HEALTH EDUCATION AT GIFFORD

A HEALTHY SCHOOL

We have achieved Healthy School status which recognises our commitment to improving our pupils’ quality of life and giving them the skills they need to make healthy choices.

We explore the activities which contribute to a healthy lifestyle and encourage pupils to consider how they can be healthy learners.  We have a number of school policies and plans which set out our intentions and the actions we will take to achieve our aims.  These include our healthy eating policy; the school travel plan; a packed lunch policy which gives suggestions of how to make a packed lunch tasty and healthy at the same time;……………….

HEALTH EDUCATION INCLUDING SEX & RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION

A programme of health education has been incorporated into the school curriculum in the form of topics in classwork, such as safety, growth, the senses and cleanliness and as part of other subjects eg personal hygiene may be covered in science and diet in cookery.

The school nurse spends time in school dealing mainly with aspects of personal hygiene.

Certain aspects of sex and relationships (SRE) education form part of the National Curriculum Science and these areas are compulsory for all pupils.  We consider that other aspects of SRE especially those relating to relationships are also an important part of a child’s education.

In the Infants department general aspects of sex and relationships education  that occur naturally are dealt with in context, but any specific enquiries by children are referred back to parents.  In the Juniors sex & relationships education develops from year to year as part of the understanding of the body and human relationships.  Questions raised by the children will be answered honestly and sensitively.

Parents are welcome to inspect the school policy on sex & relationships education at the school and staff will be happy to discuss issues arising from this.

Parents will be informed when human reproduction is being taught and will also be informed about the skills and status of outside speakers if such speakers are used.

The head is available to discuss more detailed questions or to assist parents who may wish to exercise their right to withdraw their child from non National Curriculum aspects of sex & relationships education.

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