Navigating Puberty and Relationships: A Guide for Learners with SEND
Are you wondering when and how to broach the subject of puberty and relationships with learners who have SEND? It's a crucial conversation, and Learning for Life's latest series, "The Changing Adolescent Body," is here to guide you through it. You can get a taster of the series here.
Why It Matters
Puberty and relationships can be confusing for all young people—but especially those with learning disabilities. Many don’t receive the clear, structured, and repeated teaching they need to truly understand what’s happening to their bodies, emotions, and relationships.
At Learn and Thrive, we created the Learning for Life project to close that gap. Our free, SEND-specific video resources are designed to make puberty and sex education explicit, safe, and empowering—not vague or left to chance.
For neurotypical learners, much of this learning happens through inference (picking up information from peers, media, or unspoken social cues). But many of our learners can’t rely on inference or experience alone. They need direct, honest, and skills-based teaching to understand what’s appropriate, how their bodies are changing, how relationships work, and what to do when they feel unsafe.
A skills-based approach doesn’t just give them information—it builds confidence, supports independence, and equips them to navigate real-life situations with clarity and dignity.
Educating learners with SEND requires specialised resources. Traditional school programs often fall short in addressing the complexities of teaching these vital topics due to the pressures on staff and time. Without access to high-quality, tailored education, these learners struggle to thrive. That's where Learning for Life steps in. Our mission is to equip learners with the skills they need to navigate the ever-changing social landscape safely and confidently.
"The Changing Adolescent Body" series goes beyond the standard RSE curriculum. While frameworks are helpful, they often overlook essential basics. We recognise the importance of clarity, respect, and understanding in delivering age-appropriate content. Every learner is unique, with varying levels of knowledge and comprehension. That's why our resources are designed to be individualised, catering to each learner's specific needs.
One common challenge, not exclusive to the SEND community, is the assumption that learners will pick up most of their knowledge from everyday experiences. However, for learners with SEND, learning through inference can be confusing and even dangerous. Most of us don’t want our children learning their relationships skills from Hollyoaks! (No offense Hollyoaks) That's why our approach is clear and direct, ensuring that learners grasp the fundamentals before exploring more nuanced topics.
Learning for Life offers a comprehensive set of video lessons and resources to support educators and parents in teaching puberty and relationships effectively. Developed in collaboration with specialists from Inclusively Down, our materials are accessible and tailored to the needs of learners with SEND. With no ambiguity or sugar-coating, our content empowers learners to engage in meaningful discussions with their caregivers and educators.
Watch the taster clip from ‘Puberty Changes: Getting a Period’ to get a glimpse into the series!
All young people deserve the knowledge to understand their bodies, express their feelings, and stay safe. With the right tools, and the right support - they can thrive through puberty and beyond.
Ready to empower your learners with essential life skills? Sign up for Learning for Life today and unlock a world of specialised support and guidance. Join us in helping learners with SEND navigate puberty and relationships with confidence and autonomy.