Since the Northern Ireland Curriculum was introduced in 2007, Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) has been a statutory component of the following key Areas of Learning:

• Personal Development and Mutual Understanding in the Foundation Stage;
• Personal Development and Mutual Understanding at Key Stages 1 and 2;
• Personal Development and Home Economics statements of requirement for Learning for Life and Work at Key Stage 3; and
• Personal Development strand of Learning for Life and Work at Key Stage 4.

When RSE is taught effectively in a sensitive and inclusive manner, it encourages children and young people to value themselves as individuals, make responsible and well-informed decisions about their lives, and challenge their own perceptions.

Here, you can download RSE learning resources we have developed to help teachers address important issues with their pupils. The resources provide minimum content and are designed to offer schools flexibility in how they deliver RSE. This enables all schools to deliver effective programmes in line with their ethos and RSE policy, as approved by the Board of Governors, and ensures the wide-ranging needs of our young people are met.

The resources encourage pupils to be active learners who can listen and communicate effectively, and challenge myths and misinformation. They help pupils develop the skills to demonstrate respect for different perspectives and value the rights of others.

The topic areas within the RSE Hub feature links to:

• teaching resources from organisations like the NSPCC;
• guidance documents for schools;
• background information and guidance for parents and carers;
• training opportunities for teachers; and
• support organisations for pupils.

Along with links for each topic, we have also collated some general RSE links that teachers, parents and carers, and pupils might find useful.

Our RSE Progression Framework provides a non-statutory pathway in RSE from the Foundation Stage to post-16. It covers the following key RSE topics:

• Consent;
• Developments in Contraception;
• Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse;
• Healthy, Positive Sexual Expression and Relationships;
• LGBTQ+ Matters;
• Menstrual Wellbeing;
• Internet Safety;
• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights;
• Social Media and Its Effects on Relationships and Self-Esteem; and
• Teen Parenting.

For more information, please contact:

Deidre Coffey
CCEA Education Manager - RSE, Period Dignity and the Preventative Curriculum
dcoffey@ccea.org.uk

Roisin Radcliffe
CCEA Programme Manager
rradcliffe@ccea.org.uk