Smoking and vaping
To support schools and colleges in delivering high-quality, age‑appropriate Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), the Public Health team has developed the below set of resources focused specifically on smoking and vaping. These materials align with the statutory RSHE requirements relating to drugs, alcohol, tobacco and vaping, helping children and young people to understand health risks, develop informed attitudes, and feel confident making healthy choices.
In primary education, RSHE requires pupils to learn about legal and illegal harmful substances and their associated risks. This includes developing an age‑appropriate understanding of nicotine and nicotine addiction, which can occur through smoking, vaping and other nicotine products. The primary‑level resources support pupils to build accurate factual knowledge, recognise potential risks, and begin developing the skills needed to make healthier decisions.
In secondary education, RSHE requires pupils to develop a clearer understanding of the health, social and legal consequences of smoking and vaping. This includes learning about the law relating to tobacco and vape products, the links between smoking, vaping and mental health, the impact of nicotine addiction, and the benefits of quitting. The resources also highlight how and where to access support to help stop smoking or vaping.
Please note that these resources focus specifically on smoking and vaping. Teaching on alcohol and other drugs is covered through separate materials to ensure clarity and appropriate depth across the full RSHE curriculum.
Additional resources
Hertfordshire Schools’ Smokefree Toolkit, which includes a range of resources such as a Smokefree Policy Template.
Coming soon.
Information for schools, parents/ carers and young people
Gertfordshire.Gov.UK: VapeBrain
Resources developed by the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) to support staff that work with young people
Guidance documents
Young people and stopping vaping
Young people and stopping smoking
Training sessions
Young people and stopping vaping training materials
Young people and stopping smoking training materials
Vaping – the facts: background reading to help you prepare