'If we want to protect the next generation, funding and specialist training for teachers must urgently follow' - Tender responds to new RSHE guidance

Tender welcomes the government’s updated Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance, which represents a strong step forward from the draft guidance published in 2024. We are particularly encouraged by the emphasis on online harms and teaching consent, which are essential for keeping children and young people safe as they grow and navigate their relationships in the real and online world.

While we welcome these improvements, we are concerned about the lack of infrastructure to support successful delivery of this guidance across schools.

Guidance alone is not enough. Educators need training delivered by specialist organisations to provide adequate support to children and young people, ensuring the content is always relevant, safe, and effective over the course of their education. While we understand that teachers will be able to apply for grants for training from 2026, it remains unclear how much funding will be available, and we are concerned about the gap this may create if investment and support is not comprehensively available for every school.

Susie McDonald MBE, CEO of Tender, said:

‘This guidance marks meaningful progress in recognising the need for age-appropriate relationships education from primary school onwards and the positive impact of sequential teaching, which we have consistently advocated for.

If we want to protect and empower the next generation, funding for specialist teacher training and to enable schools to partner with specialist organisations to deliver elements of the curriculum, must urgently follow. We remain committed to working with young people, teachers and schools to help make high-quality RSHE a reality for every child.’