Parents labelled a book aimed at teaching children sex education as ‘disgusting’ and inappropriate for six and seven-year-olds in Year 2
Parents have raised concerns after the Mummy Laid an Egg by Babette Cole appeared on a reading list for Year 2 children aged six and even at Little Sutton Primary School in Sutton Coldfield (Image: Google)
A Birmingham headteacher has pulled a book which was due to be used in lessons with six-year-olds amid parents’ anger over “graphic” images of sexual positions.
Mums and dads spotted Mummy Laid an Egg, by Babette Cole, on a reading list for Year 2 children at Little Sutton Primary School in Worcester Lane, Sutton Coldfield. A mum knew its content and raised the alarm.
The concerned parents said the book contained ‘graphic’ images depicting sexual positions and was not appropriate for such young children.
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The book explains and illustrates sex and shows sexual positions with cartoon-style graphics involving a skateboard, balloons and a Space Hopper showing how ‘mummies and daddies fit together’.
But parents said they were not consulted on what was about to be taught or given the option to opt their child out – as current guidance on relationship, sex and health education states should happen.
The parents were also concerned that draft guidance, proposed by the Conservative Party last year, ahead of the General Election, also indicated sex education should not be taught to children below Year 5.
Those draft guidelines have not been formally adopted.
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A dad whose daughter is six, and in Year 2, at the school said he was ‘more than fuming’.
He said: “The mums are in a WhatsApp group and one said there was an emailed newsletter from the school explaining what was going to be taught – the books they were going to interact with.
“One of the books was Mummy Laid an Egg by Babette Cole.
“There are images in the book where the characters have sex on skateboards and a bouncy hopper.
“It shows images with male and female genitals. I’m absolutely disgusted.”
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He continued: “I understand they have to teach certain thing at certain ages.
“But even my ten-year-old daughter, I don’t want her to be taught that.
“Telling six-year-olds how to have sex and make a baby?
“Lots of kids want a brother or sister. And showing different positions. It’s against the law to show these images. I rang the police about it.
“You can’t talk to children about genitalia or baby making until year 5. So nine and ten-year-olds. My daughter is in Year 2.
“Even the school has now realised and pulled it. But the book has been in the school for a significant amount of time.”
The dad said the parents had also been warned not to discuss the issue with each other over WhatsApp or by email. He said ‘the majority were disgusted’.
He claimed the book was selected by the school and was not part of the curriculum set by the local authority.”
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Dr Rita Kaur, headteacher at Little Sutton Primary, wrote to one of the concerned parents saying: “Thank you to the parents for bringing to my attention one of the year 2 books.
“As you know your child’s wellbeing and safeguarding will remain my highest priority.
“As a result I have taken the decision to remove both the text and the author with immediate effect. This has been updated in the curriculum newsletter.
“I will also be reviewing the class novels in Year 2 to ensure the highest quality texts are shared and match the Year 2 curriculum objectives.
“Please be reassured the book has not been shared and has been removed from the classroom.
“If in the future there are any concerns, please feel free to speak to the class teacher or myself in the first instance.”
A spokesman for the local education authority, Birmingham City Council, which is responsible for the school said: “We are aware of the concerns raised by a parent regarding our curriculum for Year 2.
“Little Sutton Primary School has listened to the concerns of parents and is reviewing its processes for selecting and communicating educational materials. Going forward, parents will be more fully informed and consulted where relevant on teaching resources.
“We thank parents for raising their concerns and assure them that the school and Birmingham City Council take these matters seriously and are taking action to address them.”