Sex education

Summary

A request was made regarding the age and content of sex education at St Johns Primary School, specifically asking about masturbation instruction and grooming awareness. The Department of Education confirmed that children are not taught to masturbate, provided the school's policy document, and directed the requester to the school website for grooming information.

Key Facts

• There is no prescribed sex education curriculum on the Isle of Man; each school designs its own programme.
• The Department confirmed that children are not taught to pleasure themselves or masturbate at primary school level.
• A copy of St Johns Primary School's sex and relationships policy was provided to detail curriculum content by year group.
• Information regarding sexual grooming and reporting is available on the St Johns Primary School website under the E-Safety policy.
• Support for Year 6 delivery on puberty and relationships was offered by the Health Education Officer during the 2020/21 academic year.

Data Disclosed

• 1897641
• 2021-07-12
• 2021-08-04
• 28 July 2021
• 2020/21
• Year 6
• Year 5
• 1.5hours
• 1hour
• section 20

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Act (Information already reasonably accessible)

Original Request

Please provide the age of children that will receive sexual education ? Is it true that children will be taught to pleasure themselves and materbate in primary school level ? What does the sex ed curriculum contain in detail please and from what age? Does the curriculum teach Children about sexual grooming from any person and how to report same to a trusted authority such as a parent ?

Data Tables (17)

Full Response Text

Good afternoon,

I hope you are all keeping well.

Lockdown has created a number of challenges, and planned Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) input may not have been able to take place. With that in mind, from LoveLife (SUMT) and I would like to offer some support for Year 6 delivery to ensure that our young people receive the specific information they need about puberty, periods and relationships before their transition to secondary school.

If you have already delivered or have planned for your sessions to take place before the end of summer term, please feel free to disregard this email.

It is important to note that our offer isn’t to replace the teachers role in delivering RSE, but to support and relieve additional pressure that some of you may be under.

We can discuss individual schools requirements, but as a guide and to allow for planning, we anticipate offering support the following way:

A. Where no specific input has been delivered • two sessions – puberty/periods (1.5hours), relationships (1hour) B. Where puberty/period input has been delivered, but no relationship input • one session – puberty/period recap and relationships (1.5hours)

We will be holding a training event in the autumn term for Year 5 and Year 6 teachers that will focus specifically on the areas identified above, however if you would like a refresh for any input you will delivering this academic year we are more than happy to help.

Corporate Services Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Hamilton House Peel Road, Douglas IM1 5EZ Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im Our ref: 1897641 28 July 2021

Dear ###,

We write further to your request which was received on 12 July 2021 and which states:

"Please provide the age of children that will receive sexual education? Is it true that children will be taught to pleasure themselves and masturbate in primary school level? What does the sex education curriculum contain in detail please and from what age? Does the curriculum teach Children about sexual grooming from any person and how to report same to a trusted authority such as a parent?” Our clarification request We advised that there is not a prescribed curriculum on the Isle of Man and each school designs and delivers a Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) programme that best matches the needs of their children. Therefore we needed to clarify if there was a specific school which you would like the information from. You advised St Johns Primary School. Response Our response to your request is as follows: Age children will receive sexual education I have enclosed a copy of St Johns Primary School sex and relationships policy which details what is covered at each year group within the school.

Teaching children about pleasuring themselves While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. This is because there is no information held in relation to children being taught to pleasure themselves and masturbate. By way of advice and assistance the Department can confirm that children are not taught to pleasure themselves and masturbate at primary school level. Sex education curriculum I have enclosed a copy of St Johns Primary School sex and relationships policy which details what the children are taught and what is covered at each year group within the school. I have also enclosed a copy of an email sent to the schools by the Department’s Health Education Officer. In the academic year 2020/21 this was delivered to the year 6 pupils at St Johns Primary School by the Health Education Officer. Teaching children about sexual grooming While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee. The information that you have requested is available from St Johns Primary School website. By way of advice and assistance the information can be found at the following web links: https://stjohns.sch.im/pages/index/view/id/21/e-Safety The information within the E Safety policy and online safety messages are delivered to children in class at an age appropriate level.

Please quote the reference number 1897641 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Freedom of Information Coordinator

Isle of Man Department of Education
 St Johns School SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS POLICY
Introduction
We believe that the parents and guardians are the main educators in children learning to cope with the emotional and physical aspects of growing up and that it is the schools role to support them.
Sex and relationship education is lifelong learning about physical, moral and emotional development. It is about understanding the importance of loving and caring relationships. It is about the teaching of sexuality and sexual health. Research demonstrates that good sex and relationship education does not make young people more likely to become sexually active at a younger age. 
 Moral and Values Framework
Sex and relationship education will be taught in the context of relationships and link to PSHE and Citizenship.
 In addition, SRE will promote self esteem and emotional health and well being and help pupils form and maintain worthwhile and positive relationships, based on respect for themselves and others, at home, school and in the community.

 Aims and Objectives for Sex and Relationship Education
The aim of SRE is to provide children with age appropriate information, explore attitudes and values and develop skills in order to empower them to make positive decisions about their health related behaviour. This should take place with consideration and sensitivity towards the qualities of relationships within families.

 The objectives of Sex and Relationship Education are: 
 • To provide the knowledge and information to which all pupils are entitled
• To challenge, clarify and develop existing knowledge and help gain access to information and support
• To raise pupils’ self esteem and confidence, especially in their relationships with others 
 To help pupils understand their feelings and behaviour and how they can change as they mature
• To provide the confidence to value themselves and others and develop skills for a healthier safer lifestyle
• To respect and care for their bodies • To prepare for puberty and adulthood • To develop the ability to cope with influences of their peers and the media • It is our intention that all children will have the opportunity to experience a programme of SRE at a level 
 which is appropriate for their age and physical development, with differentiated provision if required. 
 The organisation of Sex and Relationship Education
Sex and relationship education is delivered through different areas of learning, including science, RE, PSHE and Citizenship, including during P4C.
Learning could take place as part of a topic, through story time/ circle time and through the daily life of the school community.
Sex and relationship education is taught by classroom teachers, teaching assistants and outside visitors if appropriate. The Year 6 teacher will also deliver additional, age appropriate SRE sessions to year 6 pupils. Sex and relationship education is usually delivered in mixed gender groups, however there may be occasions where single gender groups are more appropriate and relevant.
Content, Organisation and Delivery
Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) is presented within a framework that stresses personal responsibility, respect for self and others, and the importance of family life. It should be an integral part of the lifelong learning process beginning in early childhood and continuing in adult life.
It will
• support pupils through their physical, emotional and moral development. • give pupils an understanding of their own growth and development and the rates at which changes take place. • generate an atmosphere where questions about sexuality and reproduction can be asked and answered without embarrassment. • provide an acceptable vocabulary for all parts of the body. • make pupils aware of external influences e.g. newspapers, magazines and television, and help them to make sensible judgements in this context.
• foster the development of critical thinking and questioning skills. • support pupils in the acquisition of skills and understanding they will need.
EARLY YEARS Children learn about the concept of male and female and about young animals. In ongoing PSHE work, they develop awareness of emotions, develop skills to form friendships and think about relationships with others.
KEY STAGE ONE Through work in science, children learn about the life cycles of some animals, understand the idea of growing from young to old and learn that all living things reproduce. They learn about the importance of personal hygiene to maintain good health. In RE and PSHE/Citizenship, children learn about emotions and feelings, children reflect on family relationships, different family groups and friendship.
Children begin to co-operate with others in work and play and begin to recognise the range of human emotions and ways to deal with them.
 They also learn about personal safety.
KEY STAGE TWO In science, children build on their knowledge of life cycles and learn about the basic biology of human reproduction.
In RE, PSHE and Citizenship, they continue to develop an understanding of relationships within a family, between friends and the community and that there are different patterns of friendship. They will develop skills needed to form relationships and to respect other people’s emotions and feelings. Children will consider how to make simple choices and exercise some basic techniques for resisting pressures.
Specific SRE lessons are delivered in Years 6 and cover the following themes:
• ‘Changes’ - understanding the physical changes that take place during puberty, why they happen and how to manage them. • ‘How Babies are made and born’ - exploration of how babies are made within the context of a stable, loving relationship. The development of a baby in the womb and how a baby is born is also covered.
• ‘Girl Talk/Boy Talk’ - further exploration of physical and emotional changes that take place in both boys and girls during puberty Specific Issues
Parental consultation
The school will inform parents of year 6 pupils when their sex and relationship programme will be taught and provide opportunities for parents to discuss concerns and view resources being used.
 Parents have the right to withdraw their children from those aspects of sex and relationship education not included in the Manx Curriculum Science and alternative work would be set.
Child Protection / Confidentiality
Teachers need to be aware that effective sex and relationship education, which brings an understanding of what is and is not acceptable in a relationship, may lead to disclosure of a child protection issue. The staff member will inform the Head Teacher / designated person with responsibility for child protection, in line with the Department of Education and Children procedures for child protection.
Dealing with difficult questions
Ground rules are essential to provide an agreed structure to answering sensitive or difficult questions. Teachers will endeavour to answer questions as honestly as possible, but if faced with a question they do not feel comfortable answering within the classroom, provision would be made to meet the individual child’s needs. For example, a teacher could contact the Physical and Emotional Health Education Officer.
Monitoring and Evaluation
This policy will be reviewed on a two year basis or when the need arises, to assess its implementation and effectiveness.
September 2018
SUGGESTED THEMES Foundation Stage - Reception Myself My Family My Body NSPCC Pants Rule Year 1 Year 2 Myself & My Family Friendships Body Parts & how to look after my body Choices & Caring Year 3 Year 4 Myself - growing and changing. Differences Family Differences Gender stereotypes Body changes & how to look after my body Decision making
 Personal safety Year 5 Year 6 Myself - growing up, body changes
(including puberty in Year 6) Relationships
(including reproduction in Year 6) Menstruation education Body Hygiene Building good relationships. Your questions answered.