Top tips for delivering RSHE online
During the Coronavirus pandemic, most schools will be delivering some of their teaching online. We’ve put together the following top tips to help you and your pupils get the most out of RSHE lessons when you’re learning remotely.
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Spend some time considering how you can create a safe learning environment online. Use group learning agreements to set ground rules about how pupils are expected to behave and treat each other during lessons. Provide safe ways for pupils to ask questions if they need to: for example, secondary schools could consider setting up a monitored email address where pupils can send questions; or using the chat function within video conferencing software, where appropriate.
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When you’re teaching about bullying, include homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) bullying, and make sure pupils understand that HBT bullying can also happen online. Help pupils understand how they can report bullying at your school, including when they are learning online. Explain to pupils how they can report HBT bullying or language using the reporting functions on popular social media platforms, gaming platforms and apps.
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At a time when pupils are spending more time online than ever before, it’s really important that all children and young people know how to stay safe online. When teaching about online safety, include LGBT characters in case studies, examples, videos and other supporting resources. If you’re teaching about the harmful impacts of extreme content online, consider including types of content that might particularly affect LGBT pupils, such as anti-LGBT hate speech and materials about conversion therapies. Make sure pupils know how to report extreme content and seek support from a trusted adult. Stonewall and ChildNet’s guide, Staying Safe Online, has lots of helpful advice.
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When teaching about mental health, consider exploring the negative impacts of HBT bullying and anti-LGBT hate speech on LGBT pupils’ mental health and emotional wellbeing. Remind pupils that HBT bullying can also happen online, and that this can be particularly distressing and difficult to cope with. Support all pupils, including LGBT pupils, to protect their mental health and emotional well-being when they are online by: setting boundaries around screen-time; reporting HBT bullying and language; blocking and reporting people who harass, bully or discriminate; and using privacy settings to protect access to their social media profiles.
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Use lessons on discrimination, rights and responsibilities to teach about the history of Pride. Highlight LGBT role models, from history and from the present day, who have campaigned for human rights – including LGBT rights and human rights more broadly. Our LGBT History Month 2021 resources for primary, secondary and special schools can help get you started.
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When signposting to websites, books, external agencies or other places where pupils can go for information, advice and support, make sure you’re including a range of local and national support services for LGBT children and young people and their families. Our Introduction to Supporting LGBT Children and Young People has some suggestions.
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People of all ages are struggling with social isolation during the Coronavirus pandemic, but for LGBT children and young people in particular, having safe ways to connect with a community of LGBT people their own age is really important to their wellbeing. Support LGBT pupils to find a local youth group through the Proud Trust’s youth group directory. Share our home learning packs with pupils, or complete activities from them together as a class. Build a sense of connection and community through assemblies that celebrate LGBT History Month or Pride Month. Include LGBT role models in other work to celebrate diversity – for example, highlight lesbian, bi and trans women during your International Women’s Day celebration.
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Share our home learning packs with pupils, or complete activities from them together as a class. Build a sense of connection and community through assemblies that celebrate LGBT History Month or Pride Month. Include LGBT role models in other work to celebrate diversity – for example, highlight lesbian, bi and trans women during your International Women’s Day celebration.