Relationship and Sex Education teaching set to improve
An event for schools in Telford and Wrekin to introduce the award winning Respect Yourself Relationship and Sex Education Programme, was held at The Park Inn on the 23rd January.
The programme provides schools in the borough with the tools they need to deliver age-appropriate, up-to-date lessons to help pupils keep themselves healthy, happy and safe.
Lesson plans, resources and work for parents and school staff are included so that people can feel confident about how to address health issues in a positive and co-ordinated way.
Sian Deane, Head Teacher at Holmer Lake Primary School and Lead for the Future in Mind Project, said: “Respect Yourself Relationship and Sex Education Programme is exactly what we need in our school to help keep our pupils informed and healthy.
“The most recent Telford and Wrekin Health Watch survey; identified that relationships are the biggest cause of stress in young people’s lives.”
“But the curriculum for relationships education was last updated in 2000, since then the lives of young people have changed significantly.”
“The rise of social media means that children and young people are accessing information from a wide variety of sources. Much of that information can be incorrect, leaving children with misconceptions about relationships and sex.”
“Having an up to date curriculum that addresses what constitutes healthy relationships will mean that we will be better placed to support children and young people.”
“Respect Yourself also addresses the need to educate children and young people in how to eat well and move more to address the issue of obesity, which is important for pupil’s mental health as well as physical health.”
“We believe the programme is of great benefit, and recommend it to all schools to support development and achievement.”
“It reflects our school ethos and philosophy to provide a broad and balanced curriculum, whilst supporting young people’s mental health.”
New statutory requirements around Relationships and Sex Education in Schools are set to be introduced in 2019.
To help schools meet the new requirements, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Public Health Team have purchased the Respect Yourself Relationship and Sex Education Programme.
As part of an event organised jointly with Telford & Wrekin Council and the Severn Teaching School Alliance, schools and partner agencies involved in the Future in Mind project received a full day’s training from Alice Crutwell, the author of the curriculum behind Respect Yourself.
They will now be able to work with parents to consult on the curriculum; ready for implementation in September 2018.
Councillor Paul Watling, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Children and Adults Early Help and Support, said: “We are always looking to improve how young people receive appropriate, accurate information about relationships and sexual health.
“The Shropshire Respect Yourself Relationship and Sex Education programme will be offered to schools through our Future in Mind scheme.
Councillor Shirley Reynolds, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Education and Skills, said: “Making this teaching resource available for all will mean that all children in Telford and Wrekin will have the opportunity to benefit high quality PSHE teaching.”
The Shropshire Respect Yourself Relationship and Sex Education Programme has been developed by Shropshire Council with Shropshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT) and primary and secondary schools in the county.
In 2012 the Shropshire Respect Yourself Relationship and Sex Education programme Year 6-11 won a national award. In 2014 the programme received the PSHE Association quality assurance kite mark and in 2015 the primary programme called Respect Yourself: Eat Better, Move More, RSE was a finalist for the national award.
