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TEACHING & LEARNING
Breaking Taboos by Providing Inclusive Sex Education for All Johanna Aiyathurai argues that relationships and sex education (RSE) needs to be prioritised for pupils with SEND as it provides the foundation blocks for greater independence and healthy relationships. oung people with additional needs are often put into one of two camps; either they are portrayed as ‘over-sexed’, displaying overly sexual and socially inappropriate behaviour, or their sexuality is dismissed entirely and not considered at all. It’s time to stop generalising and stereotyping and give young people with SEND an inclusive sex education at school. While it’s a requirement to teach the new RSE curriculum to secondary school students, it is often a low priority for pupils with SEND. Not enough time is allocated to it, and it isn’t differentiated to meet their individual needs. Other subjects can take over, and finding the time and resources creates a real barrier to effective teaching and generalisation
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of vital core skills. Having SEND does not stop the torrent of hormones and emotions that come with puberty, it doesn’t change the fears that come with menstruation, feelings of attraction and changes to their body. Young people with additional needs remain sexual beings with the same desires, frustrations and feelings as other teenagers. What is different is their ability to process these changes. That’s why I believe teaching about relationships, behaviour, personal safety, bodies and health should be at the heart of every young person’s curriculum. What independence will look like will be a personal journey but by teaching the underlying skills and knowledge of social rules and behaviours we are giving each young person the best foundation in life. RSE is key in teaching vital social skills that are needed beyond school as young people go
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BIO JO HANNA AIYATHURAI Johanna Aiyathurai is the CEO of Learn and Thrive, a new charity which empowers learners with Down’s syndrome and other learning needs, through digital learning tools and video resources.
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