Sex Education at key stage 1

[frankiesbestfriend]

Dd 7yo has brought home a letter today to let me know she is about to begin the first stage of Sex Ed, and to confirm we want our dcs to take part.

They will be watching a series of 4 channel four programmes called 'Living and Growing' as part of this topic, and I wondered if any mners could tell me a little more regarding their content?

[bellavita]

I am sure that my DS's did not watch anything like that in Key Stage 1 and if they did I certainly did not sign anything to say they could.

DS1 (Yr6) has brought a letter home recently to say the school nurse would be going in to talk about Sex Ed.

[frankiesbestfriend]

Do you think she is too young?

Sort of felt that as she is in a playground with 11yos, she would be better learning the right information from a teacher than some rude and ill informed nonsense from an older child.

[nell12]

I did Living And Growing with my Year2s in Autumn term.

We looked at the fact that we all started off as babies and we looked at pictures of ourselves as babies and discussed how we had changed (we were smaller, our eyes were blue, we had less hair etc)

We looked at babies of other animals and matched them with their mothers. We discussed that some animals lay eggs, others come out of their Mummy's tum.

We weighed and measured ourselves and compared heights etc.

Am not quite sure where the sex ed comes in, my school certainly did not seek permission from parents

[bellavita]

Our Keystage 1 and 2 do not play in the same playground.

But I don't think they have to be in a playground anyway to pick up on such things.

DH attended a meeting at school and was told about what they were going to be saying to Yr6 and also showed the video that would be seen.

Surely the school should inform you of the content first to give you some idea of whether you will sign the consent form or not.

[hana]

I used LIving and Growing years ago - it's more about body changes for girls and boys as they hit puberty and feelings. If you're concerned, ask to have a look at the resources they are using

7 seems a bit young, is that year 2? Thought it would be more along the lines of Year 5 or 6?

[Moomin]

Year 2 is not too young to be finding out the very basics about sex. Year 6 is far too old to be learning about it for the first time.

Agree with frankiesbestfriend

[hana]

deepends on what you call the basics though, I wouldn't say what nell described above sex education at all

[nell12]

They will not be learning about sex, they will be learning about babies and growing up.

The school is probably covering themselves in case there is the (inevitable) question about how the baby got in mummy's tummy or if one of the children volunteers the information.

Speak to the school, they will tell you their policy on how the Year 2 staff will respond to such statements.

[nell12]

They will not be learning about sex, they will be learning about babies and growing up.

The school is probably covering themselves in case there is the (inevitable) question about how the baby got in mummy's tummy or if one of the children volunteers the information.

Speak to the school, they will tell you their policy on how the Year 2 staff will respond to such statements.

[nell12]

Sorry, computer froze!

[Moomin]

all comes under that umbrella though. Much more important to learn about it in a context of relationships, feelings, knowldege about body changes, rather than 'just' the biology. That needs to start fairly young I think, so that it's a gradual and unsensational part of the leanring process. Coupled with regular discussions with parents/guardians of course.

[hana]

nope, I've taught pshe/sre for years and years - it's really not sex education learning about that stuff and calling it that puts a slant on it that just isn't there

[ivykaty44]

Well just to let you know my milkman knows all about this as dd2 was aksed by the milkman what had she l;earnt at school this week?

Dd2 answered we learnt all about Penis's

I had signed the form and yes they do learn all about growing up and where babies come from then.

When i told my dd1 all about babies and where they came from I told her in small chunks. After each conversation chunk I told her this was between mummy and her - not outdie the house to other people.

As the school took on this role, I didn't think to tell my dd2 when she learnt these things at school not to tell all and sundry.

To dd2 it was something new she had learnt at school and was going to tell everyone - milkman first!

So now i have told her to just talk about these things with mummy or another close family member not the whole world.

I live and learn

[ivykaty44]

The milkman never asks my dd2 what she has learnt at school anymore - I wonder why?

[frankiesbestfriend]

They have just said in the letter 'any questions that arise will be dealt with sensitively and appropriately. The aims are:

To give information and knowledge
To challenge beliefs
To form positive attitudes and values
To develop sexual identity
To promote the skills needed for effective communication, loving happy relationships,and positive behaviour'

I thought that sounded ok. Am bit worried now though.
Is there anyhing wrong with a 7yo learning the basics of reproduction? If so, why?

[bellavita]

Nell - I remember the DC's taking pictures in of themselves one as a baby and a more recent one. The op calling it Sex Ed - is where my confusion arose.

I agree with what Moomin has said, gradual learning process to tie in with what they will learn in Yr6.

[frankiesbestfriend]

The school call it sex ed in the letter.