In line the National Curriculum we teach elements of puberty education in Year 5. We are writing to inform you of the broad content of that programme and to give you the opportunity to view the resources and more information about the sessions in advance.

Puberty education is a sensitive area. We hope we can reassure you by emphasising that the programme we offer will carefully consider the age, maturity and needs of all your children. We have decided, as a school, to include this topic in our curricular planning because we believe children aged 9 and 10 need to be informed in a proper, sensitive and accurate way of the physical changes that many of them are already undergoing and the place these changes have in the whole process of growing up. It also gives us the chance to emphasise the emotional changes that take place in all of us as we grow up.

The sessions begin with the children, boys and girls together as a year group, looking at a presentation about the human anatomy followed by watching a widely used video outlining the changes people experience. Issues arising out of the programmes will be discussed and children are encouraged to ask questions and make comments in an open relaxed atmosphere. In addition to having the opportunity to discuss issues raised and questions they may have with their class teachers, the boys and girls will have the opportunity to talk in single sex groups led by a member of staff after watching the video. Both elements will take place in the morning of Wednesday 11th March 2026. Please be aware that this is a slight change from the video which says that that part of the lessons will take place in the afternoon.

To help parents and carers to fully understand the puberty education sessions, we have put together a virtual Parent’s meeting (hosted by Mr Spowage) which explains the purpose of the session, explores the resources and looks at commonly asked questions from the children. This can be found in the links below or on the school website under the Parents tab then on the RSHE (Relationships, Sex, and Health Education) Materials page. Due to the change in the resources used, we strongly recommend parents and carers take the opportunity to have a look at the resources that will be seen by their children.

https://www.nettleham-junior.lincs.sch.uk/page/?title=RSHE (Relationships, Sex, and Health Education) Materials&pid=228