At Hungerford we strongly believe in educating the whole child and have created a bespoke PSHE curriculum aimed at helping to build life-long habits by nurturing children to become responsible and caring citizens within their community. We believe that mental health and well-being plays a huge role in the successes of our pupils. Children flourish when they are given opportunities to develop the strengths and coping skills that underpin resilience.
At Hungerford we aim to teach the children to recognise and accept difference. We have a duty to prepare children for modern life in Britain. In school and their future workplace they will be working alongside peers and colleagues of different race, religion, gender, age, disability and sexual orientation. It is paramount that future generations are able to accept differences, accept the views of others and treat each other with respect, even if they disagree. We expect the children to express their views with kindness and consideration for the feelings of others.
To enable children to develop these strengths and coping skills, we deliver Personal Development and RSE through our bespoke curriculum tailored to the needs of our children. This is comprised of lessons where children learn about the brain, relationships, keeping themselves safe, their changing bodies, valuing difference, their rights and responsibilities, first aid and money. Lessons endeavour to enable children to develop crucial skills and positive attitudes which are critical to ensuring children are effective learners. These important skills and attitudes are imperative in unlocking pupils’ potential, helping to raise achievement and closing the gap in educational attainment. Lessons cover all of the new statutory requirements for RSE (Relationship and Sex Education) as set out by the Department for Education in 2020.
Class teachers follow the suggested six half termly units for each year. These are:
1. Me and My Relationships: includes content on feelings, emotions, conflict resolution and friendships;
2. Valuing Difference: a focus on respectful relationships and British values;
3. Keeping Myself Safe: looking at keeping ourselves healthy and safe
4. Rights and Responsibilities: learning about money, living the wider world and the environment;
5. Being My Best: developing skills in keeping healthy, developing a growth mindset (resilience), goal-setting and achievement;
6. Growing and Changing: finding out about the human body, the changes that take place from birth to old age and being safe.
As a school, we are incorporating the ‘No Outsiders’ lesson plans and book suggestions into our own Personal Development lessons to teach children about equality and diversity. Our aim is for all children and staff to understand and respect difference.
Pupils will:
• Learn the value of respect and show this towards themselves and others
• Respect rights and responsibilities within relationships
• Understand diversity regarding religion, gender, culture and sexual orientation and show acceptance of difference and diversity
• Become responsible, active citizens who contribute positively to society.
We want to support you, as parents/carers, to talk about what may be seen by some, as more sensitive, trickier topics with your children. The earlier we start to have conversations that seem tricky and awkward, the more practice we will have and the better we will be at answering children’s questions and providing them with support when they reach their teenage years.
Here are some links to more information to support you in talking with your child about their health and wellbeing, including healthy relationships, changes that happen at puberty and sex education.
Suggested reading list for 8-11 year-olds, covering reproduction/puberty/relationships/gender:
• Girls Only by V Parker
• How your Body Works by Judy Hindley
• Let’s Talk About Sex by R H Harris
• Living with a Willy by N Fisher
• Sex is a Funny Word by C Silverberg and F Smyth
• The Period Book by K Gravelle
• The Puberty Book by W Darvill
• What’s Happening to Me? by P Mayle
• Alien Nation by The Proud Trust
Useful books for parents:
Questions Children Ask and How to Answer Them by Dr M Stoppard
Speakeasy: Talking with your Children about Growing Up by fpa (Family Planning Association)
Useful websites for children:
Amaze.org- Puberty section (Age 9+) https://amaze.org/?topic=puberty
BBC Teach –The Big Talk (age 9-12) https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/rse-ks2-the-big-talk/zn8f7nb
Kids’ Health – Menstruation https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/menstruation.html
Male puberty – including wet dreams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJtbLfJ_kRk%20
Outspoken – RSE worksheets https://www.outspokeneducation.com/
Useful websites for parents:
Sex positive families https://sexpositivefamilies.com/
Sitting in car YouTube Channel: how to talk comfortably with your kids about sex and consent https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2WU7DnczQPPAEzq47jDwFA
Talking to your child about online sexual harassment- a guide for parents https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/resource/talking-to-your-child-about-online-sexual-harassment-a-guide-for-parents/
Harmful sexual behaviour prevention toolkit – for parents, carers, family members and professionals https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Stop_It_Now_harmful_sexual_behaviour_prevention_toolkit_Oct_2020.pdf
Key Documents
Gold UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador
Miss Owen has become a Gold UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador. Lessons dedicated to learning about the work of Parliament are taught to all year groups. The children learn all about different elements of Parliament from the House of Commons to the House of Lords, what is meant by democracy and how laws are made. Members of the School Council have visited Crewe Municipal buildings to take part in a debate session with children from other local primary schools. Each year, our School Council visit the Houses of Parliament to enhance their learning. We have welcomed local MP, Connor Naismith and Local Councillors, Hazel Faddes and Jill Rhodes into school to meet with the School Council to talk about their roles.
