Parents, tell us what you need

On the dot: Outspoken workshop at the Statutory RSE & Health Education: Supporting Student Wellbeing conference

Education professionals gathered together on 22 January 2020 to work out how to bring in new relationships, health and sex education (RSHE) policies seamlessly and – crucially – with parents’ approval.

At the national SecEd conference held in central London, teachers, school leaders and sex education professionals helped each other plan for the implementation of mandatory RSHE in schools in September 2020. Time and time again professionals asked themselves how they could get parents interested, involved and content with curricula covering bodies, puberty, sex, families and healthy relationships.

So what do parents need to engage well with their children’s sex education? You tell us!

Pooky Knightsmith, mental-health expert, says: “Children don’t know what they don’t know. What matters to them?”

Do we need to bring parents face-to-face with reality?

As every teacher knows, things go on in schools that would make parents’ hair stand on end – from sexting to smack talk. Experts in parental consultation were encouraging colleagues to show parents evidence of their children’s advanced understanding and appetite for learning more.

Do you think your 10-year-old is asking their year 5 teacher: “When will I start my periods?” Prepare to be surprised, says Dr Pooky Knightsmith. Try: “What shall I do if someone does something I don’t like on TikTok?”