Children should be taught about the meaning of the terms lesbian, gay and bisexual at primary school, leading medics have said.

The Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health said there needed to be a “clear statement” that LGBT people and relationships were part of the teaching of healthy relationships.

The Department for Education held a four-month consultation on relationships and sex education, with draft guidance saying “schools are free to determine how they address LGBT specific content, but the Department recommends that it is integral throughout the programmes of  study”.

It added that any teaching should be “sensitive and age-appropriate”.

But the Royal College has said primary schools should be clear on different sexualities.

Its response to the consultation, as seen by the Daily Telegraph, said: “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.”

Dr Max Davie, the college’s officer for health promotion, told the paper: “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.”

The consultation ran until November 7 and the department will now look at the responses with a full debate due to take place by next June.

Last week it emerged that the Church of England had warned against not including faith perspectives in plans for relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education.

According to the CofE, the lack of encouragement for non-faith schools to teach religious perspectives on relationships could create prejudice.