The organisation will ensure that all additional materials are available by the end of February 2024. If it fits better into the annual calendar or aligns better with the school's vision, the Week of Spring Fever can also take place around 21 March 2024.
Information for parents
Would you, as a parent, like to know more about the Week of Spring Fever because your child's school is taking part? On a special landing page for parents, you can read what the lessons are about, so that you are prepared if your child comes home with questions. The organisation warmly invites parents to continue discussing the topics with their child at home. Have you heard about the Week of Spring Fever as a parent, but is your child's school not taking part yet? Perhaps you can convince the school that these are important and enjoyable lessons!
Why provide relationship and sexual education in primary school?
When young children receive lessons about their bodies, puberty, relationships and sexuality, they are better able to make responsible choices now and later. Every child has the right to reliable information that is appropriate for their world and stage of development. And research shows that children have questions about sexuality. Young children, for example, have questions about their bodies, where babies come from and the difference between boys and girls. In the upper grades, the focus is more on puberty, falling in love and entering into relationships.
Research shows that children who have received sex education start having sex later on average and are better prepared. Relationship and sexual education also makes them more resilient, and later, when they enter into sexual relationships, they are less likely to encounter problems such as forced sex, an STI or teenage pregnancy.
In the videos below, two teachers explain the importance of relationship and sexual education in primary school.
- Ms Merel explains why every school should take part in the Week of Spring Fever
- Ms Emma receives many questions in Year 6
The Week of Spring Fever is a good starting point
One of the aims of the Week of Spring Fever is to introduce schools to relationship and sexual education. It is an enjoyable way to address relationships and sexuality throughout the school. During this week, you will notice how enthusiastically pupils respond to the lessons and how worthwhile it is to teach about these topics. In addition, sexuality has been included in the core objectives of education since 2012. Primary schools are therefore also required to pay attention to this subject.
Involve parents
It is important to inform parents well before the Week about the importance of relationship and sexual education and the content of the lessons. If parents are not involved or are insufficiently informed, this may raise questions for them. For example, organise a parents' evening, send out a letter to parents and refer parents to information about the Week of Spring Fever.
Need support?
Does your school need support organising the Week of Spring Fever, or are you receiving questions from parents? In that case, it is preferable to consult the GGD in your region first. The GGD can support the organisation of the Week and also help with informing and involving parents, for example by organising a parents' evening. In the trainer pool, you will find an overview of qualified trainers who can train school teams or organise a parents' evening.
How to organise the Week
Are you taking part in the Week? The school then provides at least one lesson about relationships and sexuality every day in Years 1 to 6. For this purpose, the school uses an approved teaching package within a continuous learning pathway, such as:
Approved teaching packages
Schools choose for themselves which teaching packages to purchase to organise this week. Rutgers and the GGD services advise schools to use teaching materials recognised by RIVM from various providers, including those not affiliated with Rutgers. Here, the organisation refers to all RIVM-recognised teaching methods for primary education, because of the importance of providing schools and teachers with complete information and support. There is a suitable teaching package for every school and every class.
Costs
Participation in the Week of Spring Fever is free of charge. You can further fill the project week with materials, gadgets and activities to make it an enjoyable and festive week. However, using an approved teaching package does involve costs. These costs depend on the group size and the type of teaching package. After registering, the school will receive a discount code for various gadgets. The discount codes are not valid for the teaching packages.