PSHE, RSE

At TLC our PSHE Curriculum is designed with the specific needs of our learners in mind and is reflective of TLC’s aims and ethos. Our ethos focuses on enabling learners to make well informed and positive choices for themselves that lead to them becoming confident young adults who value inclusivity and are prepared for all that their futures may bring. Learners are taught and continually encouraged to respect other people, with particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010. Learners study a different topic every half-term and topics build on one another. For example, learners in Year 7 learn how to use social media safely and in Year 9 how to identify when someone is being groomed online; lessons are age appropriate.

At TLC we understand that PSHE lessons need to be fluid when dealing with topical situations in the lives of our learners, and current affairs that may affect them. We will not hesitate to change the content of lessons should the need arise, for example if a learner has lost a parent we will be sensitive when discussing families, if situations arise in the playground and a learner uses discriminatory language we will use our PSHE lessons to educate learners around this topic. We actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and our Careers curriculum encourages learners to be citizens.

Our PSHE curriculum is planned as per the guidance provided by the DfE and reflects the schools aims and ethos Our objectives are:

• To ensure all children and young people attending TLC leave prepared for the world and all that their futures may bring.
• That all children will learn to value inclusivity.
• To know, understand and respect the 9 protected characteristics.
• Support learners to become confident, independent and thoughtful.
• To promote learners to be free thinking and to verbalise their opinions in a respectful manner.
• Ensure learners understand their feelings and emotions using the Zones of Regulation.
• To establish trust so learners can ask for help and support from adults at TLC.
• To ensure that learners understand and celebrate the differences in people.
• For learners to understand and celebrate diversity.
• For learners to be aware of the importance of physical well- being and how to maintain it.
• Learners understand and are aware of the importance of mental well being.
• To know that there is a two-way relationship between physical and mental health.
• Actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

At The Learning Centre, good relationships are fundamental to our ethos. Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is lifelong learning about relationships, emotions, looking after ourselves, different families, sex, sexuality and sexual health. It involves acquiring information, developing skills and forming positive beliefs, values and attitudes. RSE has a key part to play in the personal, social, moral and spiritual development of young people.

The aims of relationship and sex education (RSE) at our school are to:

• Provide a framework in which sensitive discussions can take place.
• Teach children the correct vocabulary to describe themselves and their bodies.
• Develop confidence in talking about feelings and relationships.
• Help children develop feelings of self-respect, confidence and empathy.
• Have the confidence and self-esteem to value themselves and others.
• Prepare children for puberty, and give them an understanding of sexual development and the importance of health and hygiene.
• Create a positive culture around issues of relationships and sexuality.
• Understand about the diverse range of different relationships, and families, and their importance for the care and support of children.
• Behave responsibly within relationships.
• Be able to recognise unsafe situations and be able to protect themselves and ask for help and support.
• Understand the role of the media in forming attitudes.
• Understand that offence can be caused by the use of sexual terms as an insult.

Parents have the right to request children are removed from lessons teaching certain elements of RSE. Information on this can be downloaded here.