Relationships, Social and Health Education Policy.

To embrace the challenges of creating a happy and successful adult life, pupils need knowledge that will enable them to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, health and relationships and to build their self-efficacy. Pupils can also put this knowledge into practice as they develop the capacity to make sound decisions when facing risks, challenges and complex contexts. Everyone faces difficult situations in their lives. These subjects can support young people to develop resilience, to know how and when to ask for help, and to know where to access support. Draft statutory guidance DfE Feb 2019

This policy is written in conjunction with the Relationships and Sex Education Policy, E-Safety Policy and British Values Statement, please refer to them for more information.

The RSHE curriculum is delivered under three core themes:

Health and Wellbeing

• what is meant by a healthy lifestyle
• how to maintain physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing
• how to manage risks to physical and emotional health and wellbeing
• ways of keeping physically and emotionally safe
• about managing change, including puberty, transition and loss
• how to make informed choices about health and wellbeing and to recognise sources of help with this
• how to respond in an emergency
• to identify different influences on health and wellbeing

Relationships

• how to develop and maintain a variety of healthy relationships, within a range of social/cultural contexts
• how to recognise and manage emotions within a range of relationships
• how to recognise risky or negative relationships including all forms of bullying and abuse
• how to respond to risky or negative relationships and ask for help
• how to respect equality and diversity in relationships

Living in the Wider World

• about respect for self and others and the importance of responsible behaviours and actions
• about rights and responsibilities as members of families, other groups and ultimately as citizens
• about different groups and communities
• to respect diversity and equality and how to be a productive member of a diverse community
• about the importance of respecting and protecting the environment
• about where money comes from, keeping it safe and the importance of managing it effectively
• the part that money plays in people’s lives
• a basic understanding of enterprise               

As part of the learning pupils need to develop assertiveness and skills of negotiation, conflict, resolution and to be able to express their feelings whilst being aware of their impact on others. Issues of children’s personal safety should be addressed and children also need to develop their role as a sensible consumer.

At this school we are aware that PSHE includes aspects of school life not confined to the classroom e.g. friendship, making school rules, being aware of other cultures and coping with change. These issues are as important as those planned for in the classroom. Both will complement each other as RSHE does not exist in a vacuum. Through the breadth of opportunities offered to children in both key stages, pupils will be encouraged to make choices and decisions in the issues which affect our lives. 

Monitoring and Evaluation

We ensure that RSHE has a a central place within our curriculum by having:

• A developmental and responsive programme at the centre of the school curriculum, providing  opportunities to teach concepts, knowledge, language, strategies and skills that enrich the wider curriculum.
• An experienced, central co-ordinator with a genuine passion for the subject in their school..
• A senior leadership committed to monitoring the quality of RSHE teaching with the same rigour and expectations as other subjects.
• Active involvement from members of the senior leadership team in teaching RSHE.
• RSHE education built around clear learning objectives and expected learning outcomes.
• RSHE education treated with the same regard as other subjects on the school’s curriculum.
• Scope for flexibility and creativity to change the direction of lessons in response to pupil need.
• Active involvement of governing bodies.

Equal Opportunities

All pupils have the opportunity to take part in our RSHE programme. As RSHE has been planned to cover all areas recommended by the National Curriculum, then issues can be met and discussed which may otherwise not arise informally. It is intended that school’s RSHE supports the personal and social development of children at home.

Sex Education

The schools follows the Shropshire “Respect yourself: Thing Good, Feel Great” programme for sex education throughout the school. Parents have the right to withdraw from sex education, more details about this can be found in the RSE Policy.

Assessment, recording and reporting

Pupils will be informally assessed by staff throughout their work and the reports to parents will reflect this.

Arrangements to monitor and review the policy

The policy will be reviewed in March 2024

The RSHE lead will monitor practice informally on the effectiveness of policy and practice.