Preparing your school community

Schools can develop a whole school approach to sexuality and relationships education to ensure that the needs of the whole school community are met including students, staff and families.

Policy

Teachers need to be familiar with policies related to sexuality and relationships education and work within these recommendations. Policies that will relate to sexuality and relationships education will include student protection, anti-discrimination, gender equity, sexual harassment and any policies related to community involvement within the school.

Adapted from Queensland Health and Education Queensland. (2006). A toolbox for creating helthy places to learn, work and play – How to develop and revise policy. Retrieved on 22 January, 2009 from www.health.qld.gov.au/healthyschools/documents/29340.pdf

For more information refer to:

• Queensland Health Healthy Schools Website

Providing information to parents/carers

It is important for the student’s health and well being that they receive positive messages about sexuality.

To encourage parent/carer support schools can:

• provide information about sexuality and relationships education to help parents/carers to understand the importance of a program
• reassure parents/carers that the school respects diversity within the community and acknowledges that parents/carers are the primary sexuality educators of their children
• support parents/carers to complement the sexuality and relationships education provided at school and reinforce learning at home (Blake, 2002)

Providing information about sexuality and relationships education and the school program will prepare parents/carers for questions from their children and assist them to provide sexuality and relationships education at home.

Suggested strategies for involving parents/carers are:

• host a social event such as a morning or afternoon tea to launch the program
• use newsletters to remind parents and carers of the goals and content of the school sexuality program
• hold meetings about the content of the program and provide opportunities to view resources
• hold several small sessions for parents/carers (such as class groups, year level groups or upper and lower school) rather than one large session, to encourage informal discussion
• invite parents/carers to discuss individual issues with school staff
• assign homework as part of the program that children can complete with their parents/carers
• offer resources through the school library for parents/carers to borrow for themselves or their children
• involve parents/carers in the evaluation process and provide opportunities for them to offer feedback

References