Relationships and Sexual Health

Early Protective Messages (EPM) is a programme developed by the Health Improvement Team for Sexual Health and is designed to deliver on Scottish Government policy and strategy on a range of healthy relationships, equalities and child protection issues.  

EPM is a programme for adults involved in the lives of children under 5 to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence around a set of key themes in order that they can proactively support children to understand and assert their rights and keep them safe. 

Further information on EPM can be found via the website here or by contacting using the following email address: ggc.adminepm@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

The totality of the experiences and outcomes that support learners at early level are available within Curriculum for Excellence, click here to view. The national resources below contain activities to support learning within early years establishments and also supports conversations at home with parents and carers.

Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood  

Stage: Early Level to Senior Phase (3 – 18) 

Description: The resource provides a comprehensive set of learning activities for use in early learning settings, primary and secondary schools, ASN settings, colleges and in community-based learning. The resource is structured in line with Curriculum for Excellence Levels. The activities support learning on a range of key themes, including physical and emotional changes at puberty, sexual health and friendships/relationships.  

Link to resource: Relationships, Sexual Health and Relationships  

Scottish Catholic Education Service – Health Education Resources and Guidance  

Stage: Early Years to Secondary  

Description: Over a number of years the Scottish Catholic Education Service has developed materials to offer support to parents and teachers on how to provide appropriate teaching, in line with the teachings of the Church.  

Link to resource:  Health & Relationships | Scottish Catholic Education Service | SCES

Early Protective Messages is an approach developed by The Health Improvement Team for Sexual Health and features as a core part of the National Resource for Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood ages 3-18. Click here  to view a summary from Education Scotland. 

The EPM training programme takes a whole staff approach to training through in-service days and aims to improve the knowledge, skills and confidence of child development staff about early protective messages that deal with keeping children safe and provide a good foundation for participating in Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood Education (RSHPE) at school.

EPM training is targeted at three main groups: 

• Early Years Staff – Council/Partnership nurseries and nursery classes 

• Children’s Services e.g. Social Work, Health Visiting, Speech & Language etc. 

• Parents & Carers 

Find more information and upcoming dates for EPM training via the CPD Courses page of the website. Click here to view.

Parents and carers are the first and lifelong educators of their children and young people.  There are resources contained within rshp.scot to support parents to have conversations at this early stage. Click here to view.

A national survey to better understand what parents/carers want in relation to support around relationships, sexual health and parenthood will report in September 2024 and will be available here . 

The Glasgow City HSCP Health Improvement Team have pulled together a list of key strategy and policy links regarding Relationships, Sexual Health and Early Years. These documents should be used to inform planning and delivery within your establishment and school community.  

These documents are a useful resource to build a knowledge base around current priorities and work around Relationships, Sexual Health and Early Years in Glasgow and across Scotland. Please note that clicking on these documents will take you to external websites. 

Scottish Government: Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC)

Scottish Government: Equally Safe Delivery Plan

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

Scottish Government National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 - updated 2023

Education Scotland: Curriculum for Excellence

Glasgow City HSCP Health Improvement Strategic Direction