The UK's Department for Education has recently launched a consultation to gather views on proposed changes to the statutory guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (KCSIE). Those in the education sector, or organisations working with children, are invited to provide their views by 22 April 2026. The final version of KCSIE will be published on 1 September 2026.

Background

KCSIE outlines the legal duties that schools and colleges must comply with, as well as recommended practices to help safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

The current guidance is structured into five parts, which education providers must have regard to when carrying out their safeguarding duties:

• Part one - sets out what staff in schools and colleges should know and do. It explains their safeguarding responsibilities, what the various forms of abuse and neglect look like and what staff should do if they have concerns about safeguarding matters.
• Part two - sets out the arrangements for the management of safeguarding, including the responsibility of governing bodies and proprietors, the role of designated safeguarding leads and the safeguarding policies and procedures that should be in place.
• Part three - sets out the safer recruitment arrangements schools and colleges should adopt and describes in detail the checks that are required for individuals working or visiting a school or college.
• Part four - sets out how schools and colleges should manage allegations of abuse made against teachers and other staff including supply teachers, volunteers, and contractors.
• Part five - is about managing reports of child-on-child sexual violence and sexual harassment and sets out what governing bodies and proprietors should be doing to ensure reports of child-on-child sexual violence and sexual harassment are managed appropriately.

The UK Government’s aim in proposing changes is to improve the clarity of the guidance, ensure consistency and support effective safeguarding practices across all education sectors. The proposed updates reflect changes to multi-agency working ahead of any legislation changes in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the recent Casey Audit on group-based Child Sexual Exploitation (‘CSE’), and adds content in relation to Violence Against Women and Girls.

Proposed changes

The KCSIE 2026 update includes:

• Definitions such as CSE, misogyny, and financial exploitation
• CSE guidance updated to acknowledge the issue of victims being criminalized for actions under coercion.
• Increased references to misogyny, particularly the link between misogyny and harmful sexual behaviour.
• Reference to the growing issue of financial exploitation, such as financially-motivated sexploitation.

Stronger focus on early help and multi-agency working

Clearer expectations around thresholds and decision making. Staff need to be confident in recognising early signs of harm and know how to escalate concerns. Sets out that in-school early help should focus on identifying concerns early and providing school-led support. External Family Help involves coordinated multi-agency support delivered through LA children’s services when a child’s needs exceed what the school can meet alone. 

Strengthening of online safety requirements/risks posed by AI

Schools must: ensure the school environment is mobile phone-free by default; embed online safety as part of a whole-school safeguarding approach; review filtering systems every year, and assess risks from AI generated images/videos, deepfakes and online image sharing.

Guidance on gender questioning pupils

Gender questioning children are now to be viewed through the prism of safeguarding.

Stricter expectations around decision making and record keeping. Any request relating to social transition must be carefully considered, documented and supported by a clear rationale that reflects the best interests of the child and the wider pupil community. Pertinently, schools must not initiate social transition, single-sex toilets/changing rooms must remain protected, and schools must involve parents in decision making wherever possible.

Expanded child-on-child abuse requirements

Wider definitions to include serious violence, misogyny, and AI-generated images; a clearer zero-tolerance approach, and stronger expectations around pupil reporting mechanisms and staff responses.

Domestic Abuse Reporting

Expansion of guidance on the statutory Operation Encompass duty – notifications must be shared with schools whenever police attend a domestic abuse incident and believe a child may have been affected. Notifications should reflect the voice of the child.

Safeguarding mental health

Reinforces the link between mental health and wider safeguarding risks, particularly around self-harm, eating disorders and suicidal ideation. Staff must be able to identify early signs of mental health concerns and respond with a targeted approach.

Updated safer recruitment

Strengthening of procedures such as reference verification, online due diligence checks, single central record updates, and expectations for contractors, volunteers, visitors and trainee teachers

The role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead

Highlights the importance of having robust DSL cover arrangements to ensure safeguarding concerns can be addressed without delay.

Comment

This update will introduce some of the most significant safeguarding changes in recent years, many of which have been welcomed by Designated Safeguarding Leads and members of the education community. Education settings should begin to prepare for these changes now.