A controversial sex education course that taught children as young as six about touching their own genitals has been pulled by a council following a backlash.

The “All About Me” syllabus, which was rolled out at over 200 primary schools across Warwickshire, proposed that children should learn that “lots of people like to tickle or stroke themselves as it might feel nice” including their “private parts”.

The syllabus reassures children that this is “really very normal” but adds that it is “not polite to do it when other people are about”. It recommends that children do this when they are alone, such as “in the bath or shower or in bed”.

But following an outcry from parents and religious groups, Warwickshire County Council has now axed the “All About Me” sex education course.

The Christian Institute had written to the council earlier this year saying it would take legal action over the “catalogue of errors” in the syllabus, including the assertion that gender identity “can be best understood as being a spectrum”.