General Article Sexualised behaviour in very young children increasing, say teachers

Topic Selected: Sexualising Society
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Sex and relationship education currently inadequate in context of sexual material freely available online, which may be leading to rise in sexual assaults.

By Karen McVeigh and Sarah Marsh

There is a “slow creep” of sexualised language and behaviour among children as young as five in the classroom, teachers have told The Guardian.

Primary and secondary school teachers described the level of sex and relationship education (SRE) available to children as inadequate in response to a call out via The Guardian’s online Teachers Network.

Their evidence, although anecdotal, gives a troubling glimpse into classrooms where teachers are trying but failing to tackle sexual bullying, harassment and other sexual violence experienced by pupils.

One primary school teacher, based in Merseyside, reported a series of disturbing incidents in the classroom, including pupils as young as ten being sent explicit photos via social media and a sexual assault between two seven-year-old boys. A secondary schoo...

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