Background

We acknowledge that Personal, Social and Health Education (PHSE) and Citizenship, as well as Relationship and Sex Education (RSE), are all underpinned by a theology of relationship and are all encompassed in the title ‘Relationships , Sex and Health Education’ (RSHE).

Our belief in the unique dignity of the human person as made in the image and likeness of God underpins the approach to all education in our school. Our approach to relationship and sex education therefore is rooted in the Catholic Church’s teaching of the human person and is presented positively and prudently.

Stemming from this vision of what it means to be human, we seek to educate the whole child: spiritually, intellectually, morally, emotionally, psychologically, and physically towards our understanding of Christian Maturity.

Following guidance from our own Bishop and Diocese, the Conference of Bishops of England and Wales and as advocated by the DFE, all relationship and sex education in our school will be firmly embedded in the Religious Education framework as it is concerned primarily with nurturing the human wholeness of our pupils.

All relationship and sex education will be in accordance with the Church’s moral teaching. It will emphasise the central importance of marriage and the family whilst acknowledging that all pupils have a fundamental right to have their life respected whatever household they come from and support will be provided to help pupils deal with different sets of values.

Journey In Love

A Journey in Love is a resource created by Sister Jude Groden of BRES. It is the recommended programme of study for Catholic schools for Sex and Relationship Education, and has been written as a progressive scheme of work that supports the Religious Education, PSHE, RSHE and Science curricula taught within the school.

As children progress through school, they discover more and more about themselves and the wider world. This thirst for learning new things in all aspects of life is fostered by the school, who attempt to create a safe, stimulating environment for learning; supporting all children in their development. Our mission statement which drives the school, attempts to achieve this goal following the Gospel values of truth and respect, understanding our journey as children of God, both special and unique.

Central to our work within the school is learning about our faith, including understanding ourselves, our position in our community and how we develop as human beings - our spiritual, social, emotional and physical development. This is how A Journey in Love fits in to the school’s curriculum. The scheme permeates through all levels of learning throughout the school. It focuses on friendship, family, community, relationships and spirituality; a guide to the children’s development as young Catholics.

As you would expect, not all issues related to personal development are covered by the end of Year 6. The content is age appropriate and is taught with sensitivity, taking into account the children’s level of maturity in regard to the delivery of the lessons.

As with all aspects of learning, children are naturally curious and many will have questions related to their lessons. Opportunities to discuss questions form part of the lessons and, again, these are treated with care and understanding.

As a parent, you have the right to withdraw your child from Sex Education at any time if you wish to do so however, this is not to be confused with the topics around growing and life cycles within the Science curriculum which is a statutory requirement and certain aspects of relationships within the Relationships and Health Education, which are also statutory.

A Journey in Love programme content:

An aspect of the mystery of love is taught in each year group; children are encouraged to marvel at the wonder and beauty of God’s creative love. This is reflected through a series of progressive and developmental tasks, activities and reflections which focus on  social, emotional, physical and spiritual development.

Early Years-Nursery and Reception

THE WONDER OF BEING SPECIAL AND UNIQUE

AIM-To explore the wonder of being special and unique

-The children will recognise the joy of being a special person in their families.

-The children will recognise that we are all different and unique.

-The children will celebrate the joy of being a special person in God's family.

-The children will explore the above learning objective through these 4 areas: Social, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual.

Year 1

WE MEET GOD’S LOVE IN OUR FAMILY

Aim-To focus on families and specially growing up in a loving and stable home

-The children will recognise signs that they are loved in their families.

-The children will recognise how they are cared for and kept safe in their families.

-The children will celebrate ways that God loves and cares for us.

-The children will explore the above learning objective through these 4 areas: Social, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual.

Year 2

WE MEET GOD’S LOVE IN THE COMMUNITY

Aim-To describe how we are growing and developing in diverse communities that are God-given

-The children will recognise the joy and friendship of belonging to a diverse community.

-The children will describe ways of being safe in communities.

-The children will celebrate ways of meeting God in our communities.

-The children will explore the above learning objective through these 4 areas: Social, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual.

Year 3

HOW WE LIVE IN LOVE

Aim-To describe and give reasons for how we grow in love in caring and happy friendships where we are secure and safe

-The children will describe and give reasons how friendships make us feel happy and safe.

-The children will describe and give reasons why friendships can break down, how they can be repaired and strengthened.

-The children will celebrate the joy and happiness of living in friendship with God and others.

-The children will explore the above learning objective through these 4 areas: Social, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual.

Year 4

GOD LOVES US IN OUR DIFFERENCES

Aims-To make links and connections to show that we are all different.

-To celebrate these differences as we appreciate that God's love accepts us as we are now and as we change

-The children will describe how we all should be accepted and respected

-The children will describe how we should treat others making links with the diverse modern society we live in.

-The children will celebrate the uniqueness and innate beauty of each of us. 

-The children will explore the above learning objective through these 4 areas: Social, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual.

Year 5

GOD LOVES US IN OUR CHANGING AND DEVELOPING

Aim-Show a knowledge and understanding of how we grow in awareness of the physical and emotional changes that accompany puberty-sensitivity, mood swings, anger, boredom etc and grow further in recognising God's presence in our daily lives.

-The children will show knowledge and understanding of emotional relationship changes as we grow and develop.

-The children will show knowledge and understanding of the physical changes in puberty.

-The children will celebrate the joy of growing physically and spiritually.

-The children will explore the above learning objective through these 4 areas: Social, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual.

NB-The children will be discussing and using vocabulary associated with the physical changes in girls and boys during puberty including menstruation as part of the Year 5 lessons.

Year 6

THE WONDER OF GOD’S LOVE IN CREATING NEW LIFE

Aim-To develop a secure understanding of what stable, caring relationships are and the different kinds there may be.

-Focusing on Catholic teaching, children will also know and understand about the conception of a child within marriage.

-The children will develop a secure understanding that stable and caring relationships, which may be of different types, are at the heart of happy families.

-The children will explain how human life is conceived.

-The children will show an understanding of how being made in the image and likeness of God informs decisions and actins when building relationships with others, including life-long relationships.

-The children will explore the above learning objective through these 4 areas: Social, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual.

NB-The children will look at the physical differences between men and women in more detail. They will also learn about the act of sexual intercourse within a loving relationship, conception and the process of having a baby as part of the Year 6 lessons.