sex education in primary school

[110960]

My only daughter(year 5) is about to start sex ed in school. We (my husband & I ) have been invited to a meeting in school to have a look at what she'll be learning. Have heard it's very explicit, any advice please

My advice - go to the meeting and listen to what they will actually be covering. They are likely to explain what topics they will be dealing with, and give you some examples of the books/videos.

I doubt it will be "very explicit" in adult terms, but it will probably be quite frank about the topics it covers - they want children to know facts and won't talk about gooseberry bushes!

Hopefully once you have heard the teacher/head explain what their approach is, you'll feel more reassured that they aren't going to be telling Yrs how to give a blow-job or anything that explicit.

Sex ed in year 5 is more about puberty and growing and changing (including hormones and how they can affect your moods) than about sex per se.

It's all stuff they need to know and should be handled sensitively by the school - I'm sure they will explain the topics covered and will be happy to discuss any concerns you have. But really, it's nothing to worry about :)

Worth while going to the meeting , I assume that all schools use the same videos , literature.

It is not explicit and a lot of thought has gone into sex education.

Also suggest that in meantime that you get this book
What's Happening to Me

you can get it in Waterstones .

Go to the meeting. If you feel the content is too explicit then you're allowed to remove your child from sex ed.

You won't be the only one. Some schools have a better program than others....

They don't all use the same video and literature. There are a number out there - but school can teach whatever it likes.

My DS was taught about sex in Y4. It was too much for him and he walked out of class.......

They have now moved teaching about sex to Y6.

My yr5 boy has been doing sex ed this term and I am really impressed with how he has dealt with it. No silly/smutty remarks to his little brother and he didnt mention anything to me until I talked to him about it (to find out how much he knew), and we had a really frank conversation with very little embarassment. They have so far done whole-class stuff: a dvd about loneliness and having someone to talk to and feeling different; what happens to boys and girls during puberty (he understands about periods and pms); what "having sex" means in a technical way; and wet dreams. And this is a child who has never shown the slightest bit of interest in bodies or babies or sex or anything. Consequently I havent really told him anything as he hasnt wanted to know. He is very matter-of-fact now about everything, much the same as with maths and literacy! So I am glad for sex ed at school - they are all told the same stuff in a group of children who know each other, by a teacher they know and trust. What could be more healthy?

Up here it's part of the curriculum for excellence. More about body awareness at age 5. Well worth going up the meeting.

If it is well taught it will be clear (correct anatomical names for different parts of the body) and wide-ranging (covering puberty, periods, reproduction, relationships incl same sex relationships, masturbation etc). I don't think that's "explicit", just factual.

OP I'll be interested to see what you think as I'm about to teach this to my year 5s and am a big supporter of sex-ed in schools. Pinky it sounds like your son goes to an excellent school (in terms of PHSCE and science anyway!)