Primary school children should be taught what it means to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, leading doctors say.

The Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health (RCPCH) is urging ministers to go further in their guidance on sex and relationship classes, which will become compulsory from 2020.

Draft Government recommendations say schools are free to determine how they address lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, ensuring teaching is “sensitive and age-appropriate”.

But senior doctors are calling on the Government to be more upfront, saying that primary school children should be given clear information about different types of sexuality.

In response to a consultation on the matter, the Royal College says: “There needs to be a clear statement that LGBT people and relationships are part of teaching about healthy relationships in primary school. This can be demonstrated in relation to families - but also it is helpful to children to learn the meaning of terms such as lesbian, gay and bisexual”.

Paediatricians also said children should be taught the proper names for body parts, and about

emotional changes during puberty.

Dr Max Davie, the college’s officer for health promotion, said: “We need to talk to children like they are intelligent beings. They are curious. My children know people who are gay or lesbian, it’s not that big a stretch to be talking to children about bisexuality.”