Relationship Education

A Guide for Parents

Today’s children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives seamlessly on and offline. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way. We want all children at Alder Tree Primary Academy to grow up healthy, happy and safe, being able to manage the challenges and opportunities of modern Britain. That is why, from this academic year, all primary age children will be taught Relationships and Health Education. 

These subjects are designed as the key building blocks of healthy, respectful relationships, focusing on family and friendships, in all contexts, including online. This will sit alongside the essential understanding of how to be healthy and aim to prepare children for a successful adult life. 

Alder Tree Primary Academy will have the flexibility to deliver the content in a way that is age and developmentally appropriate and sensitive to the needs and religious background of its pupils. Flexibility is important as it allows the school to respond to local public health and community issues, meet the needs of our community and to adapt materials and programmes to meet the needs of our children. 

Relationships Education 

Relationships Education will put in place the building blocks needed for positive and safe relationships, including with family, friends and online. 

Your child will be taught what a relationship is, what friendship is, what family means and who can support them. In an age-appropriate way, Alder Tree Primary Academy will cover how to treat each other with kindness, consideration and respect. 

By the end of Key Stage 2, children will have been taught content on: 

• Families and people who care for me 
• Caring friendships 
• Respectful relationships 
• Online relationships 
• Being safe 

Health Education 

Health Education aims to give your child the information they need to make good decisions about their own health and wellbeing, to recognise issues in themselves and others, and to seek support as early as possible when issues arise. 

By the end of Key Stage 2, children will have been taught content on: 

• Mental wellbeing 
• Internet safety and harms
• Physical health and fitness
• Healthy eating
• Facts and risks associated with drugs, alcohol and tobacco
• Health and prevention of illness
• Basic first aid
• Changing adolescent body 

Your rights as a parent 

The important lessons you teach your child about healthy relationships, looking after themselves and staying safe, are respected and valued under this new curriculum. Teaching at school will complement and reinforce the lessons you teach your child as they grow up. 

At Alder Tree Primary Academy, we value our partnerships with parents, recognising the importance of their views when developing and renewing our policies on Relationships Education. 

Alder Tree Primary Academy has consulted with all stakeholders to help the school to decide how and when to cover the content of the statutory guidance and to develop the schools Relationships Policy. As a result of this consultation process Alder Tree Primary Academy will not teach any additional non-statutory content. 

Right to withdraw your child 

You cannot withdraw your child from Relationships Education because it is a statutory part of the curriculum and is important that all children receive this content, covering topics such as friendships and how to stay safe. 

Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education delivered as part of statutory RSE. At Alder Tree Primary Academy, we do not teach sex education, therefore there is no need to request for your child to be withdrawn. 

The science curriculum also includes content on human development, including reproduction, which there is no right to withdraw from. If you want to know more about what will be taught as part of the new subjects, the best thing to do is speak to your child’s teacher and read the RSE policy. 

Alder Tree Primary’s Policy