Schools told all lessons for five-year-olds should include gay and trans themes

As concern mounts over the new relationships and sex curriculum, the pressure group Stonewall says it should go further
Stonewall suggests the LGBT rainbow flag should be used to teach colours
Stonewall suggests the LGBT rainbow flag should be used to teach colours
BIRGIT KORBER / EYEEM

Children as young as five should be taught about lesbian, gay and transgender issues in every subject, according to guidance issued to primary schools.

The voluntary guidance, from the campaign group Stonewall, has been launched to coincide with new relationships and sex education (RSE) lessons that will come into effect next September. Although parents will be allowed to remove their children from lessons focusing on sex, the relationships content is compulsory.

In design and technology lessons, teachers should use the rainbow flag to help 5 to 7-year-olds understand the meaning of colours, according to Stonewall, which says teaching about LGBT families and people must be “embedded” across school timetables. Another suggestion is that same-sex couples be used to teach children to count in maths lessons,