Puberty can begin at age 8. Our curriculum is designed to help ensure that children are aware of the changes that will happen in their body during puberty. As these changes can take place from the age of 8, we began gently teaching children about these changes in Year 4.

Content is built on in years 5&6 to keep the conversation open with children who develop at different rates and have questions at different times.

Parents and carers will be given advance notice of teaching about growing and changing. We welcome parents into school who wish to view and discuss the resources that we use. Parents and carers can be assured that the content taught and resources used has been carefully thought through by staff and governors. Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from content taught.

To support parents and carers to talk about growing and changing with their own child, we will share a Walsall School Nursing Service video.

We also recommend the Usbourne books: ‘What’s Happening to Me?’ for parents and carers to read themselves and share with their children at an appropriate time.

Year 4

• Towards the end of the school year children watch CBBC ‘Operation Ouch Don’t Panic About Puberty Special’

This is available on iPlayer and YouTube. We encourage parents to watch this programme at home. The programme talks about bodies changing, sleep, emotions, spots, testicles and periods.

Year 5

• All pupils receive more detailed teaching about periods. We use the freely available Betty Education resources which are up to date and designed to be accessible to all pupils.
• We teach about puberty using the ‘Help I’m Hairy’ resources.

Year 6

• Pupils are taught about puberty using the 1 Decision Puberty lesson.

 Teaching About Conception

Children will be taught the process of human conception in Year 6. The familiar 1Decision resources will be used. The teaching content covers:

• the terms conception and reproduction
• the functions of the female and male reproductive systems
• various ways that adults can have a child
• different stages of pregnancy
• laws around consent

Parents and carers will be informed in advance of the content being covered and be offered the opportunity to view and discuss the resources used. Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from content taught.

Statutory teaching about growth, development and reproduction in plants, animals and humans is also covered within the science curriculum.