Personal, social, health and economic education focusing on sex

and relationships and alcohol education

NICE consultation draft

• This slide set have been produced by the Drug Education Forum, it is intended to give a brief overview of the draft guidance produced by NICE.

• The full draft guidance can be downloaded at:http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/11673/49240/49240.pdf

Recommendation 1 - Entitlement to PSHE education

• Actions:– Raise awareness of the “positive impact that effective

education on sex and relationships and alcohol can have on children’s and young people’s health and wellbeing.”

– Assess the need – Ensure effective teaching within a planned programme– Provide information, advice and support (consistent with

PSHE) that can be used by young people’s services and community based organisations

– Ensure children with particular needs receive good quality SRE and alcohol education.

– Be aware that abstinence based approaches don’t have an evidence base.

Recommendation 2 - Involving parents

• Actions– Include parents (along with children and young

people) in drawing up policies on SRE, alcohol and other PSHE issues

– Provide parents with information and practical support to talk to their children

– Explain the benefits of SRE and alcohol education– Reassure parents that SRE does not promote early sex– Offer courses to parents focusing on communication

skills

Recommendation 3 - Planning • Actions– Consult and involve children and young people in the

development of the curriculum.– Schools and colleges should get advice and support to

support curriculum development from local statutory agencies

– Ensure the programme is consistent with the ethos of the school/college

– Work to ensure there is progression between key stages – transition from primary to secondary is critical

– Link to health services in school and more widely, and to the wider curriculum

– Designate a lead teacher with responsibility for planning

• Actions – cont...– Ensure SRE and alcohol education take place in primary

schools in an age appropriate way.– Avoid drop down days unless part of a planned and regular

timetabled provision.– Include young people who may be experiencing difficulties

Recommendation 4 - Achieving PSHE education objectives

• Actions:– Help primary school children develop and sustain

relationships and friendships.– Increase knowledge about social, emotional and physical

development, self-respect and empathy– Enable children and young people to identify and manage

risk, and carry out decisions.– Be factually accurate, unbiased and non-judgemental– Introduce topics based on pupil’s needs and in

consultation with parents– Promote sensitivity to diverse faith and cultural beliefs,

while challenging discrimination and prejudice– Offer those that need it personalised help

• Actions cont...– Help develop negotiating and resistance skills– Use up-to-date, high-quality, age-appropriate and factually

correct resources– Coordinate teaching with confidential health and advisory

services

Recommendation 5 - Support for PSHE education

• Actions:– Relevant local information should be made

available to PSHE coordinators and lead teachers– There should be local PSHE training days– Information about local sexual health and alcohol

services should be made available to young people

– Teachers should manage the contributions of external organisations, making sure they are consistent with the institutions ethos and policy

Recommendation 6 - External contributors and visitors to schools and colleges

• Actions:– Health professionals, other service providers and local

community groups should be encouraged to contribute to the teaching of PSHE

– External contributors need the skills and confidence to handle questions

– Teachers should always be present to monitor and evaluate the contributions of others.

– School and college leaders should ensure that contributors are confident and competent.

– Nurses and councillors who work with individuals in schools should conform to health service consent and confidentiality guidance.

Recommendation 7 - Trained teachers and lecturers

• Actions:– Teachers should have received accredited training– Encourage trained staff to share the lessons with

colleagues and to evaluate their own teaching

Recommendation 8 - Teaching approaches

• Actions:– Use evidence-based teaching methods including; skills-

based programmes, interactive techniques, and family based learning opportunities

– Set clear health goals and be clear about the behaviour needed to achieve these goals

– Include information that clarifies misconceptions, increases understanding of short and long term effects, explains the right to say ‘no’, discourages putting pressure on others, explains the law and rules, increases knowledge about where to get additional support

– Send information home, encourage discussion at home, set homework that encourages dialogue at home, lend books and resources to parents and carers

• Actions cont...– Adopt learning techniques that build on existing

knowledge and allow children to explore attitudes and practice personal and social skills

Recommendation 9 - Training

• Actions– Provide specialist accredited training as part of

initial teacher training– Improve the quality of, and access to, continuing

professional training– Training should encourage undertaking needs

assessments, planning a comprehensive programme, develop policies, using a wide range of teaching strategies, comply with ethical codes, give peer education opportunities

Recommendation 10 - Community-based education on sexual health and relationships

and alcohol • Actions– Commission education programmes for children

and young people who may miss out at school– Provide programmes for parents and children.

Recommendation 11 - Children and young people who are at risk

• Actions:– Ensure vulnerable children and young people

receive PSHE, with individualised advice and information on managing risk and taking responsible decisions

– Alcohol advice based on the CMO guidance– Inform children and young people about specialist

services