Sex Education 'failing to keep up with modern challenges' for kids in Tyne and Wear

Teachers tell NSPCC they need more support to help kids learn about the signs of abuse

Author: Luke WilsonPublished 28th Mar 2018

The NSPCC is calling for revamped relationship and sex education to be incorporated into the national curriculum as quickly as possible, to support kids confused about the signs of abuse.

The charity says current sex education doesn't keep up with modern day challenges, and the new lessons need to be taught by highly trained staff from primary school onwards.

Classes should focus on young people keeping healthy bodies and relationships, and ensure that children are able to understand what sexual abuse is and be able to recognise its signs and how to keep themselves safe.

An NSPCC report - ‘Is this sexual abuse?’ – published today highlights how victims felt confused about what had happened to them, with younger children in particular struggling to understand if they had actually been abused.

Jane Scott, Newcastle service centre manager, said:

"What we're hearing from teachers is that they struggle sometimes about how to respond to these behaviours.

"For children to get to the point where they feel brave enough to talk somebody, they have to feel confident that there's a response there and they'll be supported in that."

The latest figures show that more than 3,000 young people reached out to Childline for counselling because they didn't have support in their classrooms.