RSE policy development

Schools must have a clear RSE policy which is published on the website.

DfE: Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education: Statutory Guidance

DfE guidance (July 2025) states:

‘All schools must have an up-to-date written policy for relationships education or, where they teach sex education, for RSHE. Schools must proactively engage and consult parents when they develop and review their policy, ensuring parents understand that effective RSHE is important for promoting and protecting the wellbeing of all children.’

The RSHE policy should:

• Set out the subject content, how and when it will be taught, and who is responsible for teaching it, including any external providers the school will use.
• Differentiate between relationships and sex education (where sex education is taught), so that parents have clear information.
• Include information about a parent’s right to request that their child is withdrawn from sex education.
• Explain how content will be made accessible to all pupils, including those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
• Describe how the subject is monitored and evaluated.
• Set out how parents can view curriculum materials.
• Explain how teachers will answer questions about topics in sex education that the school does not cover (in primary) or that relates to sex education from which the child has been withdrawn.
• Explain how the policy has been produced, who approves the policy, and how and when it will be reviewed.

The HFL Wellbeing Advisers offer consultancy support to help policy writing.