This page provides an overview of sensitive themes covered in Kapow Primary’s RSE & PSHE curriculum. A theme may be highlighted if it is explicitly taught in a lesson or if the lesson is closely related enough that questions, comments or children’s personal experiences could arise.

Preparing to teach sensitive themes

Use the following steps to prepare before teaching any lesson that includes a sensitive theme:

Step 1

Check the mapping

Use the year group tables below to identify which lessons in your upcoming unit have a sensitive theme. Allow adequate preparation time before teaching these lessons.

Step 2

Review the teacher guidance

Every lesson covering a sensitive theme includes guidance found within the Teacher knowledge and Cautions tabs. Read these in advance — they cover suggested language, distancing techniques and how to handle disclosures safely.

Step 3

Brief support staff

Ensure any teaching assistants or support staff in the room are briefed on the lesson content and the agreed approach to handling disclosures or unexpected questions.

Step 4

Inform parents and carers

Where lessons cover sensitive themes, consider whether parents and carers should be informed in advance, in line with your school’s policy. Kapow lesson guides include suggested language for parent communication.

Step 5

Speak to your safeguarding lead

If there is any uncertainty about how to approach a sensitive topic, consult your Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) before teaching. They can advise on the school context, known vulnerabilities and any pastoral considerations.

Step 6

Create a safe environment

Establish or revisit ground rules at the start of each sensitive lesson. Remind pupils of the limits of confidentiality and how to access support if the lesson raises personal concerns.


Bereavement

Death, dying, loss and grief, including the death of a family member, friend or pet and the feelings that can follow.

Sex

Human reproduction and sexual intercourse, taught factually and in age-appropriate language as part of Sex education.

LGBTQ+

Sexual orientation and gender identity, which may include lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people or an understanding that families and loving relationships can take many forms.

Body parts

Naming parts of the body, including the correct scientific names for genitalia (penis, testicles, vulva and vagina), differences between bodies, private parts and privacy.

Puberty

The physical and emotional changes children go through as they grow towards adulthood, including periods, menstrual products, wet dreams, body hair, personal hygiene, growth spurts and mood changes.

Consent and boundaries

Asking for and giving permission, personal space and privacy, the right to say no and having this respected.

Bullying and anti-bullying

Behaviour that is deliberately hurtful and repeated over time, including online; and learning how to recognise it, report it and respond to it.

Racism

Prejudice, unfair treatment or abuse directed at someone because of their skin colour, ethnicity, nationality or cultural background; and how to challenge it.

Discrimination

Treating a person or group unfairly because of a characteristic or aspect of their identity; and understanding the importance of equality and respect.

Prevent

Extremist views, radicalisation and how people may be influenced or drawn towards extremist ideas, linked to schools’ duty under the Government’s Prevent strategy.

First aid

Basic emergency help, and what to do when someone is hurt or unwell. May include calling 999, the recovery position, choking, bleeding, burns, allergic reactions and basic CPR.

Diversity

The differences between people, families and communities and why these differences should be recognised, valued and respected.

Drugs

Substances, both legal and illegal, that change how the body or mind works and the risks associated with them. This may cover medicines, caffeine and energy drinks, alcohol, smoking and vaping, illegal drugs and peer pressure.

Mental health

Emotional wellbeing including feelings, worries, low mood, stress, ways to support good mental health and how to ask for help if needed.

Violence

Physical harm or aggression towards other people, including violence within relationships, communities or wider conflicts.

Gambling

Risking money or possessions on something with an uncertain outcome, including understanding the risks associated with gambling.

Sensitive theme overview

This table indicates which topics are addressed across each year group. For unit-level details, including specific lessons, see the year group mapping tables below.

✓ = covered     — = not addressed

Sensitive theme Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6
Bereavement — — — — ✓ ✓
Sex — — — — — ✓
LGBTQ+ ✓ — ✓ — ✓ ✓
Body parts — ✓ — ✓ ✓ ✓
Puberty — — — ✓ ✓ —
Consent and boundaries — ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Bullying and anti-bullying ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ — ✓
Racism — — ✓ — — ✓
Discrimination — ✓ ✓ ✓ — ✓
Prevent ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
First aid ✓ — ✓ — — ✓
Diversity ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Drugs ✓ ✓ — ✓ — ✓
Mental health ✓ — ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Violence ✓ — — — — ✓
Gambling — — — — — ✓
Sensitive themes by year group

Expand each year group to see the unit-level sensitive topic mapping, including which lessons within each unit address each sensitive topic.

Cell values show the specific lesson(s) within that unit.

— = not addressed


Unit My healthy self Connecting with others The online world Citizenship Health protection Staying safe
Bereavement — — — — — —
Sex — — — — — —
LGBTQ+ — L2 — — — —
Body parts — — — — — —
Puberty — — — — — —
Consent and boundaries — — — — — —
Bullying and anti-bullying — L4, L5, L6 L3, L5, L6 — — —
Racism — — — — — —
Discrimination — — — — — —
Prevent — — L5, L6 — — L5
First aid — — — — L3, L4, L5, L6 —
Diversity — L1, L2 — — — —
Drugs — — — — — L2
Mental health L5, L6 — — — — —
Violence — L3 — — — —
Gambling — — — — — —

Unit My healthy self Connecting with others The online world Citizenship Growing up Staying safe
Bereavement — — — — — —
Sex — — — — — —
LGBTQ+ — — — — — —
Body parts — — — — L4 L2
Puberty — — — — — —
Consent and boundaries — L4, L5 L3, L4 — L3, L5 L1, L2
Bullying and anti-bullying — L6 L6 — — —
Racism — — — — — —
Discrimination — L1 — L4 — —
Prevent — L5 L1, L2, L3, L4 — L6 —
First aid — — — — — —
Diversity — L1, L2 — L1, L2, L3, L4 L3 —
Drugs — — — — — L2
Mental health — — — — — —
Violence — — — — — —
Gambling — — — — — —

Unit My healthy self Connecting with others The online world Citizenship: Rights and responsibilities Health protection Citizenship: Careers
Bereavement — — — — — —
Sex — — — — — —
LGBTQ+ — — — L1 — —
Body parts — — — — — —
Puberty — — — — — —
Consent and boundaries — L2 — L1, L2 — —
Bullying and anti-bullying L6 L6 L4 — — —
Racism — — — L1 — —
Discrimination — — — L1, L2 — L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6
Prevent — — L5 — — —
First aid — — — — L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6 —
Diversity — L3 — L1, L2 — L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6
Drugs — — — — — —
Mental health L5 — — — — —
Violence — — — — — —
Gambling — — — — — —

Unit My healthy self Connecting with others The online world Citizenship Growing up Staying safe
Bereavement — — — — — —
Sex — — — — — —
LGBTQ+ — — — — — —
Body parts — — — — L2, L4 —
Puberty — — — — L2, L3, L4, L6 —
Consent and boundaries — — — — L1 —
Bullying and anti-bullying — L5 — — — —
Racism — — — — — —
Discrimination — L6 — — — —
Prevent — — L2 — — —
First aid — — — — — —
Diversity — L2, L6 — — L2 —
Drugs — — — — — L5, L6
Mental health L4, L5 L1 — — — —
Violence — — — — — —
Gambling — — — — — —

Unit My healthy self Connecting with others The online world Citizenship: Communities Growing up Citizenship: Money
Bereavement L4, L6 — — — — —
Sex — — — — — —
LGBTQ+ — L2 — — — —
Body parts — — — — L1, L2, L5 —
Puberty — — — — L1, L2, L3, L4, L5 —
Consent and boundaries — — — — L6 —
Bullying and anti-bullying — — — — — —
Racism — — — — — —
Discrimination — — — — — —
Prevent — — L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6 L5 — —
First aid — — — — — —
Diversity — L1, L2 — L2 — —
Drugs — — — — — —
Mental health L5, L6 — — — — —
Violence — — — — — —
Gambling — — — — — —

Unit My healthy self Connecting with others The online world Citizenship Staying safe Sex education Further first aid
Bereavement — — — — — — L1, L2, L3, L4, L5
Sex — — — — — L2, L3, L6 —
LGBTQ+ — L4 — — — L4 —
Body parts — — — — — L1, L2 L2, L3, L4, L5
Puberty — — — — — — —
Consent and boundaries — L3 L4 — — L6 —
Bullying and anti-bullying L6 L5 L4 L6 — — —
Racism — L4 — L4 — — —
Discrimination — L4 — L1, L3, L4, L5 — — —
Prevent — — L4, L5 L3 L2, L5 — —
First aid — — — — — — L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6
Diversity — L4 — L1, L3, L4, L5 — L3, L4 —
Drugs — — — — L2, L6 — —
Mental health L4, L5, L6 L1 L6 — — — —
Violence — L6 — L1, L3, L6 — — —
Gambling — — L2 — — — —
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