However, the final decision on when sessions should be taught are ultimately the responsibility of the school. 

At times, you may feel that children should be a little older for some sessions; at other times, you might feel that certain topics should be introduced sooner. We have summarised the four key decisions that we ask you to consider before implementing the programme. For further details to help schools consider in details the Key Decisions, subscribers who are Account Administrators or Super Users for their schools can look to the Programme Coordinator Manual for more information and guidance.

Key Decision #1: Genitalia

Genitalia is not named in Early Years Foundation Stage, private parts are merely referred to as ‘privates’. However, in Key Stage One, a decision must be made about whether to introduce names of genitalia to Years 1 and 2.

Key Decision #2: Puberty

In Module 2 of Lower Key Stage One, we have provided two sessions on puberty and changing bodies. We have recommended these sessions for Year 4+ but again we recommend that a decision is made locally about the best time and place for the teaching of these sessions.

Key Decision #3: Talking About Sex

The third key area for consideration is about whether to include a session in Upper Key Stage Two which answers the question: ‘Where do babies come from?’ Naturally, this question leads to a discussion about sexual intercourse and we would like to leave it to the individual school, in consultation with parents, about the inclusion of this session. Teaching about sexual intercourse to primary school children is not part of the statutory curriculum; however, a number of dioceses that we have partnered with have asked that resources are provided which deal with this topic as it is a natural progression of the conversation around the scientific understanding of how babies are made.We have created a session with delicacy and care and we believe that it provides powerful teaching in an age appropriate way on love, intimacy and marriage.

Key Decision #4: Talking About Pornography

The final key decision concerns talking about pornography. One of the sessions in Upper Key Stage Two addresses the risks that children face from seeing pornographic images and videos online. On the one hand, this is very much a lesson about ‘internet safety’ and therefore falls under the statutory Health Education curriculum. However, some schools and parents may also consider that this falls under the non-statutory Sex Education curriculum. We encourage schools and their parents to make their own decision about this.

Don’t forget, additional guidance and lesson content information for these four areas can be found in the Programme Coordinator Manual.