Fairlop Primary School

2026 RSHE Consultation

Timeline:

• March 2026 - make parents and carers aware of the revised statutory guidance (see below)
• 24.03.26 and 26.03.26 - draft materials that will be used to teach the RSHE curriculum will be available for parents to view in the lower hall during parents' evening. A member of the senior leadership team will be available to answer any questions.
• May 2026 - parent and staff surveys on the updated materials 
• June 2026 - draft RSHE policy to be considered by the Governing Body (taking into account parent and staff feedback)
• June / July 2026 - finalisation of the RSHE policy and approval by the Governing Body
• September 2026 - implementation of the updated policy and curriculum

Changes to the statutory guidance

In striving for educational excellence and for our pupils to become lifelong learners, providing a safe and supportive school environment underpins everything we do. With this in mind, and following the Department for Education’s updated statutory guidance released in July 2025, all schools are required to update their policies and curriculum ahead of the September 2026 implementation deadline. We are currently reviewing our RSHE curriculum to ensure that we are delivering lessons which:

• are in line with British Values;
• uphold the law of the land in accordance with the Equality Act of 2010 and the SEND Code of practice;
• help keep our pupils safe by providing with the necessary information they need to recognise appropriate and inappropriate relationships and behaviour (both in person and online) and how to respond to any concerns they may have;
• meet their social and emotional needs; and
• offer all pupils access to experiences which allow them to thrive in modern day British society.

As part of this ongoing process, we would like to consult with you as parents / carers on our policy and the materials we are using. Your insights as parents and carers are incredibly important to us. As we update our polices, we want to ensure that they are shaped by your feedback and invite you view the materials we will use. 

Key Changes in the New Guidance
The updated framework introduces several enhancements to ensure the curriculum remains relevant and protective for children in today’s world, including:

• Personal Safety: New content on recognizing risks related to fire, water, roads, and railways
• Mental Wellbeing: Increased focus on emotional regulation, managing feelings like loneliness, and understanding grief and loss
• Online Safety: Expanded guidance on navigating digital spaces, including online financial harms, scams, and age-restricted content
• Biological Accuracy: Reinforced use of correct anatomical language for safeguarding purposes

Your Rights as Parents
Relationships and Health Education continues to be statutory and there is no right to withdraw your children from lessons. Details of this can be found within the statutory guidance.