In September 2026, you will need to be ready to teach the new RSHE statutory requirements from the DfE. Now is the time to prepare.

For many schools, the changes may still feel like something to deal with later, or like a small update to a few topic areas. In reality, preparing well for September 2026 means doing much more than making a couple of lesson changes. 

Between now and September 2026:

1. Review the updated guidance
2. Audit your curriculum coverage
3. Clarify statutory and optional content
4. Consult with parents
5. Update your policy
6. Prepare staff

For schools using Kapow’s RSE & PSHE scheme of work, much of the support needed to do this is already available. The key now is to make the most of it.

Here are the key things schools should be doing now to feel prepared.

Review what is changing

Before reviewing your own provision, make sure you have a clear picture of the new RSHE statutory requirements from the DfE.

This matters because the changes are not limited to puberty lessons alone. You need to think more broadly about;

• relationships education
• health education
• curriculum sequencing
• parent communication
• internal planning

Check your curriculum coverage now

Once you are clear on the bigger picture, the next step is for leadership to review what your school is already teaching. The aim is to build a realistic picture of what is already in place and what may still need adapting before September.

This is a useful stage to ask:

• Are you confident about what is covered in each year group?
• Are there any areas that need closer attention before September?
• Does your current long-term plan still support a clear, progressive approach?
• Do staff understand how the learning builds over time?

Kapow’s RSE & PSHE scheme has been updated to reflect the latest statutory guidance, helping schools prepare confidently for September. Take time now to explore the new lesson plans and resources, review the curriculum and identify any actions needed ahead of implementation.

Schools using Kapow RSE & PSHE can use the long-term plans and progression resources available within the curriculum portal to support this review. The curriculum information page and statutory guidance mapping can also help schools understand how the updated curriculum aligns with DfE requirements.

Be clear on what is statutory and what is optional

One of the biggest areas of confusion for schools is the distinction between statutory puberty education and optional sex education. This is worth getting clear early, because it affects planning, policy and parent communication.

Puberty education and sex education are often grouped together, but they are not the same thing.

In simple terms, puberty education is statutory. It sits within health education and includes learning about body changes, menstruation, emotions and correct body-part vocabulary. Some related content is also covered through statutory science.

Primary sex education beyond science is optional. This usually includes teaching about conception and birth, often in Year 5 or Year 6.

This distinction matters because parents can request to withdraw their child from non-statutory sex education, but not from statutory relationships education, health education or science content.

For schools using Kapow RSE & PSHE, this is a good point to revisit the relevant policy guidance and review the puberty and sex education units within the scheme. Puberty is covered across Years 2-5, while the non-statutory Year 6 sex education unit is the only unit from which parents can request withdrawal.

Plan parent communication and consult early

As schools review their RSE policy in line with the updated guidance, they should build in time for parental consultation. The DFE expects schools to consult parents when developing or revising their Relationships and Sex Education policy and provision.

Consultation gives parents an opportunity to understand planned changes, ask questions and provide feedback before implementation, so it should take place well in advance of updated content being taught.

This matters because some of the most common concerns come from misunderstanding, particularly around the difference between statutory puberty education and optional sex education. Opening the conversation early gives schools more time to explain those distinctions clearly and respond calmly to questions before they become last-minute issues.

Kapow’s ready-to-use consultation presentation helps schools communicate clearly and transparently with parents throughout the consultation process.

Be clear about what parents need to know

As part of that consultation period, schools should be ready to explain:

• what will be taught and when
• which topics are statutory
• which topics are optional
• how puberty education differs from primary sex education beyond science
• what parents can and cannot withdraw from

Being clear on these points early will help schools manage questions more confidently and avoid confusion later. Many parents hear “sex education” and assume that includes all puberty teaching, when in fact puberty education is statutory and must be taught.

Schools should also be ready to make lesson content accessible to parents on request. 

With Kapow, you can manage this through Parent View. This allows you to send a lesson or unit directly to a parent’s email which they have 14 days to access. You can monitor requests and emails through your personal dashboard.

Plan communication across the school year

Parent communication should not be treated as a single event. Alongside consultation, schools should consider how they will keep parents informed about their RSE curriculum throughout the year.

This might include:

• sharing curriculum overviews at the start of the school year
• publishing RSE policies and curriculum information on the school website
• parent information sessions or presentations explaining the school’s approach
• consultation materials ahead of policy updates or curriculum changes
• reminders before specific units are taught, where appropriate
• signposting to parent support resources
• clear routes for parents to ask questions

This kind of staged communication can help parents feel informed rather than surprised, and it gives schools more than one opportunity to clarify misunderstandings.

Kapow RSE & PSHE includes:

• parental engagement videos
• Parent Zone
• consultation presentation
• guidance on sharing resource with parents

Finalise your policy once you have parent feedback

Once you have consulted with parents and responded to any questions, the next step is to update your RSE policy ahead of September.

Your policy should reflect what your school is actually planning to teach and use language that is clear, accurate and easy for both parents and staff to understand. Schools should also ensure the policy is shared with relevant stakeholders, including governors or trustees where appropriate. This is your opportunity to make sure everything and everyone is aligned before delivery begins.

Check that your policy:

• clearly explains your school’s approach to RSE
• clearly identifies which content is statutory and which is optional
• matches the curriculum your school plans to deliver
• uses wording that is consistent with the communication you have already shared with parents

Schools using Kapow RSE & PSHE can use the policy guidance and content-sharing support already available to help review and finalise this wording.

Make sure staff feel ready for September 

Once your curriculum, parent communication and policy are in place, the final step is making sure staff feel ready to teach the content with confidence.

Teachers need to know what they are teaching, when they are teaching it, and where to find the guidance and resources that support delivery. Giving staff time to familiarise themselves with lesson content and supporting materials now can make a big difference later on.

This is also a good time to see how staff feel about teaching RSHE. For some teachers, puberty and sex education can feel like sensitive areas to teach, so preparation matters. Being familiar with the lesson content, knowing the correct terminology, and thinking ahead about likely questions can help staff feel much more confident before teaching begins.

If your school is using Kapow RSE & PSHE, there is a dedicated staff presentation that can be used to familiarise teachers with the curriculum and prepare them for delivery.

Kapow also offers a range of CPD and subject leader support, including webinars and teacher videos built into lessons, designed to build confidence and deepen understanding of the updated guidance. Taking time to explore these resources now can help ensure staff feel clear about what they will be teaching, how the curriculum has changed and what support is available to them ahead of implementation.

Start now, not later

With new RSHE statutory requirements from September, now is the time to get the right plans in place.

The changes are broader than many schools may first assume, but they become much more manageable when broken into clear steps. Make the most of the support available to you from Kapow Primary. From curriculum mapping and policy guidance to parent communication tools and staff support resources, we’ve got you covered.

A good next step is to review the changes, check your coverage, and identify the areas your school needs to prioritise now so that September feels planned, clear and manageable.