question, and let’s talk about it once we get home’ (then make sure you do!). • Always respond: if you don’t, she or he may think it is wrong to talk to you about relationships, puberty or human reproduction and as a result you may find your child clams up when you raise the subject.
• If it all feels too personal, try talking about people in books, films and favourite television programmes.
• Listen rather than judge. Try asking them what they think.
• Enjoy it. Laugh with each other.
• Work in partnership with the school.
• Most parents/carers want their children to be healthy and happy.
If you have any questions please contact the school.
Keeping Safe - Drugs and Health Education
Drugs and alcohol education is fundamental for children and young people to grow up healthy and safe. Effective alcohol and drug education builds pupil resilience and life skills around alcohol and drugs.
The DfE and ACPO drug advice for schools states:
“School staff are best placed to decide on the most appropriate response to tackling drugs within their school. This is most effective when:
*it is supported by the whole school community;
*drug education is part of a well-planned programme of PSHE education delivered in a supportive environment, where pupils are aware of the school rules, feel able to engage in open discussion and feel confident about asking for help if necessary;
*staff have access to high quality training and support.”
As part of our commitment to be a nurturing school we will offer a range of opportunities for children to build self-esteem, resilience and aspirations, as well as a positive view towards health and self-respect, all of which underpin drug and alcohol education.
In EYFS and KS1 the lessons focus on how to keep safe in familiar/unfamilar environments, keeping safe at home and how medicines help us when we are unwell. KS2 continues to build on keeping safe through recognising risks and introduces the risks of smoking in Year 3, the differences between legal and illegal drugs in Year 4 and drugs in Year 5 and 6.
For more information on the Year 1 -6 lesson content refer to the Primary IMatter PSHE Curriculum overview file at the bottom of the page.
Signposting and guidance
If you need support or advice regarding any isuues with drugs or alcohol misuse please refer to the websites listed below;
• Eclypse is a free and confidential drug and alcohol service for young people under 19 and families in Manchester. https://www.changegrowlive.org/eclypse-manchester
▪ Drinkaware is an independent charity working to reduce alcohol misuse and harm in the UK. They’re there to help people make better choices about drinking. https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/
▪ FRANK is a national drug education service for young people which includes a website with an A-Z of drugs, a telephone helpline and information to access local counselling and treatment. https://www.talktofrank.com/
▪ NHS Smoke Free offers advice, information and links to local expert support.
▪ Re-Solv is a national charity dedicated to the prevention of solvent and volatile substance abuse.
▪ Rise Above is a health and wellbeing website for young people. ‘Rise Above’ tackles topics that young people are most concerned about, such as puberty, relationships, alcohol, selfharm, smoking, contraceptive choices, drugs, body confidence, peer pressure and mental health.
National Support
▪ FRANK is a national drug education service for young people which includes a website with an A-Z of drugs, a telephone helpline and information to access local counselling and treatment. https://www.talktofrank.com/
Files to Download
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