Map resources to the current guidance
Do not assume a resource is compliant because it uses the words “RSE” or “RSHE”. Record which intended learning it supports, the year group, where it sits in the sequence and what pupils are expected to know afterwards. Review the current guidance directly: it distinguishes the legal duties schools must meet from advice about how to teach the subject.
Use a coverage map that teachers and leaders can read quickly. Include unit title, outcome, statutory reference or school-policy link, resource version, review date and the person responsible for checking changes. This turns a resource folder into a curriculum that can be reviewed.
Choose age-appropriate and inclusive materials
Age-appropriate teaching is planned around pupils’ development and the purpose of the content. Check language, examples, visual materials and assumptions about families and relationships. Explain terms precisely and avoid resources that rely on shock, shame, stereotypes or personal disclosure to hold attention.
Inclusive teaching does not mean every lesson needs to cover every identity or situation. It means examples are handled respectfully, pupils are not singled out, and the teaching does not present one family structure or experience as the only normal one.
Prepare to teach sensitive questions
Agree classroom expectations before discussion begins. Explain how pupils can ask questions, what will happen if a concern is raised and where support is available after the lesson. Teachers should know the school’s safeguarding procedure and who to contact; they should not promise secrecy or try to resolve a safeguarding concern through a class discussion.
Use fictional scenarios when pupils need to practise boundaries, communication or help-seeking. Let pupils respond analytically without being asked whether the situation has happened to them. Give a clear route to a trusted adult or the school’s established support service.
Review resources before each teaching cycle
Check whether facts, links, legal references, contact details and platform examples are still current. Confirm that a slide deck and teacher notes match the school’s policy and that any external video or website is suitable and accessible. Record the version and review date so colleagues know which copy is approved for use.
Ask pupils what they understood using knowledge-based questions, and ask teachers whether the materials gave them enough guidance. Use that evidence to improve explanation and sequencing while keeping the curriculum outcome stable.
Check the primary guidance
Frequently asked questions
When did the revised RSHE guidance take effect in England?
The Department for Education states that its revised relationships education, RSE and health education statutory guidance came into effect on 1 September 2026. Always consult the current DfE publication and your school policy.
How can a school check whether an RSHE resource is suitable?
Map it to the current guidance and school policy, review accuracy and age suitability, inspect examples and teacher notes, and agree safeguarding and support procedures before delivery.