RSE

At Coppice Primary School, we believe that every child deserves to grow up feeling safe, healthy, valued and respected. Our Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum plays an important role in helping children develop the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to build positive relationships, make informed choices and look after their physical and emotional wellbeing.

Children today are growing up in an increasingly complex world, where their experiences and relationships extend across both online and offline environments. While this presents exciting opportunities for learning, communication and personal development, it also brings challenges and risks. We are committed to ensuring that our pupils are equipped with the knowledge, confidence and skills to navigate these experiences safely and responsibly.

Our approach reflects our school values of Kindness, Respect and Responsibility, encouraging children to celebrate differences, show consideration for others and develop a strong sense of self-worth.

Statutory guidance

Relationships Education is compulsory in all primary schools in England, while Health Education is compulsory in all state-funded primary schools.

The Department for Education published revised statutory guidance in July 2025, which came into effect on 1 September 2026. This guidance strengthens the importance of teaching children about healthy relationships, personal safety, online safety, physical health and mental wellbeing.

Although Sex Education beyond the requirements of the National Curriculum for Science is not compulsory in primary schools, the DfE recommends that primary schools provide an age-appropriate programme to help prepare children for the physical and emotional changes associated with growing up.

At Coppice, our teaching is carefully planned to reflect children's ages, developmental stages and individual needs. Lessons are factual, sensitive, inclusive and informed by statutory guidance, scientific understanding and British law.

Our RSHE curriculum is delivered through Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education, Science, Religious Education (RE), Philosophy for Children (P4C), assemblies and other opportunities across the wider curriculum.

We recognise that parents and carers are children's first educators and are committed to maintaining open communication with families about the content and delivery of RSHE.

What children learn at Coppice

Reception – Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In Reception, Relationships and Health Education is introduced through everyday experiences, play, stories and carefully planned learning opportunities.

Children begin to develop an understanding of themselves and others, with a particular focus on positive relationships, emotional awareness and personal wellbeing.

Learning includes:

Recognising and naming different feelings and beginning to manage emotions.
Developing friendships, sharing, taking turns and showing kindness.
Understanding that families come in different forms and that all children should feel loved, safe and cared for.
Learning about their bodies, personal hygiene and healthy routines.
Understanding personal space, privacy and the importance of respecting boundaries.
Recognising trusted adults and knowing how to ask for help when worried or uncomfortable.

These foundations are developed through the EYFS area of Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED), supporting children to become confident, independent and respectful individuals.

Key Stage 1 – Years 1 and 2

In Key Stage 1, children build on their early understanding of relationships, health and personal safety.

Teaching focuses on developing positive friendships, recognising emotions, understanding differences and learning how to keep themselves safe.

Children learn about:

Families and friendships: Recognising different family structures, understanding what makes a positive friendship and treating others with kindness and respect.
Respectful relationships: Understanding fairness, cooperation, personal boundaries and the importance of respecting other people's feelings.
Personal safety: Recognising safe and unsafe situations, understanding that parts of their bodies are private and knowing how to seek help from trusted adults.
Healthy lifestyles: Learning about personal hygiene, healthy eating, physical activity, sleep and looking after their bodies.
Emotional wellbeing: Identifying feelings, developing strategies for managing emotions and understanding that it is important to talk about worries.
Online safety: Beginning to understand how to use technology safely, the importance of protecting personal information and telling a trusted adult if something online causes concern.

Through Science, children also learn about the human body, growth and development, and the basic needs of humans and other animals.

Lower Key Stage 2 – Years 3 and 4

In Years 3 and 4, children develop a deeper understanding of healthy relationships, personal responsibility and emotional wellbeing.

As their independence grows, pupils are encouraged to recognise the importance of making informed decisions, respecting differences and seeking support when needed.

Learning includes:

Positive relationships: Understanding trust, respect, empathy, friendship and the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships.
Personal boundaries and consent: Recognising that everyone has the right to personal space and that permission and respect are important in everyday interactions.
Bullying and discrimination: Recognising different forms of bullying, including online bullying, and understanding how to report concerns and support others.
Online safety: Understanding privacy, the risks associated with sharing information and images, and how to respond to uncomfortable or inappropriate online interactions.
Physical health: Exploring the importance of exercise, nutrition, sleep, dental health and healthy daily routines.
Mental wellbeing: Developing strategies for managing worries, recognising emotional changes and understanding where to find help and support.
Growing and changing: Beginning to explore how bodies, feelings and responsibilities change as children grow older.

Teaching encourages children to develop confidence, resilience and a growing sense of responsibility for their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others.

Upper Key Stage 2 – Years 5 and 6

In Years 5 and 6, our curriculum prepares children for the physical, emotional and social changes associated with puberty and the transition to secondary school.

Teaching provides accurate, age-appropriate information while encouraging children to make responsible decisions, develop healthy relationships and understand how to protect themselves and others.

Children learn about:

Puberty and physical development: Understanding the physical and emotional changes experienced during puberty, including menstruation, personal hygiene and the importance of respecting individual differences in development.
Healthy relationships: Recognising the importance of mutual respect, trust, communication, boundaries and consent in friendships and other relationships.
Families and diversity: Understanding that families and relationships take different forms and that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
Personal safety: Recognising inappropriate behaviour, understanding that they have the right to feel safe and knowing how to report concerns or seek support.
Online relationships and digital safety: Exploring online communication, privacy, digital footprints, harmful content, online pressures and the importance of reporting unsafe experiences.
Mental health and emotional wellbeing: Understanding the importance of emotional resilience, recognising signs of worry or stress and identifying positive strategies for seeking support.
Physical health and healthy choices: Developing a greater understanding of nutrition, exercise, sleep, hygiene, substances that can harm health and the importance of making informed decisions.
Human reproduction and life cycles: Building on learning in Science about reproduction, growth and development, with any additional Sex Education taught sensitively and in accordance with the school's agreed curriculum.

Throughout Upper Key Stage 2, particular emphasis is placed on preparing pupils for the increasing independence, responsibilities and social experiences they may encounter as they move into secondary education.

Safeguarding, inclusion and respect

Safeguarding and children's wellbeing are central to our approach to RSHE.

We aim to create a safe and supportive learning environment where children feel comfortable asking questions, expressing concerns and seeking help from trusted adults.

Our teaching promotes equality, respect and understanding of different backgrounds, beliefs, family structures and individual experiences. Learning is inclusive and adapted where appropriate to meet the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

We also recognise the importance of teaching children about boundaries, appropriate behaviour, recognising harmful situations and understanding that they should never feel pressured to do something that makes them uncomfortable.

Our curriculum supports children in developing the confidence to speak up, recognise when something is wrong and understand that help is available.

Working in partnership with parents and carers

We recognise that parents and carers play a vital role in helping children understand relationships, health and growing up.

Coppice Primary School is committed to working in partnership with families and ensuring that parents have access to clear information about the RSHE curriculum, including the topics taught at different stages of their child's education.

We welcome parental feedback and consult with parents and governors when reviewing our Relationships and Sex Education Policy.

Parents' right to withdraw

Under the statutory guidance:

Parents cannot withdraw their children from statutory Relationships Education or Health Education.
Parents cannot withdraw their children from Science lessons that form part of the National Curriculum, including relevant teaching about human development and reproduction.
Parents can request withdrawal from any non-statutory Sex Education taught in primary school that goes beyond the National Curriculum for Science.

Parents who wish to discuss the content of Sex Education lessons or request withdrawal are encouraged to contact the school so that the curriculum and their concerns can be discussed.

Our aim is to ensure that all children receive the knowledge and support they need to grow into healthy, confident, respectful and responsible young people.

At Coppice Primary School, we want every child to feel empowered to aspire, believe, achieve and thrive.