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Children as young as four will be taught about consent in an effort to counter soaring sexual assault cases in schools and the exposure of children to online pornography and sexting .

Primary school pupils across England will be taught about respecting and enforcing "boundaries" as part of new relationships classes .

Secondary pupils will study consent and the laws on sexual abuse, grooming, domestic violence and harassment, the Sunday Times reported .

Children will be taught the "building blocks" and then "concepts" on consent in an age appropriate way, the Department for Education said. This includes how to "ask and get permission in relationships with friends, peers and adults" and that consent can be "withdrawn".

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They will also learn about how to deal with peer pressure to "do something they don't want to do", either online - where they can, for example, face pressure to share naked photos - or in the real world.

Last year police figures revealed almost 30,000 reports of children sexually assaulting other youngsters over a four-year period, including 2,625 alleged attacks on school premises and 225 rapes.

The education secretary, Damian Hinds, said: "It's vital that every child knows about their rights and that nothing should happen to them without their consent. This guidance will ensure lessons teach children how to recognise when someone else has not given consent."

The classes form part of sex and relationship guidance, which has been updated for the first time since 2000. A consultation on the new guidance is expected to be launched this week.