Charities call for sex education at age four

FOUR-YEAR-OLD children should be given compulsory sex education in schools, two sexual health charities in Britain are arguing.

The Family Planning Association and Brook are calling on the Government to introduce a form of sex and relationship education into the primary school curriculum to help deter young people from rushing into sex too early. This would cut the rate of sexually transmitted infections and abortions among teenagers, they argue.

Teaching children as young as four about parts of the body and relationships would help children feel able to ask questions and make informed choices about their sexual health, they said.

Brook’s chief executive Simon Blake said: “If we get high quality sex and relationships education in every primary and secondary school across the UK, all the evidence shows teenage pregnancy rates will continue to fall and will improve young people’s sexual health.

“While sex and relationships education continues to be patchy, another generation of children and young people do not get the education they need to form healthy relationships and protect their health.”

Brook also wants secondary schools to ensure young people have access to free confidential contraceptive and sexual health services.

The Government is reviewing the delivery of sex and relationships education in schools to “improve the quality and consistency of provision to young people,” it said.

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: “Effective sex and relationships education is essential for young people to make safe and healthy choices about their lives and prevent early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.”

A steering group, jointly chaired by Schools Minister Jim Knight and a member of UK Youth Parliament, will make recommendations to Government later this month.