Ahem. I’d be lying if I said part of me doesn’t cringe at having to do this. At the same time, there is a far greater part of me that thinks the Dutch approach is infinitely healthier than going bright red at the mention of the word “nipple”. [see e.g. here and here for comparisons]
Anyway, I do believe Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) should be a whole school approach, even at primary level, rather than just something that we in independent schools do vaguely in science and then vaguely in PSHE in Year 6. [Cough, nipple] The NCB is a great resource for less vague, much more informed advice – I suspect parents might find it helpful too.
In getting the whole school approach, there is an undoubted temptation to outsource. It is all very English and allows teachers who are firmly in the [Cough. Nipple] camp to look the other way. The charity Brook look as though they do some good work in this respect.
The Christopher Winter Project, though, said something that struck a chord.
Many PSHE education projects deliver in the classroom with the teachers watching. CWP empowers teachers to deliver high quality SRE and Drug Education themselves. Our aim is to improve the quality of PSHE education through increasing teacher confidence in planning, delivery and assessment.
In other words, if SRE matters (and I think it does), then we need to do it as well as we can. Buying people in is one option, but isn’t it far better to train the people you have? These may well (and probably will) move on but at least they will be taking some good practice with them and benefiting the children in their next schools.