Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) can be confusing because schools refer to it using several different terms, including RSE, RSHE and PSHE. Since September 2020, Relationships Education and Health Education has been statutory in all primary schools in England. The Department for Education’s revised RSHE statutory guidance, published in 2025, became mandatory from September 2026. While PSHE itself remains non-statutory, most primary schools teach Relationships and Health Education as part of a broader PSHE curriculum. This guide explains the difference between RSE, RSHE and PSHE, what schools are required to teach and how the subjects fit together.

Understanding the difference between RSE, RSHE and PSHE

Although the terms RSE, RSHE and PSHE are often used interchangeably, they don’t all mean the same thing.

PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) is the wider subject that helps children develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to stay healthy, safe and prepared for life. It can include topics such as mental wellbeing, physical health, citizenship, economic wellbeing and careers, alongside relationships education.

RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) refers to teaching about healthy relationships, growing up and, where schools choose to teach it, sex education. In primary schools, Relationships Education is statutory, while sex education beyond the National Curriculum for Science remains optional.

RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education) is the term used in the Department for Education’s statutory guidance. It combines Relationships Education and Health Education, with non-statutory sex education included. Many schools continue to use the term RSE, while others use RSHE.

In practice, schools often teach the statutory Relationships Education and Health Education curriculum within a broader PSHE programme. This ensures pupils receive the required learning, alongside wider personal, social and economic education that prepares them for life in and beyond school.

Kapow Primary provides a combined RSE & PSHE scheme of work that meets the 2025 RSHE statutory guidance. The content follows the DfE-recommended PSHE Association Programme of Study. 

What is covered in PSHE?

The Department for Education (DfE) describes PSHE as “an important and necessary part of all pupils’ education” and states that “all schools should teach PSHE, drawing on good practice.” Although PSHE is non-statutory, schools are expected to use it to help pupils develop the knowledge and skills needed to make safe and informed decisions.

What is covered in RSE?

The statutory curriculum is now usually referred to as Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE). In primary schools, the statutory elements are Relationships Education and Health Education. Many schools continue to use the shorter term RSE, particularly where sex education is taught as part of a wider PSHE curriculum. Find out more in our blog post What is RSE in primary schools? 

What is an RSE policy?

Is it now statutory for a school to have a specific RSE policy – although a PSHE policy remains non-statutory, you should probably do one anyway. Schools should review their policy to reflect the 2025 RSHE statutory guidance and publish it on their website. 

According to the DfE RSE guidance, a school’s RSE policy should:

• Define any sex education they choose to teach other than that covered in the Science curriculum.
• Set out the subject content, how it is taught and who is responsible for teaching it.
• Describe how the subject is monitored and evaluated.
• Include information about a parent’s right to request that their child be excused.
• Confirm the date by which the policy will be reviewed.

It is also suggested that the following are covered:

• Details of content/scheme of work and when each topic is taught, taking account of the age of pupils.
• Who delivers the lessons?
• How the policy has been produced, and how it will be kept under review, in both cases working with parents.
• How delivery of the content will be made accessible to all pupils, including those with SEND.
• Explanation of the right to withdraw.
• Requirements on schools in law, e.g. the Equality Act (please see The Equality Act 2010 and schools: Departmental advice).
• How often is the policy updated?
• Who approves the policy?
• The policy should also reflect the views of teachers and pupils. Listening to and responding to the views of young people will strengthen the policy and ensure that it meets the needs of all pupils.

How can Kapow Primary help with RSE and PSHE?

Kapow Primary’s RSE & PSHE scheme of work exceeds the statutory RSHE content across:

EYFS (Reception)

Key Stage 1

Key Stage 2

How the curriculum is organised

In each year and key stage, lessons are divided into the following key areas:

• My healthy self
• Connecting with others
• The online world
• Citizenship
• Staying safe
• Growing up
• Health protection
• Sex education (Year 6 only)

Each year group has an introduction lesson designed for the beginning of the year in which children will negotiate the ground rules for this subject.  A transition lesson is also available for the end of the year allowing children to reflect on learning and prepare for their move into the next year group.

Supporting confident teaching

Each lesson plan is divided into sections to clearly structure learning: 

• Recap and recall
• Attention grabber
• Main event
• Wrapping up 

In every lesson, you’ll also find guidance on adaptive teaching and assessment.

Key vocabulary is listed to help teachers focus the learning.  A variety of learning activities are used including structured discussions, drama and role-play and creative projects. There is flexibility for creative activities to be undertaken individually, in pairs or in small groups. Supporting resources are included and can be shown on the interactive whiteboard using presentation mode, or where the children need a copy, easily printed from the online platform. There are sufficient written activities to ensure schools can provide effective evidence of learning and progression. 

Specially created age-appropriate animated videos are also included to support the teaching of some of the more complex areas including puberty in years four, five and six. These can be used as an integral part of the suggested Kapow Primary lesson or used independently as part of the school’s own scheme of work for RSE.

Distancing techniques are used in videos featuring Kapow’s inclusive characters helping pupils explore sensitive topics safely, build empathy and support meaningful classroom discussions.

Every lesson has been carefully planned to be age-appropriate, giving children the opportunity to explore issues they are likely to be experiencing at the time or in the near future. Topics are regularly revisited to support the development of children’s understanding of the issues. Key questions are included which teachers can also use to assess children’s understanding throughout the units. 

Having all the resources in an easy-to-navigate online platform will save time for busy teachers. The clear lesson plans make preparation for each lesson straightforward.  Throughout, teachers are encouraged to think about how the issues might relate to their class and ensure they are meeting their needs and ready to deal with any issues. 

Resources for subject leaders

To aid subject leaders, the RSE and PSHE curriculum portal includes:

• Long term plans for standard and mixed-age classes
• Progression of skills and knowledge
• Vocabulary progression
• Curriculum mapping and statutory guidance

Also CPD videos integrated into lessons help develop teacher confidence in delivering the content, which could be used in an in-school training session or by individuals as needed. 

The full scheme covers the statutory content and more. It provides a complete programme of RSE and PSHE education and citizenship. This will support schools to address the Ofsted requirements for Personal Development including British Values.  

The parent zone has information to share with parents.

Although the terms RSE, RSHE and PSHE are often used interchangeably, they each have a slightly different meaning. Relationships Education and Health Education are statutory in all primary schools, while PSHE provides the broader framework that helps children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need for life. A well-planned PSHE curriculum goes beyond statutory requirements, supporting pupils’ personal development alongside their academic learning. Kapow Primary’s RSE & PSHE scheme combines statutory Relationships and Health Education with wider PSHE and Citizenship content, helping schools deliver a complete, progressive curriculum with confidence.

Originally written by Sarah Huggins (2021). Updated July 2026 to reflect the 2025 RSHE statutory guidance and updated resources.