CASPAR briefing The Department for Education (DfE) has published updates to the statutory safeguarding and child protection guidance for schools in England, Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE). 1 The 2026 edition of the guidance came into force on 1 September 2026. The guidance sets out what schools and colleges in England must do to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18. This briefing summarises the changes to the guidance. The changes for KCSIE 2026 include new and updated guidance around: regulations and safeguarding requirements on school premises prejudice-based harm, including racism, faith-based prejudice and other forms of discrimination children requiring mental health support children who are questioning their gender safer recruitment and regulated activity. Updates made to KCSIE in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 > Read our CASPAR briefing on Keeping children safe in education – updates from 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 (PDF) 2025 updates made to KCSIE the DfE's Working together to improve school attendance is now statutory guidance changes to the list of content risks under online safety, adding in disinformation, misinformation and conspiracy theories more information on the DfE guidance on generative artificial intelligence (AI) additional information on, and clarity around, alternative provision guidance clarity on Virtual School Heads and their non-statutory responsibilities around children in kinship care. 2024 updates made to KCSIE amending the definition of ‘safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children’ in line with Working together to safeguard children 2023 additional information around when children may require early help, in accordance with the guidance in Working together a recommendation for school staff, governors and trustees to use the DfE Data Protection guidance for schools to understand data protection clarification that schools continue to be responsible for the safeguarding of pupils they place with an alternative provision provider.

2023 updates made to KCSIE clarification around the roles and responsibilities of education staff in relation to filtering and monitoring clarification that being absent, as well as missing, from education can be warning sign of a range of safeguarding concerns, including sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or child criminal exploitation additional information on online pre-recruitment checks for shortlisted candidates information on responding to allegations related to organisations or individuals using school premises. 2022 updates made to KCSIE incorporating the DfE’s advice on Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges setting out the safeguarding implications for schools of human rights and equality legislation providing more information on managing low level concerns reinforcing the importance of talking to parents about children’s access to online sites when away from school. CASPAR briefings Our CASPAR briefings help people working or volunteering with children and young people understand changes to safeguarding and child protection policy and guidance. They also summarise key research and reports from independent bodies such as Ofsted and the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel. See the full list of briefings Training for schools All our safeguarding and child protection elearning courses for schools are up-to-date with statutory guidance across all four nations. Browse courses for schools Related resources Schools safeguarding update 2026/27 On-demand training on the latest updates to safeguarding guidance and legislation for schools in England, including Keeping children safe in Education. Designated safeguarding lead for schools and colleges training Designed to help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to carry out your safeguarding role and responsibilities in schools and colleges based in England. Safeguarding guidance for schools and colleges Explore our full range of training, lesson plans, guidance and resources for schools and colleges to help keep your pupils safe.