At Longtown Primary School, our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum aims to give children the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to lead happy, healthy and safe lives. Through carefully planned, age-appropriate learning, children develop their understanding of relationships, physical and mental health, personal safety, the online world, citizenship and growing up.
Changes from September 2026
The Department for Education has published revised statutory guidance for Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education, which comes into effect on 1 September 2026. We have reviewed and updated our curriculum and policy to ensure that our provision reflects these new requirements and continues to meet the needs of our pupils.
The revised guidance places a continued emphasis on ensuring that children receive appropriate, factual and age-appropriate education that prepares them for the opportunities and challenges they may face. In primary schools, Relationships Education and Health Education remain compulsory, while sex education beyond the requirements of the National Curriculum for Science is not compulsory.
As part of our review, parents and carers were consulted about the changes to our PSHE and RSE provision. We value this partnership and believe that working together helps us provide a curriculum that supports children effectively while reflecting the needs of our school community.
Our Curriculum
We use the Kapow Primary RSE & PSHE scheme to support the delivery of our curriculum. Learning is progressive, with key themes revisited as children move through school so that they can build on their previous knowledge and develop their understanding at an age-appropriate level.
In EYFS, learning focuses on self-regulation, building relationships and managing self.
Across Key Stages 1 and 2, children explore areas including healthy lifestyles, relationships and connecting with others, the online world, citizenship, health protection, staying safe and growing up.
Our curriculum also makes an important contribution to safeguarding. Children learn how to recognise when something may be wrong, understand personal boundaries, develop healthy relationships, stay safe online and know how and where to ask for help.
Our teaching promotes respect, inclusion and equality, helping children understand that families and individuals can be different while encouraging them to treat others with kindness and respect.
Sex Education and the Right to Withdraw
At Longtown Primary School, additional sex education is taught in Year 6 as part of our planned programme. Parents and carers have the right to request that their child is withdrawn from some or all of the non-statutory sex education taught outside the National Curriculum for Science. This right does not apply to statutory Relationships Education, Health Education or content taught through the Science curriculum.
If you would like further information about our PSHE and RSE curriculum, have any questions about the September 2026 changes, or would like to discuss any aspect of the provision, please contact the school office. We are always happy to talk through our approach with parents and carers.
