Relationships & Health Education

At SHS, Relationships Education and Health Education are central parts of our curriculum and play an important role in supporting pupils’ personal development and wellbeing. The curriculum is designed to help children build strong foundations for healthy, respectful relationships and to develop the knowledge and skills needed to look after their physical and emotional health.

Through Relationships Education, pupils learn about friendships, family relationships, kindness, respect, and effective communication. They are taught about personal boundaries, how to recognise safe and unsafe situations, and how to seek help and support when needed. As pupils progress through the school, learning is developed in an age-appropriate way to include understanding of online relationships, bullying (including cyberbullying), and the importance of inclusion, respect, and positive behaviour towards others.

Health Education supports pupils in understanding how to care for their bodies and minds. This includes learning about healthy lifestyles, emotional well-being, hygiene, and physical activity, as well as making safe, informed choices that support lifelong health.

It is important to note that sex education is not statutory in primary schools. Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from any non-statutory sex education that is delivered beyond the national curriculum for science and Health Education.

We are committed to working in partnership with families. We will always communicate clearly about curriculum content, providing opportunities for parents to view materials and discuss any questions or concerns with the school.

Pam Holmes
Head of PSHE & Wellbeing

Relationships & Health Education Learning Statements

Relationships

Relationships Education
Families and people who care for me	Pupils should know: That families provide love, care, security and support for children as they grow up That families can look different and still provide safe and caring relationships That caring relationships are built on commitment, support and shared experiences That stable and caring relationships are important for emotional security and well-being That marriage represents a formal and legal commitment between adults (age-appropriate understanding) How to recognise when family relationships make them feel unhappy, unsafe or worried how and where to seek help or advice from trusted adults or services if needed
Caring friendships	Pupils should know: How friendships support wellbeing, happiness and security How friendships are formed and maintained the characteristics of healthy friendships, including respect, trust, kindness, honesty, loyalty and support That healthy friendships are inclusive and do not involve exclusion or isolation that friendships can have difficulties and can often be repaired through communication and support That conflict should be managed peacefully, and violence is never acceptable How to recognise when a friendship feels unsafe, unhealthy or uncomfortable How to seek help or advice if friendship problems arise
Respectful Relationships	Pupils should know: The importance of treating others with respect, including those who are different from them How respectful behaviour supports positive relationships and wellbeing The importance of self-respect and how this links to emotional well-being That respect should be shown to others in all contexts, including school and wider society About different types of bullying (including cyberbullying), their impact, and the responsibilities of bystanders to report concerns How stereotypes can be unfair, negative or harmful The importance of consent, permission-seeking and respecting boundaries in relationships How to challenge unkind behaviour safely and appropriately
Online Relationships	Pupils should know: That people may behave differently online, including pretending to be someone else That respectful behaviour is expected online as well as offline That online relationships should be based on respect, kindness and safety How to recognise risks, harmful content and unsafe contact online How to critically evaluate online friendships and information sources that information and data shared online can be stored, copied and shared further How to protect personal information and maintain privacy online How and where to report concerns or unsafe situations online That online behaviour can have real-life consequences
Being Safe	Pupils should know: What the appropriate and inappropriate boundaries are in friendships and relationships that their body belongs to them and they have the right to say no The difference between safe, unsafe and unwanted contact That privacy is important, but unsafe secrets should never be kept How to recognise when something feels unsafe, uncomfortable or worrying How to respond safely to unknown or unfamiliar adults, including online interactions How to ask for help, and the importance of continuing to seek help until they are heard How to report concerns or abuse using appropriate vocabulary and trusted routes Where to go for help, including family, school and other trusted services

Physical Health & Wellbeing

Physical Health and Wellbeing
Mental Wellbeing	Pupils should know: That mental well-being is part of overall health, alongside physical health That emotions are a normal part of life and vary in intensity and duration How to recognise, name and describe emotions using a growing emotional vocabulary How emotions influence behaviour and how behaviour can affect others Strategies for managing emotions, including self-regulation, seeking support and calming techniques That physical activity, time outdoors, social connection, and meaningful activities support mental wellbeing That rest, sleep, friendships, hobbies and family relationships support emotional wellbeing That loneliness and isolation can affect well-being, and that support should be sought early That bullying (including cyberbullying and online harassment) can have long-term effects on mental well-being Where and how to seek help, including trusted adults in school and other support services That mental health difficulties are common and can improve with early support and intervention That it is important to seek help early if worried about emotional wellbeing or the wellbeing of others
Internet Safety and Harms	Pupils should know: That the internet is a key part of modern life and has both benefits and risks How time online can affect physical health, sleep, mood and wellbeing That online content can be persuasive, misleading or targeted (including through algorithms and advertising) How to recognise respectful and responsible online behaviour The importance of keeping personal information private and protecting digital identity That age restrictions exist for safety reasons (including games, apps and social media) That online environments may include harmful behaviours such as bullying, trolling, coercion and manipulation How online actions can affect others, including long-term consequences (digital footprint) How to critically evaluate online information and recognise that search results are ranked and targeted Where and how to report concerns, block users, and seek support if something online causes worry or harm
Physical Health and Fitness	Pupils should know: The characteristics and physical and mental benefits of an active lifestyle The importance of regular physical activity for overall health and wellbeing How to build exercise into daily routines (e.g. walking, cycling, active play, sports) The risks of prolonged inactivity, including its impact on physical and mental health The importance of balanced nutrition, hydration, sleep and hygiene in maintaining health How lifestyle choices (including diet, sleep and activity levels) affect long-term health How to make informed choices about health and wellbeing When and how to seek support from trusted adults in school or at home if they are worried about their health or wellbeing
Basic First Aid	Pupils should know: How to make a clear and calm call to emergency services (including what information to give) Basic first aid responses for common injuries (e.g. cuts, burns, bumps and grazes) How to respond to head injuries by seeking immediate adult help How to keep themselves and others safe while waiting for help That first aid is about keeping someone safe until help arrives The importance of telling a trusted adult immediately in any emergency
Healthy Eating	Pupils should know: What constitutes a healthy, balanced diet and how different foods contribute to health and energy The importance of understanding nutritional content (including sugar, salt, fat and energy intake) in age-appropriate terms How to plan and prepare simple healthy meals and snacks The importance of hydration for health and wellbeing The characteristics of an unhealthy diet and the risks associated with it, including obesity, tooth decay and long-term health impacts How diet can be affected by lifestyle choices and external influences (e.g. advertising, availability, preferences)
Drugs, alcohol and tobacco	Pupils should know: that some substances are legal (for adults) and others are illegal, and that all can carry risks depending on use the short- and long-term effects of smoking, alcohol use and drug-taking on physical and mental health that nicotine is addictive and commonly linked to smoking and vaping products that alcohol and drugs can affect judgement, behaviour and safety how peer pressure and external influences can affect decisions about substances how to resist pressure and make informed, safe choices where to seek help or advice if concerned about substances
Health and prevention	Pupils should know: how to recognise early signs of physical illness and when to seek help from a trusted adult about safe and unsafe exposure to the sun and how to reduce risk of skin damage, including skin cancer prevention behaviours the importance of sleep for physical and mental health, and how poor sleep can affect mood, learning and wellbeing the importance of oral hygiene (including brushing and flossing) and regular dental check-ups about personal hygiene, germs, bacteria and viruses, and how infections can be spread and prevented the importance of handwashing and other hygiene behaviours in preventing illness basic understanding of allergies, immunisation and vaccination and their role in preventing illness that early help-seeking is important when feeling unwell or noticing changes in the body
Changing Adolescent Body	Pupils should know: key physical and emotional changes that happen during puberty (typically between ages 9–11 and beyond) that puberty affects people differently and at different times about emotional changes during adolescence, including mood changes, self-image and relationships that puberty is a normal part of human development about menstrual wellbeing, including the menstrual cycle, hygiene and how to manage periods where to access reliable information and support about puberty and growing up how to ask questions and seek help from trusted adults about bodily and emotional changes

Physical Health and Wellbeing

Mental Wellbeing

Pupils should know:

That mental well-being is part of overall health, alongside physical health
That emotions are a normal part of life and vary in intensity and duration
How to recognise, name and describe emotions using a growing emotional vocabulary
How emotions influence behaviour and how behaviour can affect others
Strategies for managing emotions, including self-regulation, seeking support and calming techniques
That physical activity, time outdoors, social connection, and meaningful activities support mental wellbeing
That rest, sleep, friendships, hobbies and family relationships support emotional wellbeing
That loneliness and isolation can affect well-being, and that support should be sought early
That bullying (including cyberbullying and online harassment) can have long-term effects on mental well-being
Where and how to seek help, including trusted adults in school and other support services
That mental health difficulties are common and can improve with early support and intervention
That it is important to seek help early if worried about emotional wellbeing or the wellbeing of others

Internet Safety and Harms

Pupils should know:

That the internet is a key part of modern life and has both benefits and risks
How time online can affect physical health, sleep, mood and wellbeing
That online content can be persuasive, misleading or targeted (including through algorithms and advertising)
How to recognise respectful and responsible online behaviour
The importance of keeping personal information private and protecting digital identity
That age restrictions exist for safety reasons (including games, apps and social media)
That online environments may include harmful behaviours such as bullying, trolling, coercion and manipulation
How online actions can affect others, including long-term consequences (digital footprint)
How to critically evaluate online information and recognise that search results are ranked and targeted
Where and how to report concerns, block users, and seek support if something online causes worry or harm

Physical Health and Fitness

Pupils should know:

The characteristics and physical and mental benefits of an active lifestyle
The importance of regular physical activity for overall health and wellbeing
How to build exercise into daily routines (e.g. walking, cycling, active play, sports)
The risks of prolonged inactivity, including its impact on physical and mental health
The importance of balanced nutrition, hydration, sleep and hygiene in maintaining health
How lifestyle choices (including diet, sleep and activity levels) affect long-term health
How to make informed choices about health and wellbeing
When and how to seek support from trusted adults in school or at home if they are worried about their health or wellbeing

Basic First Aid

Pupils should know:

How to make a clear and calm call to emergency services (including what information to give)
Basic first aid responses for common injuries (e.g. cuts, burns, bumps and grazes)
How to respond to head injuries by seeking immediate adult help
How to keep themselves and others safe while waiting for help
That first aid is about keeping someone safe until help arrives
The importance of telling a trusted adult immediately in any emergency

Healthy Eating

Pupils should know:

What constitutes a healthy, balanced diet and how different foods contribute to health and energy
The importance of understanding nutritional content (including sugar, salt, fat and energy intake) in age-appropriate terms
How to plan and prepare simple healthy meals and snacks
The importance of hydration for health and wellbeing
The characteristics of an unhealthy diet and the risks associated with it, including obesity, tooth decay and long-term health impacts
How diet can be affected by lifestyle choices and external influences (e.g. advertising, availability, preferences)

Drugs, alcohol and tobacco

Pupils should know:

that some substances are legal (for adults) and others are illegal, and that all can carry risks depending on use
the short- and long-term effects of smoking, alcohol use and drug-taking on physical and mental health
that nicotine is addictive and commonly linked to smoking and vaping products
that alcohol and drugs can affect judgement, behaviour and safety
how peer pressure and external influences can affect decisions about substances
how to resist pressure and make informed, safe choices
where to seek help or advice if concerned about substances

Health and prevention

Pupils should know:

how to recognise early signs of physical illness and when to seek help from a trusted adult
about safe and unsafe exposure to the sun and how to reduce risk of skin damage, including skin cancer prevention behaviours
the importance of sleep for physical and mental health, and how poor sleep can affect mood, learning and wellbeing
the importance of oral hygiene (including brushing and flossing) and regular dental check-ups
about personal hygiene, germs, bacteria and viruses, and how infections can be spread and prevented
the importance of handwashing and other hygiene behaviours in preventing illness
basic understanding of allergies, immunisation and vaccination and their role in preventing illness
that early help-seeking is important when feeling unwell or noticing changes in the body

Changing Adolescent Body

Pupils should know:

key physical and emotional changes that happen during puberty (typically between ages 9–11 and beyond)
that puberty affects people differently and at different times
about emotional changes during adolescence, including mood changes, self-image and relationships
that puberty is a normal part of human development
about menstrual wellbeing, including the menstrual cycle, hygiene and how to manage periods
where to access reliable information and support about puberty and growing up
how to ask questions and seek help from trusted adults about bodily and emotional changes

RSE and PSHE Policy 2025