Introduction Legislative Framework for Sex and Relationships Education  Tips for teaching SRE with confidence  Using Teaching SRE with Confidence  Assessment and Evaluation

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With Thanks To

• The Hackney Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Partnership who have remained committed to CWP and primary school SRE.
• The staff and pupils in Hackney, Islington, Enfield, Haringey, Newham and Tower Hamlets primary schools who have helped us trail the lesson plans and resources.
• CWP trainers past and present especially: Frances Barr, Deborah Baxter, Justine Cottle, Rachel Egan, Alison Lawrence, Jennie Lee, Jo McKenzie, Andrew Pembrooke and Tierl Thompson.
• Friends and families who gave us their photographs.
• Illustrations are Patrick Long (pat_long@mail.com)
• CD-ROM Production by Justine Cottle, Paula Power and Tierl Thompson.
• CD-ROM Design by Mark Levermore of Aardvark Films. (Mark-Levermore@blueyonder.com)
• Cover design and branding by Foster Gearing. (info@fostergearing.com)
• ISBN Copyright 987-0-9558216-0-8

Teacher Comments

“In the past I have always had a specialist teach this topic.  Deborah from CWP did a fantastic job helping me plan and giving me the confidence to teach it”
Year 5 teacher, Benthal Juniors

“Very positive, it was great to team teach again.  Jo from CWP has been wonderful to work with.”
PSHE Co-ordinator, Betty Layward Primary

“I really like the lesson plans – very clear and the format of observing, team teaching and teaching alone worked really well.”
Year 2 teacher, Northwold Primary

“It was great to see it down in class.  It’s not as daunting as I thought”
Year 2 teacher, Northwold Primary

“Absolutely fantastic. A great introduction to SRE for the children and me!”
Year 2 teacher, Sir Thomas Abney Primary

Introduction

Teaching SRE with Confidence is a comprehensive and inclusive resource for teachers and other professionals working in a primary school setting.  The CD-Rom includes an overview of a spiral curriculum for SRE in keeping with the PSHE non-statutory framework for PSHE and the statutory Science National Curriculum.  Also included are schemes of work and lesson plans that combine a range of teaching styles and active learning techniques.  All lesson plans are accompanied by stimulating teaching and white board materials.

This package has been developed by the Christopher Winter project (CWP) and used extensively to train hundreds of teachers to teach SRE with confidence.  Every unit has been taught in a variety of schools settings and has been enthusiastically received by teachers and pupils.

CWP has been awarded the fpa Pamela Sheridan Award for Excellence in recognition of their pioneering CPD programme in sex and relationships education.  CWP’s success is based on a thorough understanding of what constitutes effective SRE for both teachers and pupils.

CWP provides in-class training which empowers teachers to deliver high quality sex and relationships education.  We model effective teaching approached in the classroom and support teachers through:

• Pupil needs assessment
• Joint planning
• Team-teaching
• Coaching
• Schemes of work and lesson plans
• Innovative resources
• Assessment and evaluation

Our aim is to improve the quality of SRE through increasing teacher confidence in planning, delivery and assessment.

Teachers and community nurses following the National PSHE CPD Programme can us the CWP training and Teaching SRE with Confidence CD-Rom to help meet national standards for accreditation.

The Legislative Framework for Sex and Relationships Education

In 2000, the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) published Circular 0116/2000 Sex and Relationship Education Guidance.  This guidance made it a legal requirement for schools to provide Sex and Relationship Education (SRE).  The guidance defines SRE as:

“… lifelong learning about physical, moral and emotional development.  It is about the understanding of the importance of marriage for family life, stable and loving relationships, respect love and care.  It is also about the teaching of sex, sexuality and sexual health.”

The guidance states that SRE should be firmly rooted in the framework of Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE).

School Policy

All schools, and their governing bodies, are responsible for ensuring they have an up-to date SRE policy.  Governing bodies are advised to consult parents, carers and pupils in developing policy to ensure that it reflects their wishes and the culture of the community the schools serves.  Schools need to recognise that governors may need training in SRE to help them meet their responsibilities.  SRE is one of a number of criteria identified by the National Healthy Schools Programme (NHSP). Which states that effective sex and relationships education is best achieved through a whole-school approach, which ensures that the school’s policy is appropriate for the age and maturity of the pupils.

Parents/carers have the right to withdraw their children from SRE provided outside National Curriculum Science.  They cannot withdraw their children from National Curriculum subjects.  In their SRE policy, schools need to make clear to parents and carers, the procedures for requesting a pupil is withdrawn and what arrangements will be made for the pupil.  It is a good idea to encourage parents to visit the school to discuss their concerns.  Quite often, when parents review the materials and aims of the lesson, they realise there is no need to withdraw their child.

Tips for Teaching SRE with Confidence

Below are some comments teachers have made to us about why they lack the confidence to teach SRE:

• What will parents say if I teach SRE?
• Our governors may not approve
• I’m worried about the type of questions pupils may ask
• Suppose the children ask me personal questions?
• I don’t know what language to use
• We have a number of religious and cultural beliefs at our schools, how can we be respectful of all of them?
• Is it ok to talk about same sex relationships?
• How do I know what is appropriate to teach?

CWP respond with the following Tips:

• Check your schools has an up-to-date policy for SRE, this should be approved by governors and parents/carers and will include information on the content and organisation of SRE.
• Develop ground rules for SRE with the whole class, refer to them regularly and encourage the pupils to do so.
• Use distancing techniques such as anonymous questions, case studies and problem pages to help pupils avoid personalising issues.
• Agree as a class not to ask personal questions.
• Admit if you do not know an answer to a question and find out the answer later.
• If a child’s question seems inappropriate agree to discuss it with the child individually later rather than with the whole class.
• Use the correct terminology – consistently and appropriately.
• Discuss religious and cultural beliefs with the pupils – avoid making assumptions.
• Talk about sexuality without promoting any one kind of relationship.

Using ‘Teaching SRE with Confidence’

All the lessons in the CD-Rom have a clear structure and focus and are appropriate to the age group they are delivered to.  The lessons reflect National Curriculum Guidance for PSHE and National Curriculum Science.  They are designed to demonstrate a wide range of teaching methodologies to equip teachers with the skills to deliver effective SRE.  The lesson plans have clear aims and learning outcomes with suggested additional activities and accompanying resources.  Follow-up materials are signposted.  Starting with the overview of the SRE curriculum, teachers can follow the schemes of work for Years 2-6.  Each year group has a set of 3 interconnected lesson plans together with hyperlinked active learning materials and whiteboard resources.  All materials can be downloaded for printing where necessary.  The Living and Growing DVD produced by Channel 4 is recommended as a resource throughout the pack.  It can be purchased at www.channel4learning.com/shop. 

CWP Curriculum Overview