Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)
At SS John & Monica Catholic Primary School, Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is an integral part of our commitment to nurturing the spiritual, moral, social, emotional and physical development of every child.
Rooted in our Catholic faith and Gospel values, our RSHE curriculum reflects the belief that every person is created in the image and likeness of God and is therefore unique, valued and deserving of dignity and respect.
Our teaching follows the Catholic Education Service's model curriculum for Relationships, Sex and Health Education and is delivered through Ten Ten Resources' Life to the Full programme, which supports the delivery of age-appropriate RSHE within a Catholic context.
Through this programme, we aim to equip children with the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and skills they need to develop healthy relationships, make informed and responsible choices, recognise their own worth and respect the dignity of others.
Our Aims
Our RSHE curriculum aims to:
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Promote dignity and self-worth by helping children recognise that they are created, loved and valued by God.
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Develop positive and respectful relationships built upon love, kindness, honesty, trust, forgiveness and mutual respect.
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Celebrate individuality and diversity, encouraging children to appreciate and respect differences within our school community and wider society.
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Support emotional wellbeing by helping children recognise, understand and manage their feelings, develop resilience and communicate confidently.
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Promote personal safety and safeguarding by teaching children about appropriate boundaries, privacy, consent, trusted adults and how to seek help when they feel worried or unsafe.
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Develop an understanding of physical health and wellbeing, including healthy lifestyles, personal hygiene, emotional health and the importance of looking after their bodies.
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Prepare children for growing and changing, providing age-appropriate information about physical development, puberty and the changes experienced as they mature.
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Promote safe and responsible online behaviour, helping children recognise risks, develop healthy digital relationships and understand how to protect themselves online.
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Develop a sense of responsibility and service, encouraging children to contribute positively to their communities and understand the Catholic principles of human dignity, solidarity and the Common Good.
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Strengthen the partnership between home, school and parish, recognising parents and carers as the primary educators of their children.
Our RSHE Curriculum – Life to the Full
We use Life to the Full, a Catholic Relationships, Sex and Health Education programme developed by Ten Ten Resources.
The programme is rooted in Catholic teaching and provides a carefully structured, age-appropriate curriculum from Reception to Year 6.
Learning follows a spiral approach, meaning that important themes and concepts are revisited throughout a child's time at school, allowing knowledge, understanding and skills to develop progressively as children grow and mature.
The curriculum explores three interconnected areas:
Created and Loved by God
Children learn about their unique identity, personal dignity and the importance of caring for their physical and emotional wellbeing. They explore feelings, self-esteem, personal safety, healthy choices and the changes that occur as they grow.
Created to Love Others
Children develop an understanding of healthy relationships, friendships, family life and the importance of treating others with kindness, compassion and respect. They learn about appropriate boundaries, personal safety, trusted adults and how to recognise and respond to situations that may make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
Created to Live in Community
Children explore their responsibilities towards others and the wider world. Inspired by Catholic Social Teaching, they learn about fairness, justice, inclusion, respect for others, care for creation and the importance of contributing to the Common Good.
Age-Appropriate and Inclusive Teaching
Our RSHE curriculum is carefully planned to ensure that learning is appropriate to children's ages, developmental stages and individual needs.
Topics include physical and emotional wellbeing, friendships, family relationships, personal boundaries, body privacy, puberty, reproduction, online safety and responsible citizenship.
We recognise and respect the diversity of family circumstances and experiences within our school community. All teaching is delivered sensitively and inclusively, ensuring that every child feels safe, respected and valued.
While our curriculum is firmly rooted in Catholic teaching, we are committed to ensuring that all pupils are treated with dignity and that teaching reflects our responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and relevant statutory guidance.
Safeguarding and Personal Development
Safeguarding is central to our approach to RSHE.
Children are taught how to recognise healthy and unhealthy relationships, understand personal boundaries, identify potentially unsafe situations and seek support from trusted adults.
Through open, respectful and age-appropriate discussions, we aim to develop children's confidence to ask questions, express concerns and make informed decisions that promote their safety and wellbeing.
Working in Partnership with Parents and Carers
We recognise that parents and carers are the first and most important educators of their children, particularly in matters relating to relationships, values and personal development.
We are committed to working closely with families, providing clear information about what is taught and opportunities to discuss the curriculum.
Parents and carers can access the Ten Ten Life to the Full Parent Portal, which provides an overview of the programme, information about individual units of learning and access to supporting resources and videos.
Parent Portal: [Insert link to Ten Ten Parent Portal]
Our RSHE Policy, including information about parental rights and the teaching of sex education, is also available on our school website.
Our Catholic Mission
At SS John & Monica's, our RSHE curriculum reflects our school mission:
“We learn through the example of Jesus to love, respect, understand and value each other.”
Through Life to the Full, we strive to help every child recognise their God-given dignity, develop positive and meaningful relationships, make safe and responsible choices and grow into compassionate, confident and responsible members of society.