In July 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) published the New RSHE Guidance, bringing significant updates to the way Relationships, Sex and Health Education is taught in England.
For primary schools, the changes are less about rigid rules and more about professional judgement, careful sequencing and ensuring that learning is genuinely age and stage appropriate.
At 1decision, we have been delivering RSHE resources for over a decade. Following the new guidance, we are reviewing and refining every lesson plan to ensure compliance and best practice and preparing to launch Simply RSHE, a complete suite of engaging, developmentally appropriate resources for UK primary schools.
This article unpicks what the New RSHE Guidance means for primary schools in 2025, helping teachers and leaders understand the changes, plan with confidence and keep pupil wellbeing at the heart of RSHE delivery.
Why Age Appropriate RSHE Matters in Primary Education
The New RSHE Guidance by DfE reinforces that pupils need to learn about healthy relationships, personal safety and wellbeing before they encounter related challenges in real life. However, the timing of when topics are introduced is just as important as the content itself.
- Content should build year on year in a logical sequence.
- Pupils should not be exposed to complex or sensitive topics before they are ready to process them.
- Emotional safety must be prioritised alongside factual accuracy.
- Schools should work closely with parents to maintain transparency.
In primary settings, where emotional and cognitive maturity can vary widely between pupils of the same age, this balanced approach is vital.
Moving Away from Fixed Age Limits
Earlier drafts of the RSHE guidance proposed explicit minimum ages for introducing certain topics such as gambling, social media and scams. In the final version, these fixed thresholds have been removed.
Instead, schools are expected to make informed decisions based on:
- Developmental readiness of pupils.
- Local safeguarding needs.
- The sequence of prior learning.
This shift gives teachers more flexibility but also more responsibility to ensure content is neither too early nor too late. It emphasises professional judgement as the key tool in delivering effective RSHE.
Read the official DfE RSHE guidance (July 2025)
Digital Safety and Online Awareness in the New Guidance
The Primary Schools RSHE Guidance recognises that the online world can present risks to children at any age, but the way these topics are taught should reflect pupils’ stage of development.
For younger pupils:
- Understanding the difference between public and private information.
- Learning not to share personal details without adult help.
- Recognising who to speak to if something online feels uncomfortable.
For older primary pupils:
- Understanding why certain websites, games and apps are age restricted.
- Identifying signs of scams or fake profiles.
- Recognising the risks of in-game purchases or features that mimic gambling.
The aim is to gradually build digital resilience without overwhelming children with unnecessary detail too early.
Sex Education in Primary Schools Under the New Guidance
The New RSHE Guidance confirms that sex education beyond the science curriculum is not statutory in primary schools.
If a school chooses to deliver it, this should typically be in Year 5 or Year 6, after consultation with parents and with clear rights for withdrawal from non-statutory content.
The focus in earlier years should be on:
- Body autonomy and consent.
- The concept of privacy.
- Respecting personal boundaries.
Preventative Education Without Premature Exposure
Some sensitive topics such as online abuse, sextortion or the pressure to share images may need to be addressed before secondary school for safeguarding reasons. However, the guidance is clear that:
- These should be introduced only when age and stage appropriate.
- Content should be framed in a preventative, not alarming, way.
- Unnecessary detail that could cause confusion or curiosity should be avoided.
Building Emotional Literacy as a Foundation
A key message in the New RSHE Guidance is that emotional literacy underpins all RSHE learning.
From the earliest years, primary RSHE should include:
- Naming and expressing feelings.
- Understanding empathy and kindness.
- Managing conflict constructively.
- Recognising safe and unsafe situations.
Statutory Content That All Primary Schools Must Cover
- Families and people who care for me - understanding diversity, respect and safety.
- Caring friendships - recognising healthy boundaries and supportive relationships.
- Respectful relationships - tackling bullying, understanding stereotypes and promoting inclusion.
- Online safety and awareness - using technology respectfully, recognising unsafe contact and knowing where to get help.
- Being safe - personal privacy, recognising appropriate and inappropriate contact and how to report concerns.
- Physical health and wellbeing - healthy eating, hygiene, exercise, sleep and understanding mental health.
The Role of Parents and Carers
The guidance highlights that RSHE works best when schools and families work together. Schools must:
- Consult parents when developing RSHE policies.
- Share teaching materials on request.
- Keep parents informed about upcoming topics.
Professional Judgement and Teacher Training
With the removal of strict age limits, the success of the New RSHE Guidance depends heavily on teacher expertise. Schools should ensure:
- RSHE leads and classroom teachers have regular training.
- Staff are confident in adapting lessons to different maturity levels.
- There is a clear process for reviewing and updating curriculum content.
Practical Tips for Implementing the New Guidance
- Audit your current RSHE provision.
- Map your curriculum by year group.
- Engage with parents early.
- Use high quality resources.
- Review annually.
Common Misconceptions About the New RSHE Guidance
- The emphasis is on appropriate timing, not earlier coverage.
- Schools must still meet statutory requirements by the end of primary.
- Safeguarding principles remain central to all decisions.
Benefits of the Updated Guidance for Primary Schools
- More freedom to respond to local contexts.
- Greater scope to integrate RSHE across the wider curriculum.
- The ability to tailor content to different maturity levels within the same year group.
Quick Reference Table for RSHE in 2025
| Topic Area | Approach Under New Guidance |
|---|---|
| Social media, scams, gambling | No fixed minimum age – use age and stage appropriateness |
| Conception beyond science | Optional in Year 5 or 6 with parental consultation |
| Online abuse and sextortion | Age appropriate preventative approach |
| Emotional literacy | Core focus from the start of primary education |
Final Thoughts on the New RSHE Guidance
The New RSHE Guidance marks an important shift in how primary schools deliver Relationships, Sex and Health Education. By removing rigid age restrictions, it gives educators the freedom to make informed decisions that put pupil wellbeing first. However, it also raises the bar for professional judgement, planning and communication.
For primary schools, success lies in:
- Sequencing learning carefully.
- Prioritising emotional safety.
- Engaging openly with parents.
- Using reliable, high-quality resources.
