pshce/re/rse

RE

Rushey Green is a culturally diverse school representing multiple different nationalities, faith groups and cultures. We aim to ensure the spiritual, moral, cultural, social, mental and physical development of all our pupils. 
 

RE is taught weekly. Children learn about one faith or religious theme which enables pupils to develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths are different from their own.  It enables pupils to combat prejudice and promotes tolerance, empathy and respect for all. 
We use the Lewisham Agreed Syllabus for RE (Learning Together through Faiths) as the basis for our curriculum.  We recognise that Religious Education plays an important role in the personal development of our pupils. The content of the RE curriculum at Rushey Green can be viewed here. 
We celebrate religious festivals throughout the year and invite visitors from faith communities to our assemblies.  Classes also visit different places of worship. 

In the Early Years, children begin to explore the world of religion in terms of special people, books, times, places, religious festivals, objects and visits to places of worship. Children listen to, and talk about, stories. They are introduced to specialist vocabulary and use their senses in exploring religious beliefs, practices and forms of expression. They reflect upon their own feelings and experiences and use their imagination and curiosity to develop their appreciation and wonder of the world in which they live.
We promote British Values as part of the Early Years curriculum. Children learn to be kind, helpful and respectful of others, to be part of their local community and to appreciate that it is acceptable to have a group where people believe different things and that they can support and respect each other in those different beliefs. 

In Key Stage 1, children learn about Christianity, Islam and Hinduism, as well as other topics such as Weddings, Belonging and the Natural World.  

In Key Stage 2, children build on the knowledge acquired from the religions learnt in Key Stage 1, as well as being introduced to Buddhism, Sikhism and Judaism. We also learn about Peace, Understanding Faith and Belief in Lewisham. 
 

A cycle of lessons for each subject, which carefully plans for progression and depth.

• Challenge questions for pupils to apply their learning in a philosophical/ open manner.
• Trips and visiting experts who will enhance the learning experience
   

Our religious education curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. If children are keeping up with the curriculum they are deemed to be making good or better progress. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through a reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes. Through their R.E. learning, the children are able to make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world, developing an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of life.

All children will be included in religious assemblies unless parents have exercised their right to withdraw their children. This must be done in writing to the headteacher. 
 

RSE

At Rushey Green Primary School, we believe children should understand the facts about human reproduction before they leave primary school and define Sex Education as understanding human reproduction – having a baby, conception and birth and we intend to teach this through the Jigsaw PSHE programme of study during the summer term in the Changing Me puzzle. This will be implemented in sensitive way and in partnership with parents and careers, thus preparing our children for the responsibilities and experiences of adult life. 

Puberty is taught as a statutory requirement of Health Education and covered by our Jigsaw PSHE Programme in the ‘Changing Me’ Puzzle (unit). We conclude that sex education refers to Human Reproduction, and therefore inform parents of their right to request their child be withdrawn from the PSHE lessons that explicitly teach this i.e. the Jigsaw Changing Me Puzzle; these include:
Year 4, Lesson 2 (Having a baby)
Year 5, Lesson 4 (Conception)
Year 6, Lesson 3 (Conception, birth)
The Changing Me Puzzle is taught in the Summer Term. Parents will be reminded on the Newsletter before the lessons are taught.
 

The DfE Guidance 2019 (p.23) recommends that all primary schools ‘have a sex education programme tailored to the age and the physical and emotional maturity of the pupils; however, ‘Sex Education is not compulsory in primary schools’. (p. 23) “Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education delivered as part of statutory Relationships and Sex Education” DfE Guidance p.17

We value all relationships and the RSE curriculum is taught within the context of all family life taking care to include all kinds of relationships which occur throughout society. The school will ensure that there is no stigmatisation of children based on their home circumstances (families can include single parent families, LGBTQ+ parents, families headed by grandparents, adoptive parents, foster parents/carers amongst other structures) along with reflecting sensitively that some children may have a different structure of support around them (for example: looked after children or young carers).

At Rushey Green Primary School we promote respect for all and value every individual child.