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Original poster

Coram Life Education

29 replies

MaterDei · 19/05/2023 13:39

Hello!
I have just received an email from my children's primary school advising that Coram Life Education will be welcomed into the Year 5 class to discuss puberty and conception. The school uses Jigsaw for their PHSE lessons. I am wondering if anybody here is familiar with Coram Life Education and what their actual agenda is, if indeed there is one?! I must admit I cannot understand why a 'charity' needs to exist for this purpose and why the usual class teachers are unable to teach the children themselves about puberty/conception. I am quite skeptical about the whole thing but may well be ignorant and am happy to be enlightened if this is the case. I have done an advanced search here on mumsnet and via Google! But was hoping for more information than I could find. Your time and advice is appreciated. 🙏

OP posts:
Original poster
MaterDei · 19/05/2023 20:54

Thanks! I'll look into this.

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Stinkler · 19/05/2023 23:10

They visit my dc's primary once a year & do all sorts of sessions on things like healthy eating, friendships etc depending on year group. Our school didnt use them for the y5&y6 puberty/conception tho, that was left with teachers, so cant comment on their stance.

Original poster
MaterDei · 20/05/2023 06:01

Thank you for your comments!

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donquixotedelamancha · 20/05/2023 06:08

Presumably you live near me, OP. I know of Coram from other activities (though not that particular program). They have a very good reputation. I can't see any of the usual red flags on the publicly available info about them.

OhHolyJesus · 20/05/2023 08:11

I have called them and spoken to them in detail about concerns over PSHE. They were very helpful.

You need to know which resources or lesson plans the school are using as they may cherry pick but overall the materials from Coram seem very sensible. Do check with the school though as that's up to the HT.

Original poster
MaterDei · 20/05/2023 08:46

donquixotedelamancha · 20/05/2023 06:08

Presumably you live near me, OP. I know of Coram from other activities (though not that particular program). They have a very good reputation. I can't see any of the usual red flags on the publicly available info about them.

Hi Neighbour 🤗😆

I've looked through their website and wasn't particularly comfortable with the fact they state that they start discussing masturbation to children in year 4. Comran, in their FAQ state that they interpret the subject of puberty to include masturbation and will be discussing with the year 5 children at my child's school. I have no issue with children learning about these things but I don't think this is age appropriate. I contacted the deputy Head yesterday and she was not aware and agreed this was in her opinion not age appropriate either.

It didn't fill me with much confidence that the school wasn't aware. I am awaiting a callback next week from the school.

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Original poster
MaterDei · 20/05/2023 08:47

OhHolyJesus · 20/05/2023 08:11

I have called them and spoken to them in detail about concerns over PSHE. They were very helpful.

You need to know which resources or lesson plans the school are using as they may cherry pick but overall the materials from Coram seem very sensible. Do check with the school though as that's up to the HT.

Thank you. I am hoping to hear back from the HT next week.

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MrsOvertonsWindow · 20/05/2023 09:21

Well done OP. So important to ensure that schools who outsource teaching SRE to external groups are challenged to ensure they've excerpted due diligence. Given the paedophile / porn scandal at Mermaids, the grim nature of some SRE materials & the number of dodgy adults involved in organisations working with children, schools can't be too careful. It's up to parents to hold them to account.

JoanOgden · 20/05/2023 09:26

Coram as an organisation do some great work, but obviously that's the case with lots of charities which have nevertheless been taken over by the madness.

Any school which commissions an external provider to come in and teach PSHE without asking to see all the materials and lesson plan first is abdicating its duty to pupils and parents.

Original poster
MaterDei · 20/05/2023 09:34

MrsOvertonsWindow · 20/05/2023 09:21

Well done OP. So important to ensure that schools who outsource teaching SRE to external groups are challenged to ensure they've excerpted due diligence. Given the paedophile / porn scandal at Mermaids, the grim nature of some SRE materials & the number of dodgy adults involved in organisations working with children, schools can't be too careful. It's up to parents to hold them to account.

Thank you! I wish I didn't feel the need to have to double check these things but it is a sad fact of the times we are living in!

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Original poster
MaterDei · 20/05/2023 09:41

JoanOgden · 20/05/2023 09:26

Coram as an organisation do some great work, but obviously that's the case with lots of charities which have nevertheless been taken over by the madness.

Any school which commissions an external provider to come in and teach PSHE without asking to see all the materials and lesson plan first is abdicating its duty to pupils and parents.

Quite!

The deputy said something along the lines of "coram is used up and down the country"
And my reply was "that alone does not reassure me!" 😫

The fact she wasn't fully aware of their content has left me feeling very uncomfortable and affirms my feeling that I was right to contact the school in the first place.

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piedbeauty · 20/05/2023 10:08

Christ, why do schools outsource this sort of stuff for such young kids? It's dead easy to explain sex and puberty to kids that age.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 20/05/2023 10:21

piedbeauty · 20/05/2023 10:08

Christ, why do schools outsource this sort of stuff for such young kids? It's dead easy to explain sex and puberty to kids that age.

It's a result of this government's "bonfire of red tape" approach. "You're the experts..." - which seems quite reasonable until you get to something like sensitive like SRE which is genuinely challenging to get right in terms of children's differing needs.
That's allowed numerous adult fetish centred groups to self identify as "SRE for children" experts, despite all the evidence that they're deeply ignorant about safeguarding, child development / psychology and completely unsuited to influence children.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 20/05/2023 10:25

Not saying that Coram is one of these unsuitable groups - just highlighting why it's so important that parents challenge and insist on complete transparency in the light of once respected organisations like ChildLine & the NSPCC being fatally compromised by signing up to gender woowoo.

OhHolyJesus · 20/05/2023 10:29

Our HT also had no clue about the content (Jigsaw). You would think a simple check of lesson plans would be the least you would do before signing up and paying a provider. Personally I would do full history checks of the company, materials, employees and founder/director as well but I am not an HT.

The good news is that once the HT was made aware and had some back and forth with Jigsaw it was ditched and Coram was brought in. Having seen the Coram materials the school is using im comfortable by this is for Y2. It's always really important to see the detail of exact lesson plans not just the overview as it's the lesson plans the kids will be taught.

If the school are cagey or resistant to showing any parent then you have to ask yourself why.

I found Coram very open and easy to talk to but it's the school which chooses what lesson plans to bring in.

Jigsaw is used across the country so just because it's popular it doesn't mean it is safe for your kids.

OhHolyJesus · 20/05/2023 10:30

(Or any kids).

Original poster
MaterDei · 20/05/2023 10:31

piedbeauty · 20/05/2023 10:08

Christ, why do schools outsource this sort of stuff for such young kids? It's dead easy to explain sex and puberty to kids that age.

Ha! Precisely! This was my first question to the school! And she could not answer it!

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Original poster
MaterDei · 20/05/2023 10:39

MrsOvertonsWindow · 20/05/2023 10:21

It's a result of this government's "bonfire of red tape" approach. "You're the experts..." - which seems quite reasonable until you get to something like sensitive like SRE which is genuinely challenging to get right in terms of children's differing needs.
That's allowed numerous adult fetish centred groups to self identify as "SRE for children" experts, despite all the evidence that they're deeply ignorant about safeguarding, child development / psychology and completely unsuited to influence children.

Show quote history

Grrrr! Perhaps it is a challenge for teachers to teach this topic but historically teachers have always been the ones to teach it! Inviting third parties in seems like an easy option for schools and a dream for the wrongs un, or as you put it - adult fetishism centered groups!

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piedbeauty · 20/05/2023 13:27

Ha! Precisely! This was my first question to the school! And she could not answer it!

That's really poor. She's using the school's money for this too - without knowing what Coram will teach?!

The teacher should be factual, keep it simple and biological and age-appropriate.

Good luck, op!

Alargeoneplease89 · 20/06/2023 09:06

Did you find out what was taught? It seems a minefield when asking what materials they are going to use and wanting age appropriate facts.

Original poster
MaterDei · 20/06/2023 09:20

The deputy said coram would follow jigsaw phse which the school uses (and I have some issues with!)

I noticed coram was mentioned in a daily mail article over the weekend highlighting some of the questionable content they teach young children.

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IhearyouClemFandango · 20/06/2023 09:22

Our primary school uses Coram/Scarf for their phse. I delivered a lot of the younger stuff when I worked there and it was fine.

They're planning on doing the 'growing and changing' bit with yr 6 as their sex ed session, which I've asked for more info on.

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