Staff at Elemore Hall School in County Durham are leading the way in sex and relationships education.

They have become the first group of staff in the County to achieve an accredited qualification in talking about sex and relationships with children and young people.

And their efforts have been acknowledged by City of Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, who visited the school to hand out certificates to the 32 staff and the Chair of Governors.

She said: “It is fantastic news that Elemore Hall has a group of staff who have been proactive in taking up this course and will be able to help young people at the school.

“Sadly, this is a subject that in this country we are still someway behind compared to other European countries, but I am delighted this innovative course has the backing of the local NHS and will ensure that Jim Knight, Minister of State for Schools and Learners hears how we are leading the way in County Durham.” Health professionals from Public Health County Durham and Darlington worked with the staff during the programme, which culminates in an accredited qualification equivalent to 2 GCSEs at grade A-C.

Elemore Hall is a Durham County Council Special School for pupils who have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. The school is leading the way in providing training for staff with their proactive attitude, which comes prior to the introduction of guidelines for statutory Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education, taking effect from 2011.

The Speakeasy course provided staff at the school with the opportunity to learn together and gain the confidence and skills they need to talk to children and young people within their school about sex and relationships. It is designed to be fun and provides an atmosphere where staff can learn together in a non-threatening environment. It was first introduced by the Family Planning Association (FPA) in 1995.

By the end of the Speakeasy course, participants will have: • An understanding of the physical and emotional changes taking place at puberty • Awareness of what sex and relationships education means in the context of family life • Confidence and skills in identifying and responding to the needs of their own children • An understanding of social and cultural attitudes towards sex and sexuality as it relates to children • Knowledge of the different kinds of contraception that are available • Information and knowledge on child protection strategies • Information on sex and relationships education in schools.

Richard Royle, Headteacher at Elemore Hall School, said: “The course was fantastic and enthusiastically received by all the staff involved. Making sure that all our teachers, learning support and care staff participated in the training ensures that the young people who attend the school have a wide range of adults that they can approach for support and guidance in this very important area.”

Jaime Leanne Battye, Deputy Sexual Health Team Lead with Public Health County Durham and Darlington, said: “Elemore Hall deserve great credit for being so proactive with Speakeasy. They are certainly the first group of staff within County Durham to complete the course and quite possibly in the country.

“All children and young people deserve to be taught a comprehensive programme of sex and relationships education, one which is factually correct and well delivered.”

“I hope that other schools within County Durham and Darlington embrace the course in the future and gain the same knowledge as the teaching staff at Elemore. ENDS