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RSHE: how to proactively engage with parents and carers

Learn how to inform, involve and engage families when it comes to your RSHE curriculum and policy, so that they feel up-to-date and included, and you are compliant with the September 2026 guidance.

Last reviewed on 8 December 2025
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 52671
Contents
  1. New RSHE guidance says you must 'proactively engage and consult'
  2. Build trust early on
  3. Focus on engaging all families in your community
  4. Make sure your comms are clear and empathetic
  5. Frame RSHE as part of your shared core values
  6. Normalise talking about RSHE as part of school life
  7. Consider running ‘engagement forums’ with parents and carers
  8. Be transparent: make RSE curriculum materials available to all parents/carers

New RSHE guidance says you must 'proactively engage and consult'

The DfE’s updated RSHE guidance comes into force in September 2026, but you can start following it sooner if you wish. This article sets out the full requirements.

You can treat this year (2025/26) as a transition period between your current RSHE offer and what you’ll teach pupils from September 2026.

Under the updated RSHE guidance, you:

  • Must proactively engage and consult with parents/carers when developing and reviewing your RSE policy (paragraphs 12 and 55)
  • Must make sure parents understand that effective RSHE is important for promoting and protecting children’s wellbeing (paragraph 12)
  • Should proactively engage with parents/carers to make them aware of what you’re teaching in RSHE lessons (paragraph 55) and allow them to see all your RSHE curriculum materials if they ask to (paragraph 56)

There isn't a set definition of this in the RSHE guidance. But proactive engagement is about engaging with parents/carers when