At Bonneygrove and Millbrook Primary Federation, we place great importance on teaching children how to build and maintain positive, respectful relationships. Relationships Education is a key part of our curriculum and supports children’s personal development, wellbeing, and safety.

What Children Learn

In primary school, the focus is on teaching the foundations of healthy relationships, including:

• Understanding what relationships are
• Building and maintaining friendships
• Recognising the importance of family and support networks
• Learning how to interact positively with both children and adults

From an early age, children are taught essential skills such as:

• Taking turns and sharing
• Showing kindness, respect, and consideration
• Being honest and trustworthy
• Understanding personal space, privacy, and boundaries

Developing Respect and Understanding

Children are supported to:

• Understand their own boundaries and respect those of others
• Recognise appropriate and inappropriate behaviour
• Learn how to seek and give permission
• Develop an awareness of fairness and respect in everyday situations

These early lessons provide the foundation for more complex learning about relationships as children grow.

Recognising Healthy Relationships

Through discussions and real-life examples, children learn to:

• Identify the features of healthy, positive relationships
• Understand what makes them feel safe, happy, and valued
• Recognise when a relationship may not be positive or safe

This helps children build confidence and make informed choices about their relationships.

Online Relationships and Safety

As part of Relationships Education, we also teach children about online safety and behaviour. This includes:

• Understanding how to behave respectfully online
• Knowing how information and images can be shared
• Recognising that websites and apps may use personal information
• Learning how to stay safe in digital environments

Celebrating All Families

We recognise and respect that families come in many forms. Children are taught that all families provide care, support, and love.

Our teaching is inclusive and sensitive, ensuring that all children feel valued and respected, regardless of their home circumstances.

Building Character and Wellbeing

Relationships Education also supports the development of positive personal qualities, including:

• Resilience and perseverance
• Confidence and self-belief
• Kindness, honesty, and integrity
• Respect for others and a sense of fairness

Children are given opportunities to develop these qualities through everyday learning and wider school experiences.

Safeguarding and Keeping Safe

A key part of Relationships Education is helping children to stay safe. Pupils are taught:

• That they have a right to feel safe and be respected
• How to recognise when something is wrong
• How to seek help and report concerns to a trusted adult

This includes understanding boundaries in all contexts, including friendships, family relationships, and online interactions.

We are clear that it is never a child’s fault if they are harmed, and we ensure children know how to get support if they need it.

Working in Partnership

We believe that strong relationships between home and school are essential. By working together, we can support children in developing the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to build positive relationships and stay safe.

For further information, please see the full statutory guidance:

Please see the full statutory guidance here: Relationships education (Primary) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)