A new tool has been launched to support teachers delivering relationships education.
The ‘Thriving pupils, thriving school community’ resource, developed by Fastn, FamilyLinks and relationships trainer and consultant Lisa Cherry, has ambitions to improve wellbeing and relationships within entire school communities.
Relationships education is now a compulsory aspect of the school curriculum, making effective and meaningful education resources crucial.
Research by Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child suggests that cognitive, emotional and social capacities are inextricably linked throughout a person’s life. For that reason, young people learning the tools to develop healthy relationships in childhood can have a lasting positive effect on their lives and relationships well into adulthood.
To achieve change, healthy relationships learning cannot be restricted to taught lessons. Research shows healthy and reliable relationships must be lived and breathed by the whole community – Catherine Hine, Fastn
The free online resource adopts a ‘reflective practice’ approach and has been designed to complement the implementation of the Principles of excellence in relationships education, which was developed by Fastn and leading relationship and educational experts earlier this year.
Fastn, who had influence in the creation of both online resources, are an organisation aimed at improving the sustainability of families and promoting the development of relationship skills in children.
Catherine Hine, CEO of Fastn, said: “We welcome the introduction of statutory relationship sex and health education in schools. To achieve change, healthy relationships learning cannot be restricted to taught lessons. Research shows healthy and reliable relationships must be lived and breathed by the whole community.
“To support this, we have jointly created the reflective practice aid to enable school leaders to recognise and take action to achieve excellent relationships education through every aspect of school life.”
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