At St Monica’s Catholic Primary School, we use A Journey in Love to support our teaching of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). This progressive Catholic programme forms part of our wider Relationships, Sex and Health Education curriculum and complements learning in Religious Education, PSHE and Science.

Our mission, “Success for all within a Christ-centred community”, is at the heart of this work. We want every child to know that they are unique, valued and loved by God. Through the programme, children develop an understanding of themselves, their relationships and their place within their family, school, parish and wider community.

A Journey in Love explores friendship, family, community and God’s love, supporting children’s spiritual, social, emotional, intellectual and physical development. Through discussion, activities and reflection, children learn to treat themselves and others with kindness, dignity and respect.

Learning builds gradually as children move through school. Lessons are taught sensitively, with content and approaches appropriate to children’s ages, understanding and individual needs. We provide a supportive environment where children can ask questions, with responses handled carefully and in line with our curriculum and safeguarding responsibilities.

We recognise parents and carers as their children’s first educators and value the partnership between home and school. We encourage families to talk together about children’s learning and welcome questions about the programme and its teaching materials.

Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from sex education taught outside the statutory Science curriculum. This right does not apply to Relationships Education, Health Education or statutory Science, including the relevant teaching about puberty and reproduction. If you wish to discuss withdrawal, please contact the Headteacher.

Each year group explores an aspect of love, helping children recognise the wonder of God’s creation and build on their previous learning.