Relationships and Sex Education

All schools are required by the Department for Education (DfE) to teach Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education from September 2020. This includes Relationships Education at key stages 1 and 2, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) at key stages 3 and 4, and Health Education in both primary and secondary phases.

At Heltwate School, we deliver Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in a way that is inclusive, accessible, and respectful of the diverse needs and abilities of our pupils. Our learners range from those with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) to those working towards greater independence. As such, our RSE curriculum is carefully adapted to ensure that every pupil receives meaningful, age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate learning about relationships, growing up, and staying safe.

Our aims are to:

Provide a safe and supportive framework for open, sensitive, and respectful discussions.

Help pupils prepare for the physical and emotional changes of puberty, including understanding hygiene and personal care.

Support the development of self-awareness, self-respect, confidence, and empathy.

Teach pupils the correct language to describe themselves, their bodies, and their emotions.

Promote a positive, inclusive and respectful culture around relationships and sexuality.

Equip pupils with the skills and understanding needed to build and maintain safe, healthy relationships.

Support students and families in managing any questions or challenges related to RSE.

Offer staff clear guidance, training, and resources so they can deliver RSE with confidence and sensitivity.

Ensure safeguarding is central to our RSE approach, empowering pupils to recognise unsafe situations and seek help when needed.

At Heltwate, RSE is recognised as a lifelong learning process that goes beyond biological facts. It encompasses emotional, social, moral and physical development, always taught with care, clarity and compassion. We focus on helping pupils make informed, safe choices and understand the value of positive, stable relationships—whether friendships, family bonds, or romantic relationships—according to each young person’s level of understanding and readiness.

RSE at Heltwate does not promote early sexual activity. Instead, it encourages pupils to respect themselves and others, understand boundaries, and feel confident in recognising and managing feelings. Our teaching aims to reduce vulnerability and empower our students to make healthy decisions as they grow older.

Through our RSE curriculum, we also explore:

Different types of committed and stable relationships, including marriage and civil partnerships.

The characteristics of positive, respectful relationships.

The importance of consent and personal boundaries.

The responsibilities involved in parenting and caregiving.

How to identify unhealthy or unsafe relationships and how to seek help from trusted adults.

Our approach is person-centred and responsive. For some pupils, RSE may focus on body awareness, consent in personal care routines, and recognising trusted adults. For others, it may include learning about emotional intimacy, social boundaries, and future aspirations. Whatever the focus, we work in close partnership with families, carers and professionals to ensure that our RSE provision is both meaningful and appropriate.

If you have questions or would like to discuss your child’s RSE learning, please don’t hesitate to speak to a member of our team. In line with the latest statutory guidance for Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), there is no right to withdraw pupils from the Relationships Education or Health Education components at either primary or secondary level. At Heltwate School, we believe the content within these subjects—such as understanding family structures, developing friendships, recognising personal safety (including online), and learning about the changing adolescent body—is vital for preparing our pupils for life both within and beyond school. These lessons are carefully planned to meet the individual needs of our students, delivered with sensitivity, and designed to support their personal development, independence and safeguarding.

Parents do, however, retain the right to request to withdraw their child from Sex Education that falls outside the science or statutory relationships/health curriculum, and that is delivered as part of RSE in secondary school. This request must be made in writing to the Headteacher, Mrs Alison Ashworth. We encourage any parents considering withdrawal to discuss their concerns with us so that we can explain the content and context of our RSE teaching, and ensure that any decision is well-informed and made in the best interests of the child.

Statutory Guidance for Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education, published by the Department for Education (DfE) in June 2019, outlines what schools need to cover from September 2020. Details of Primary and Secondary outcomes can be found in our SRE policy and/or in the DfE guides for parents below.

Statutory guidance can be found here that sets out what schools should do and makes clear the legal duties with which schools must comply when teaching Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education. This is a government document produced by the Department for Education and forms the basis of our RSE and Health Education Provision at Heltwate School.