Background
Scoil Naomh Eoin opened in September 2003. We are a developing school situated in Navan, Co. Meath. Our school is expanding rapidly and as it changes, we foresee our R.S.E. policy to change also.
Our School’s Philosophy/Mission Statement
Scoil Naomh Eoin will endeavor to communicate the Christian vision of human life, and in keeping with the Catholic ethos of our school, the R.S.E. programme will be developed and taught to reflect the teachings of the Catholic Church. We also recognise S.E. must be made available to all children and we will endeavor to provide the appropriate education of same.
Definition of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE)
SPHE encompasses the all round personal development of each child; its aim is to give children the skills to deal with the changing and challenging world in which they live.
SPHE is the process which enables pupils to develop an understanding of themselves. It helps them to choose and follow a healthy lifestyle and enables them to play responsible roles as individuals and as members of society.
Relationships and Sexuality Education (R.S.E.)
Definition of R.S.E.
ð R.S.E. is an integral part of human sexuality, parenting, personal, social skills and relationships. It provides children with opportunities to acquire knowledge and understanding of these areas through processes which will enable them to form values and establish behaviours within a moral, spiritual and social framework.
The Aims of Relationships and Sexuality Education
ð To enhance the personal development, self-esteem and well-being of the child.
ð To help the child to develop healthy friendships and relationships.
ð To foster an understanding of, and a healthy attitude to, human sexuality and relationships in a moral, spiritual and social framework.
ð To enable the child to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, human love, sexual intercourse and reproduction.
ð To develop and promote in the child, a sense of wonder and awe at the process of birth and new life.
ð To develop in the child a sense of social responsibility, a commitment to active and participative citizenship and an appreciation of the democratic way of life.
ð To enable the child to respect human and cultural diversity and to appreciate and understand the interdependent nature of the world.
Current provisions for R.S.E. in this school
As we are a new school, Relationships and Sexuality education has only been taught in the context of Religious Education, SPHE and through a positive school climate and atmosphere. We have used lessons and activities from the Religious Education programme-Alive-O, Stay Safe and the SESE programme.
Management and Organisation of R.S.E. in our school
A developmental approach
Teaching about relationships and sexuality will be delivered in the context of SPHE. All content objectives will be taught developmentally by the time the children leave 6th class. All issues will be discussed with sensitivity, professionalism and awareness of the varying levels of development within a class.
Possible sensitive issues such as naming body parts and sexual intercourse will be covered within the strand units “Taking care of my body”, “Growing and changing” and “Safety and Protection”.
Language
The acquisition of appropriate language in R.S.E. is crucially important to enable children to communicate confidently about themselves, their sexuality and their relationships. Not being familiar with the biological terms of the body can put children at a disadvantage.
We will give children the correct and appropriate language as outlined in the R.S.E. materials.
Junior Infants: womb, breast-feeding.
Senior Infants: penis, vagina.
1st Class: urine passes through the penis in boys and the urethra in girls. Baby is in the womb for nine months and may be breast or bottle fed.
2nd Class: penis and urethra, vagina, navel, breast.
3rd/4th Class: developing foetus.
5th Class: puberty; physical changes in boys and girls; reproduction.
6th Class: sexual intercourse in the context of a loving, committed relationship, such as marriage.
In our school, there are children of different class levels and abilities.
Should information be inappropriate for the younger age group, we will withdraw them.
Our school is a co-educational school and
ð We will teach the boys and girls together.
ð We can teach the boys and girls separately, giving each group the boys and girls information, depending on the topic being discussed.
Answering questions
In so far as is possible, teachers will endeavour to answer all questions asked by children which are relative to the lessons being taught.
Should a pupil require information that is not in line with the curriculum content, and not considered to be age-appropriate for the general body of pupils, the school will refer him/her to their parents.
Privacy
Everyone has a right to privacy. Teachers will not answer personal questions about themselves nor require the child to give information of a personal nature which they do not wish to share.
Any disclosures by children which the teacher feels must be reported will have to be reported to the Principal and relative authorities.
R.S.E Policy and other Curricular Areas
Our policy on R.S.E will also inform the teaching of the strand ‘Living Things’ in Science.
Rights and Responsibilities of Parents/Guardians
Þ In S.P.H.E and R.S.E parents are acknowledges as the primary educators of their children and the school will work in a supportive role.
Þ On enrolment, parents will be provided with the schools R.S.E policy and a list of possible sensitive issues.
Þ The parents will be notified when the lessons/sensitive issues will be taught prior to their teaching, in order that they will have their children prepared.
Þ A parent’s right to withdraw a pupil from the process will be honoured on the understanding that the parent is taking full responsibility for this aspect of education. It is the responsibility of the parent to inform the school in writing of this decision.
Þ If parents choose to withdraw their children from these lessons they can have their children accommodated in another classroom.
Confidentiality
If a child is withdrawn for the teaching of sensitive issues, we cannot guarantee that the other children will not tell or inform him/her about what has been taught.
Rights and Responsibilities of Teachers
Þ Each class teacher will teach the S.P.H.E programme.
Þ A teacher’s right to opt out of issues with which they feel uncomfortable with will be honoured. Then provision will be made for these issues to be taught by a colleague.
Þ If a member of staff is unavailable to teach the sensitive issues, arrangement regarding the teaching of the programme will be made by the Board of Management in the school.
The school recognises that the parent is the prime educator of the child and the role of the teacher is subsidiary to that of the parents in giving the child a sound, moral and Christian education.
Sources and Resources
Þ We will use the RSE and the Stay Safe programme and other resources that are deemed suitable by the principal/S.P.H.E co-ordinator in consultation with a representative for the parents such as books, photo-copiable material.
Þ We may also invite other visitors such as a mother, father, and new baby when teaching aspects of the curriculum. These adults may be invited to talk and be questioned by the pupils.
Provision for Ongoing Support, Development and Review
(a) Where necessary or if opportunities arise, the Board of Management may be requested to fund/support:
In-career development for teachers
Training for parents organised by the parents associations.
(b) The draft policy will be circulated to parents, teachers and the school authorities by the end of March 2006 and amended where feasible.
The final agreed policy will be presented to the Board of Management, ratified by them, circulated to all parties involved and implemented.
(c) This policy and the R.S.E. programme will be reviewed after five years by the R.S.E. policy committee. All partners will be informed on any amendments necessary after such a review. R.S.E. resources will also be reviewed to ensure they are kept up to date.