It might seem far off, but the September 2026 deadline for implementing the newly updated statutory Relationships, Sex, and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum will be here before we know it.
A major update in the new guidance is a much sharper focus on mental wellbeing and giving pupils the explicit cognitive frameworks they need to make good decisions about their own emotional states. The Department for Education has made it crystal clear: schools are expected to actively promote pupils' self-control, their ability to self-regulate, and the specific strategies for doing so.
This means moving beyond simply talking about our feelings in a circle. We need to move towards practical application. Teaching kids specific mechanisms—like cognitive reframing, sensory grounding, or controlled breathwork—is no longer just a "nice to have" pastoral extra; it is becoming a statutory expectation to help them respond calmly and rationally to setbacks.
Question for your team: Does your current PSHE curriculum just teach children 'about' emotions, or does it actively train them in the daily mechanics of emotional regulation?