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Dacorum Education Support Centre

Dacorum Education Support Centre

Personal Development & RSHE

Relationships, Sex and Health Education – Parent Consultation 

At DESC, we are committed to supporting the personal development, wellbeing and safeguarding of all learners. Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) forms an important part of this, helping learners to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to stay safe, build positive relationships and make informed choices. 

We recognise the importance of working in partnership with parents and carers. We value your views and aim to ensure that RSHE provision reflects the needs of our learners while remaining consistent with statutory guidance. 

Our Approach at DESC 

For DESC’s short-term re-integration hub programmes, personal development is interwoven throughout the behaviour curriculum, but RSHE is not explicitly included. As such: 

  • The responsibility for the delivery of the full RSHE curriculum remains with each learner’s main school

  • However, DESC will ensure that any identified needs related to safeguarding, wellbeing, or personal development are addressed, while the learner is attending a hub programme 

This includes, where appropriate, focused teaching on: 

  • Protective behaviours 

  • Healthy relationships 

  • Emotional literacy and wellbeing 

  • Keeping safe (including online safety) 

Key Stage 4 

At Key Stage 4, learners receiving full-time provision have dedicated Personal Development lessons within the core curriculum, which deliver the core statutory RSHE curriculum. This ensures learners continue to access essential learning during their time at DESC. 

We also work with a variety of external agencies and charities to enhance provision and provide wider educational opportunities. This partnership approach supports learners to access specialist knowledge, real-life perspectives and additional support around topics such as health, relationships, wellbeing and future pathways. 

Personal Development 

Primary and Key Stage 3: 

Personal development is interwoven throughout all hub programmes at DESC. Through daily interactions, targeted sessions and a supportive environment, learners are encouraged to: 

  • Develop confidence and resilience 

  • Build positive relationships with peers and adults 

  • Understand boundaries and respect 

  • Reflect on their choices and behaviours 

Safeguarding and RSHE 

Our priority is always the safety and wellbeing of learners. Where specific concerns or needs are identified, DESC will respond appropriately and may provide targeted RSHE-related input to ensure learners are supported and equipped with essential safeguarding knowledge. 

Working with Parents and Carers 

We welcome open communication with parents and carers. If you have any questions or would like to discuss RSHE provision in more detail, please contact DESC directly. 

We are committed to ensuring that all learners receive a consistent and supportive approach to RSHE, both in their main school and during their time with us. 

Aims of Consultation

At DESC, we believe that working in partnership with parents and carers is essential in delivering an effective RSHE curriculum. 

The DFE Statutory guidance states: “Parents should be given every opportunity to understand the purpose and content of Relationships Education and RSHE, Good communication and opportunities.

The aims of consultation are to: 

  • Provide clear and transparent information about RSHE provision 

  • Give parents and carers the opportunity to ask questions and share views 

  • Ensure our approach reflects the needs of our learners and community 

  • Support a shared understanding of how RSHE contributes to safeguarding, wellbeing and personal development 

 

Consultation of new Relationships and Sex Education Policy for teaching September 2026 - Fill Out Form

 

Please read:

 

What Do We Mean by “Age-Appropriate”?

All RSHE teaching at DESC is age-appropriate and developmentally suitable for learners. 

This means: 

  • Content is carefully planned to match learners’ age, maturity and individual needs 

  • Topics are introduced gradually and sensitively, building knowledge over time 

  • Teaching is adapted for learners with SEND and SEMH needs 

  • Learners are only taught material that they can understand safely and in context 

National guidance requires schools to ensure that RSHE is delivered in a way that is appropriate to learners’ understanding and readiness, while still preparing them for real-life situations. 

What Do We Mean by “LGBT Inclusive”?

At DESC, RSHE is inclusive of all learners and reflects the diversity of modern society. 

This means: 

  • Teaching includes different types of families, including those with same-sex parents 

  • Learners are taught about respect, equality and protected characteristics in line with the Equality Act 2010 

  • Content is factual, balanced and delivered sensitively 

  • Everyone is encouraged to feel accepted, respected and represented 

DfE guidance makes clear that schools should ensure pupils learn about equality and respect, including sexual orientation and gender reassignment, as part of RSHE. 

How Do We Make Learners Feel Safe to Discuss Sensitive Issues? 

Creating a safe learning environment is central to RSHE at DESC. 

We do this by: 

  • Establishing clear ground rules for respectful discussion 

  • Building positive, trusting relationships between staff and learners 

  • Using a trauma-informed and therapeutic approach 

  • Allowing learners to ask questions safely, including anonymously where appropriate 

  • Ensuring staff are trained to respond to questions sensitively and professionally 

This supports learners to develop confidence, seek help, and engage in discussions about important topics safely.

How Do We Teach Sensitive Issues?

Sensitive topics are taught in a way that is: 

  • Factual, accurate and age-appropriate 

  • Delivered by trained staff 

  • Embedded within a wider Personal Development curriculum 

  • Linked to safeguarding, wellbeing and real-life understanding 

Teaching may include: 

  • Structured lessons 

  • Small group or 1:1 discussions where appropriate 

  • Use of carefully selected, quality-assured resources 

  • Input from external agencies and professionals 

Learners are supported to: 

  • Understand boundaries, consent and personal safety 

  • Recognise risk and seek help 

  • Respect different views and experiences 

Can I Withdraw My Child from RSHE?

Parents/carers have the right to request withdrawal from some or all of Sex Education (the non-statutory elements of RSHE). 

However: 

  • Relationships Education and Health Education are statutory and cannot be withdrawn from 

  • Requests for withdrawal can be made  for any or all aspects of Sex Education, other than those which are part of the science curriculum, up to and until three terms before the age of 16. These should be made in writing and will be discussed with the Co-Headteachers 

  • After that point, the guidance states that if the child wishes to receive sex education rather than be withdrawn, arrangements will be provided to the learner to receive this

Has the RSHE Policy Been Agreed for DESC?

Yes. The RSHE policy at DESC: 

  • Has been developed in line with DfE statutory guidance (2025/2026) 

  • Has been created in consultation with staff and parents/carers 

  • Is reviewed regularly to ensure it reflects best practice and current guidance 

  • Is formally approved by the Management Committee 

Parents and carers are informed of curriculum content and are able to access materials on request, ensuring full transparency.

 

 

  1. RSE Policy Sept 2026 (Draft)pdf
    Download
  2. 01.07.26 DESC Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Consultation Letterpdf
    Download

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