SEX EDUCATION POLICY

ADOPTED: 

Ladywell Green Nursery and Infant School
Sex Education Policy
Welsh Office Circular 45 / 94 states that the aim of Sex Education at the primary stage should be “to prepare pupils to cope with the physical and emotional challenges of growing up, and to give them an elementary understanding of human reproduction”.
Introduction:
Sex education is not just about reproduction and sexual health. While these issues are important, education must also take account of sexuality, gender, roles and responsibilities.
Sex education is lifelong learning about physical, moral and emotional development.  It is about the understanding of the importance of loving and caring relationships.  
It enables children to respect themselves and others.
Aims
•	To build on existing knowledge
•	To raise pupils’ self esteem and confidence, especially in their relationships with others;
•	To develop skills for a healthier safer lifestyle
•	To respect and care for their bodies
•	Be appropriate to the age and maturity of the child. 
•	Be respectful and sensitive to our culturally diverse community.
•	Answer pupils’ questions honestly and sensitively.
•	Teach factual knowledge and encourage the exploration of facts, encourage discussion
•	Encourage awareness, respect and responsibility for oneself and others.

•	Enable pupils to develop positive relationships with others and the ability to communicate
effectively.

•	Enable pupils to protect themselves and ask for help and support 

•	Give an understanding of the importance of personal hygiene

•	Enable pupils to be able to name parts of the body and describe how their bodies work

Operational Procedures 

Sex Education does not appear on the timetable as a discrete subject but is included when appropriate within a broader topic programme.
Sex education will be taught through Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Religious Education, Personal and Social development, Well- Being and Cultural Diversity, Literacy activities, Circle time and incidentally as a result of activities and in response to children’s questions. It will be taught by the class teachers and supported by teaching assistants through our practically based curriculum. 

Classroom helpers are used to assist
•	in the classroom by supporting group activities
•	on outings and visits
•	in providing extra help for children with particular needs 

Foundation Phase

The children will have opportunities in Knowledge and Understanding of the World to learn about the concept of male and female and about young animals, and to name the external parts of the body and identify similarities and differences between themselves and others.  The children will have opportunities in Science to learn about life cycles of some animals, understand the idea of growing from young to old and learn that all living things reproduce.  They will learn about the importance of personal hygiene to maintain good health.  In Religious Education and Personal and Social Development, Well- Being and Cultural Diversity children will have opportunities to reflect on family relationships, different family groups and friendship.  They will learn about rituals and traditions associated with birth, marriage and death and talk about the emotions involved.
They will have opportunities to co-operate with others in work and play and begin to recognise the range of human emotions and ways to deal with them. They will also learn about personal safety.
Teachers and Teaching Assistants should respond honestly, wisely and carefully when the issue is raised during school activities. Emphasis should be given on family values when it is discussed. The ages and background of the children should be considered so that children are in no way hurt. It should be remembered that some children are from one-parent families, split families or are in the care of other family members, foster carers or the Local Authority.

Links with other policies 

This policy is linked with the following policies:
•	PSWBCD
•	Equal Opportunities
•	Child Protection 
•	Confidentiality 
•	Behaviour 
•	Anti Bullying 

Additional Learning Needs
Each child’s needs are met according to their ability, by differentiation in the work and support given by TA to ensure the child has every opportunity to reach their full potential.

Assessment
Assessment of children’s knowledge and understanding of Sex Education will be done through monitoring, observations, discussions, problem solving and activities.
Evaluation Procedure
The Policy will be evaluated as part of the school’s self evaluation processes.
Appendix A
Foundation Phase 
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Children should be given opportunities to:
•	Learn the names and uses of the main external parts of the human body
•	Identify similarities and differences between themselves and other children
•	That animals including humans, move, need food and water, grow and reproduce
•	That humans and other animals can produce offspring and these offspring grow into adults	Relevant areas in 
Personal and Social development, Well- Being and Cultural Diversity
Children should be given opportunities to:
•	Express and communicate different feelings and emotions – their own and those of others
•	Be aware and respect the needs of others
•	Form relationships and feel confident to play and work cooperatively
•	Value friends and families and show care and consideration
•	Appreciate what makes a good friend
•	Communicate about what is good and bad, right and wrong, fair and unfair, caring and inconsiderate
•	Be aware of their own feelings and develop the ability to express them in an appropriate way
•	Understand the relationship between feelings and actions and that other people have feelings
•	Demonstrate care, respect and affection for other children, adults and their environment