What is sex & relationships education? www.sexeducationforum.org.uk 2 responsibility for their sexual health and well-being. safe, fulﬁlling and enjoyable relationships and to take people with the information, skills and values to have sexual health. It should equip children and young growing up, relationships, sex human sexuality and about the emotional, social and physical aspects of Sex and relationships education (SRE) is learning What is sex and relationships education? SEF believes that quality SRE should: UÊ be accurate and factual, covering a comprehensive range of information about sex, relationships, the law and sexual health, in order to make informed choices. In schools this should be part of compulsory curriculum provision UÊ be positively inclusive in terms of gender*, sexual orientation*, disability, ethnicity, culture, age, religion or belief or other lifeexperience particularly HIV status and pregnancy UÊ include the development of skills to support healthy and safe relationships and ensure good communication about these issues The Sex Education Forum (SEF) believes that all children and young people are entitled to quality sex and relationships education (SRE). SRE is the joint responsibility of schools, parents, carers and communities and is an important element of children’s and young people’s development. The following sets out the SEF’s core principles and values that underpin good quality SRE in a variety of settings. UÊ promote a critical awareness of the different attitudes and views on sex and relationships within society such as peer norms and those portrayed in the media UÊ provide opportunities for reﬂection in order to nurture personal values based on mutual respect and care UÊ be part of lifelong learning, starting early in childhood and continuing throughout life. It should reﬂect the age and level of the learner UÊ ensure children and young people are clearly informed of their rights* such as how they can access conﬁdential advice and health services within the boundaries of safeguarding UÊ be relevant and meet the needs of children and young people, and actively involve them as participants, advocates and evaluators in developing good quality provision UÊ be delivered by competent and conﬁdent educators UÊ be provided within a learning environment which is safe for the children, young people and adults involved and based on the principle that prejudice, discrimination and bullying are harmful and unacceptable. Values and Principles for SRE 3 4 3. Research, innovation and emerging themes – To identify, explore and respond to new themes emerging in practice, policy and research, nationally and internationally, and provide leadership to facilitate wider discussions about new and sometimes challenging ideas. We achieve this though our innovative projects and showcasing and sharing new research in a variety of ways. 2. Practice development, dissemination and knowledge management – To support professionals to access and share information so they are well informed and competent to commission, plan, deliver and evaluate SRE. We achieve this through our networks, website, publications and conferences. To achieve our mission we have three objectives, which include: 1. Advisory, advocacy and policy – To ensure children and young people’s entitlement to SRE is ﬁrmly embedded into national and local government policies and public understanding. We achieve this through consensus building with our diverse membership and championing SRE. Through collaboration we create a stronger voice for all children and young people’s entitlement to quality SRE. If you are working to improve the quality of SRE for children and young people? the Sex Education Forum can help you to: UÊÊexchange ideas and practice with hundreds of other professionals delivering SRE UÊ be up-to-date with SRE news via email UÊ get quick links to national policy and guidance on SRE UÊ know about new research and statistics UÊ have a voice in national policy UÊ be part of discussions about new and challenging ideas on SRE SEF members are vital to our work, and we welcome new members who are actively involved in and want to make a positive contribution to quality SRE. All members must support our ‘Statement of Values and Principles for SRE’ (see above). The Sex Education Forum is a unique collaboration of member organisations and practitioner networks. Our core belief is that ALL children and young people are entitled to good quality sex and relationships education in a variety of settings. Our mission is to work with members, practitioners and other stakeholders to achieve quality SRE. Our work is underpinned by: UÊ a rights-based approach UÊ the expressed needs of children and young people UÊ an evidence base Join SEF Who is the Sex Education Forum? For more information visit www.sexeducationforum.org.uk/ membership or call 020 7843 6327 SEF Network is open to individual practitioners who work in SRE or young people’s sexual health. These members are entitled to a regular information bulletin. Associate Membership is open to individuals or organisations, who commission, plan, deliver, evaluate or research SRE. This membership will be open to anyone who works locally, regionally, nationally or internationally. These members are entitled to the full membership package including regular information bulletin but do not have voting rights. These members are entitled to the full membership package including a regular information bulletin plus have voting rights and can stand for Chair and the Advisory Group. SEF has three types of membership Core Membership is open to national non-proﬁt, non-governmental organisations, who work to support SRE with children and young people (either directly or indirectly). 5 Current core members include: AVERT FFLAG NCB Straight Talking Peer Action for Children FORWARD NGA Education APAUSE fpa NHEG TACADE ASHEC Image in Action NSCoPSE Teens & Toddlers Barnardos JAT NSPCC The Methodist Church BHA LGCM NYA THT Black Health Agency Marie Stopes Oasis UK Youth Parliament Body & Soul Marriage Care One Plus One UNICEF Brook Me-and-Us Parenting UK Womankind CHIV MedFASH Parentline Plus Working with Men Church of England Mencap PSHE Association Young People in Focus CPHVA NAPCE RCN School Nurses YWCA Deafax NAT Relate Education for Choice Naz Stonewall Sex Education Forum Web: www.sexeducationforum.org.uk Email: sexedforum@ncb.org.uk The Sex Education Forum is hosted by National Children’s Bureau. Registered Charity No. 258825. 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