Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is an integral part of the SPHE (Social, Personal and Health Education) programme.
The sensitive elements of the RSE programme are covered under the ‘Growing and Changing’ and ‘Taking Care of my Body’ sections. Each year these Strand Units are covered with all classes throughout the school. Within this content, there are a number of sensitive issues such as conception and reproduction. We encourage parents to familiarise themselves with the content applicable at their child’s level, and to talk to their daughter about what she will learn through RSE.
Below are the links to the detailed content at each class level:
Fifth & Sixth Classes also use the HSE’s Busy Bodies as a teaching support which can be viewed using the links below:
Click here to access further support materials available on the Oide’s website.
WHAT IS RSE?
Relationships & Sexuality education (RSE) is a key component of the Social Personal & Health Education (S.P.H.E.) curriculum in primary school. RSE provides children with opportunities to develop knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practical skills necessary to establish and sustain healthy personal relationships with self and others. In addition to learning about relationships, RSE invites children to explore concepts such as physical development and human sexuality. Topics are explored with children in a developmentally appropriate, spiral nature throughout their primary education. Topics addressed in RSE include exploration of feelings, friendships, inclusive families, puberty, pregnancy and conception.
WHY TEACH RSE?
As a parent, you are the primary educator of your child. Just as you help your child to grow and develop in other ways, consciously supporting the development of your child’s sexuality education will help them achieve the skills, attitudes and values they need in order to have healthy relationships with themselves and others. Research tells us that sexuality education has a positive impact on young peoples’ sexual health knowledge and their related behaviours. (UNESCO 2018) Recent Irish research would suggest that in general parents feel that RSE is an important topic to discuss with their children at home. However, many parents feel ill equipped to do this effectively. (Conlon 2018) So having accurate and age appropriate conversations with your child can help them develop healthy behaviours in relation to sexuality and sex.