Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood is a very important part of the curriculum in our school. In RSHP children learn about:
- Families and Friendships and Relationships
- Being Unique and Special
- Their Body
- Feelings and Choices
- Growing Up
- Being Safe
- How Human Life Begins, Pregnancy and Parenthood
- Diversity
Feedback from parents at our school suggests that some of you would like to know more about the content of RSHP lessons before it is taught. Some people feel concerned about their child learning something they are not ready for in this area others just want to know what their child will be learning so they can discuss it at home. To address this, we have developed a programme of study in RSHP and moving forward, all content will be shared with you before your child covers it in school.
RSHP is not about stand alone lessons, it is about creating an ethos. We can’t, therefore, practically invite parents to opt their child out of this area of the curriculum – lessons will be revisited and discussed at different times. This being said, we fully understand that parents will want to be involved in this part of their child’s learning. All the teaching materials we will be using are available on the website so that you can see what your child will be learning and discuss it at home if you would like to. After you have read all of the materials, if you have any concerns about this curricular area, please come to me to discuss – email me directly at lucy.jess@fife.gov.uk – I am keen to hear your views and to reassure you if you are concerned.
RSHP tends to get some negative coverage in the media and on social media in particular. Please do not make assumptions about what your child will learn at Balmerino Primary School based on what you read online or in the news. Refer to the materials we share to inform yourself.
Each year, within our learning programme, there will be a whole school theme. You can click here to read the content of this year’s theme:
2024-25 Respect for Self and Others
The page is password protected to prevent children accessing resources which they are not ready for. The password has been sent to parents along with this link and you can request the password by emailing lucy.jess@fife.gov.uk .
We know and understand that some parents will want to teach these themes to their child at home in the context of their own beliefs. You are welcome to share the resources with your child at home so that you can have that conversation with them and any parent with a concern is welcome to contact Lucy Jess directly by email.
As children progress through the school they will learn about aspects of diversity not covered in the younger years at school. These aspects are explored to prepare children for the world beyond primary school and the people they will meet.
Ideally RSHP is taught to the whole class not to separate year groups. This is to ensure children learn from the teacher and not from playground gossip. Sometimes, when we have multi-composite classes, we do teach certain aspects to the older children in the class only. I would like to reassure all parents that I am confident that the learning is introduced at the point at which children begin to ask questions or talk amongst themselves and that it is therefore developmentally appropriate. Lucy Jess (Headteacher)
These advice sheets may be helpful for some families:
P5-7 Learning-at-School-Second-Level-information-for-parents
P5-7 Learning-at-Home-Second-Level-information-for-parents
P2-4 Learning-at-School-First-Level-information-for-parents
P2-4 Learning-at-Home-First-Level-information-for-parents
