Train every member of staff
Annex A has gone. Every member of staff should read Part one in full; the new one-page overview is only a prompt.
In force from 1 September 2026
The Department for Education published KCSIE 2026 on 7 July 2026. This briefing covers the confirmed guidance and the practical changes settings need to make.
KCSIE 2025 remains in force until 31 August 2026. Schools and colleges must continue to use it until KCSIE 2026 comes into force on 1 September 2026.
Five priorities before 1 September
Start with the actions that affect the widest group of people and processes.
Audit volunteer checks
The supervision exemption is removed. Some supervised volunteers will now need an enhanced DBS check with children’s barred-list information.
Refresh policies and procedures
Update child protection, online safety, mobile phone, filtering and monitoring, information-security and child-on-child abuse policies.
Test safeguarding handovers
Document DSL cover and check reporting routes, information sharing and child protection file transfers at every transition.
Brief leaders and governors
Record assurance that training, recruitment, policy and operational changes will be ready for 1 September 2026.
What changed — and what you need to do
Use this as a practical change map, then check the published guidance against your setting’s policies and procedures.
Part one
What changed
All staff must read Part one
The shorter Annex A has been removed. The one-page overview does not replace Part one.
What your setting should do
Update induction and annual training, distribute Part one to all staff and retain evidence that it has been read.
Parts one & five
What changed
Family Help and referral routes
KCSIE now distinguishes community-based early help, targeted Family Help and statutory children’s social care, in line with Working Together 2026.
What your setting should do
Refresh local thresholds, assessment routes, escalation procedures and contact details used by staff.
Part one
What changed
Abuse, exploitation and serious violence
Content is stronger on modern slavery, stalking, financial exploitation, child-to-parent or carer abuse, coercion, mental health and serious violence.
What your setting should do
Update staff training, concern categories and response prompts so these indicators are recognised and recorded consistently.
Part two
What changed
Online safety, AI and mobile phones
The guidance adds generative AI and mobile phone expectations and strengthens information security, access control, filtering and monitoring.
What your setting should do
Update policies and record an annual effectiveness review covering every internet-connected device and relevant location.
Part two / Annex B
What changed
DSL cover, information sharing and files
Expectations are clearer for confidential DSL cover, proportionate information sharing and prompt transfer and review of child protection files.
What your setting should do
Test cover and reporting routes. Record transfer, receipt, review, access and action at every transition, including in-year moves.
Part three
What changed
Volunteer checks and regulated activity
The supervision exemption is removed. Relevant frequent, intensive or overnight volunteer activity is regulated even when supervised.
What your setting should do
Audit existing and new volunteer roles and obtain the appropriate enhanced DBS and children’s barred-list check where required.
Part three
What changed
Recruitment records and checks
Regulated-activity, work-experience and DBS wording has changed. The proposed single central record template was not adopted.
What your setting should do
Update recruitment procedures, use “Check a teacher’s record”, and continue following the Part three SCR requirements.
Parts four & five
What changed
Adults, agencies and trainee teachers
Responsibilities are clearer: settings manage safeguarding facts and process, while an agency or employer leads employment action.
What your setting should do
Clarify escalation, fact-finding and LADO referral responsibilities with agencies, contractors and training providers.
Part five
What changed
Child-on-child sexual harm
The guidance emphasises prevention and the continuum from harmful sexual behaviour to sexual violence. Every nude or semi-nude image incident needs a safeguarding response.
What your setting should do
Update policy and training to distinguish age-appropriate, problematic and harmful behaviour and respond to consensual, coerced and AI-altered images.
Part two / Annexes
What changed
Wider needs and settings
Guidance is strengthened across SEND, medical conditions, young carers, alternative provision, sport, premises, boarding, reasonable force, domestic abuse, cybercrime and Operation Encompass.
What your setting should do
Assign each area to an owner, compare current procedures with the published wording and record any required changes.
Browse the complete KCSIE 2026 change reference
How to use this reference: each change is matched to its location in the published KCSIE 2026 guidance. Paragraph numbers refer to the July 2026 version issued for information. Related amendments are grouped where the DfE change log treats them as one topic.
Changes applying throughout KCSIE
7 referenced changesAbout the guidance
Early years settings
Section 3 of the EYFS statutory framework should be read alongside KCSIE where children aged 0 to 5 attend school-based nurseries or reception classes.
About the guidance
Nudes, semi-nudes and AI
A new explainer covers images taken by a child or another person, digitally altered images and content wholly generated by artificial intelligence.
Who this guidance is for
Part one for every member of staff
References to the former condensed Annex A have been removed. Staff who work directly with children and those who do not should read Part one in full.
Throughout
Family Help terminology
Wording now distinguishes universal services and community-based early help from the targeted early help level of Family Help.
Throughout
Updated image-sharing terminology
Older terminology has been replaced by “making or sharing of nudes or semi-nudes”.
Throughout
Sexual harm and child-on-child abuse language
Definitions of assault by penetration and sexual assault are updated, references to misogyny are expanded, and the child-on-child abuse heading now expressly includes harassment and violence.
Part two · data protection
Data protection legislation
References are updated to include the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
Safeguarding information for all staff
11 referenced changesParagraph 13
Family Help assessments
Clarifies community-based early help, targeted Family Help and the thresholds for statutory services.
Paragraphs 17–20
Additional needs, modern slavery and exploitation
Expands issues staff should notice and adds modern slavery, stalking and financial exploitation.
Paragraphs 24, 26–27
Definitions of abuse
Adds child-to-parent or caregiver abuse, verbal emotional abuse and clearer examples of contact sexual abuse.
Paragraph 29 and child-on-child section
Overlapping and preventable harm
Makes clear that harms overlap, child-on-child abuse is preventable and it is a safeguarding issue for both the victim and alleged perpetrator.
CCE and CSE sections
Organised exploitation and coercion
Adds organised networks and gangs, modern slavery referrals, county lines context and the risk of victims being criminalised for coerced actions.
Paragraph 42
Child sexual exploitation
Clarifies that abuse may be committed by an individual or organised network and is most often committed by someone known to the victim.
Mental health section
Mental health
Substantially updates the indicators, response and role of safeguarding staff.
Serious violence section
Serious violence
Substantially updates risk indicators and the response expected from staff.
Paragraph 58
Internal support
Adds detail about managing support for a child within the school or college.
Paragraphs 62 and 66
Assessments and local protocols
Clarifies when a non-social-worker practitioner may lead an assessment and adds expectations about local assessment protocols.
Paragraphs 75–77
Concerns involving trainee teachers
Adds trainee teachers and requires consideration of a referral to the LADO.
Management and governance
19 referenced changesParagraphs 95–98
Sport
Adds a dedicated section on safeguarding in sport.
Paragraphs 105–116
School premises
Adds regulations and safeguarding requirements relating to school premises.
Paragraph 127
DSL cover
Adds expectations for robust and confidential cover arrangements when the DSL is unavailable.
Paragraphs 138–150
Information sharing
Expands guidance on proportionality, lawful sharing and risk assessment.
Paragraphs 158 and 160
Preventative education
Adds racism, derogatory behaviour, physical violence and conflict, with links to approved PSHE resources.
Paragraph 163
Online risk categories
Updates the definitions used to organise online safety risks.
Paragraphs 165–166
Generative AI
Adds guidance and resources for safe and effective use of generative AI in education.
Paragraph 168
Mobile phone policy
Adds a dedicated section on mobile phone policy.
Paragraph 171
Filtering and monitoring review
Requires an effectiveness review at least once each academic year, device and location checks, DSL and IT support, and a retained record.
Paragraphs 176–178
Information security
Redrafts information-security expectations for clarity.
Paragraphs 186–191
Adults and child protection policy
Adds trainee-teacher references and expands factors for child protection policies, including misandry.
Paragraphs 197–202
Boarding and residential accommodation
Adds a new section for boarding and residential settings.
Paragraphs 203–205
Reasonable force
Aligns the section with updated restrictive-intervention guidance.
Paragraphs 208–213
Alternative provision
Updates safeguarding expectations where children are placed in alternative provision.
Paragraphs 224–232
Mental health support
Updates the section on children requiring mental health support.
Paragraph 242
Virtual School Heads
Highlights the Virtual School Head role in improving attendance.
Paragraph 246
Young carers
Adds a section on young carers and their specific needs.
Paragraphs 247–250
SEND and medical conditions
Adds barriers faced by children with SEND and a new section on safeguarding children with medical conditions.
Paragraphs 252–282
LGB and gender-questioning children
Updates the published guidance for supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and gender-questioning children.
Safer recruitment
10 referenced changesParagraph 315 and regulated-activity table
Regulated activity and supervision
Rewrites the section to include volunteers and removes the supervision exemption in line with the Crime and Policing Act 2026.
Paragraphs 325–326
DBS checks and teacher records
Adds checks for volunteers in regulated activity, updates certificate timing wording and replaces the former TRA service reference with “Check a teacher’s record”.
Part three · DBS checks
DBS flowchart and duplicated guidance
Removes the outdated flowchart and duplicated DBS-check-types section.
Paragraph 370
Self-employed people
Clarifies which DBS check a self-employed person may obtain.
Paragraph 375
Visitors
Clarifies the categories of visitors to schools and colleges.
Paragraphs 381–387
Volunteers
Rewrites the volunteer section following removal of the supervision exemption.
Paragraphs 403–407
Work experience supervision
Updates the section for the new regulated-activity definition.
Paragraphs 408–410
Homestay
Moves the former homestay annex into Part three.
Paragraph 422
Existing staff and volunteers
Extends the existing-staff wording to include volunteers.
Paragraphs 424–429
Referral duties and equality
Rewrites referral duties to include volunteers and adds schools’ Public Sector Equality Duty.
Adults, allegations and sexual harm
8 referenced changesPart four · throughout
Trainee teachers
Adds trainee teachers throughout the allegations and concerns guidance.
Paragraphs 452–456
Shared safeguarding responsibilities
Clarifies responsibilities between settings and third-party organisations for supply staff, trainees and contractors.
Part five · throughout
Harmful sexual behaviour continuum
Substantially rewrites Part five around progression from harmful sexual behaviour to sexual violence.
Paragraph 527
Nude and semi-nude images
Confirms that every incident requires a safeguarding response, whether consensual or non-consensual.
Paragraphs 531–533
Sexual development and behaviour
Adds harmful-sexual-behaviour content and links to age-related development and response resources.
Paragraph 540
Consent
Adds further information about consent.
Paragraphs 575–581
Early help
Expands universal services and community-based early help.
Paragraphs 582–592
Family Help referrals
Adds a new section on referrals to Family Help.
Further information and the DSL role
4 referenced changesAnnex A
Further information
The former condensed Part one is removed and replaced by the previous further-information annex. Cybercrime, domestic abuse, Operation Encompass, parental online-safety support, temporary accommodation, Channel and serious violence content is added or updated.
Annex B
Role of the DSL
Adds DSL cover expectations and strengthens information sharing, CCE/CSE indicators and Operation Encompass duties.
Former supervised-activity annex
Supervision exemption removed
The former annex is removed because qualifying supervised volunteer activity is now regulated activity. See Part three, paragraphs 315 and 381–387.
Annex C · pages 189–195
DfE summary of changes
The published guidance includes the Department for Education’s own consolidated change log, which this reference index follows.
Source: Department for Education, Annex C “KCSIE 2026: Summary of changes”, pages 189–195.
Open the official guidanceThe changes at a glance
- All staff should read Part one: the shorter Annex A has been removed and the new one-page overview does not replace Part one.
- Family Help terminology, assessment routes and referral expectations now align with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.
- Part one is stronger on modern slavery, stalking, financial exploitation, child-to-parent or carer abuse, mental health and serious violence.
- Child-on-child abuse and Part five place greater emphasis on prevention, harmful sexual behaviour and the progression from harmful behaviour to sexual violence.
- Online safety changes cover generative AI, mobile phone policy, information security and recorded filtering and monitoring checks.
- The supervision exemption from regulated activity is removed, changing DBS and barred-list requirements for some supervised volunteers.
- Guidance is strengthened on DSL cover, information sharing, child protection file transfers, trainee teachers, alternative provision, SEND, medical conditions, young carers and gender-questioning children.
Changes applying across the guidance
Every member of staff reads Part one
The condensed Part one previously in Annex A has been withdrawn. Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure staff who work directly with children, and staff who do not, read Part one. A new one-page overview is available only as a complementary prompt.
Early help and Family Help terminology
KCSIE now distinguishes universal services and community-based early help from targeted early help delivered through Family Help. The guidance reflects the assessment and referral routes in Working Together 2026.
Updated language
The guidance uses “making or sharing of nudes or semi-nudes”, updates sexual assault definitions, adds further references to misogyny, and retitles child-on-child abuse to expressly include harassment and violence.
Early years
Schools with nurseries or reception classes for children aged 0 to 5 are reminded to read section 3 of the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework alongside KCSIE.
Part one: what all staff need to know
- Abuse and exploitation: new or expanded references cover modern slavery, stalking, financial exploitation, child-to-parent or carer abuse and verbal abuse as a form of emotional abuse.
- Child-on-child abuse: the guidance makes clear that risks can overlap, abuse is a safeguarding issue for both the victim and alleged perpetrator, it is preventable, and it can include serious physical harm or threats involving weapons.
- Criminal and sexual exploitation: content recognises organised networks and gangs, modern slavery referrals, county lines, coercion and the risk of victims being criminalised for actions taken under coercion.
- Mental health and serious violence: both sections have been substantially updated. The final text also strengthens the appropriate role of parents when a child is distressed, balanced against safeguarding considerations.
- Family Help: staff should understand community-based assessments, targeted early help and the thresholds for statutory children’s social care services.
- Concerns about adults: references to trainee teachers are added and staff may need to consider a referral to the local authority designated officer (LADO).
Part two: management and governance changes
DSL cover and information sharing
Settings should have robust cover when the DSL is unavailable, with arrangements such as a confidential shared mailbox. Expanded information-sharing guidance covers proportionality, risk assessment and the prompt transfer, review and actioning of child protection files at every transition, including in-year moves.
Online safety, AI and mobile phones
Online risk categories are updated, with guidance on safe and effective generative AI use and a mobile phone policy section. The consultation response confirms the mobile phone wording now forms part of the statutory guidance.
Filtering and monitoring
Effectiveness must be reviewed at least once every academic year by the responsible senior leader, supported by the DSL and IT. Checks should cover all internet-connected devices in all relevant locations and be recorded.
Information and access security
Information security and access management content is clearer, while data-protection references have been updated for the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
Curriculum and child-on-child abuse
Preventative education now expressly refers to racism, derogatory behaviour, physical violence and conflict. Child protection policy considerations are expanded and include references to both misogyny and misandry.
Additional operational areas
New or strengthened sections cover sport, school premises, boarding and residential accommodation, reasonable force, alternative provision, mental health support, Virtual School Heads and attendance, young carers, SEND and children with medical conditions.
LGB and gender-questioning children
Paragraphs 252 to 282 contain the published KCSIE 2026 content for supporting children who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or questioning their gender. Leaders should review the exact wording and reflect it in policy, staff training and case-by-case safeguarding practice.
Part three: safer recruitment and regulated activity
Important volunteer-checking change
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 removes the supervision exemption from regulated activity. From 1 September, a person volunteering in a school or college in a role that involves teaching, training, instructing or supervising children frequently, on more than three days in a 30-day period, or overnight, is in regulated activity even when supervised.
Schools and colleges must ensure that these volunteers are not barred from working with children by obtaining the appropriate enhanced DBS check with children’s barred list information. Audit existing supervised volunteer roles before September rather than limiting the change to new starters.
- Regulated activity and volunteer sections are rewritten, and the old DBS flowchart is removed.
- Work experience supervision has been updated to reflect the change in regulated activity.
- The former homestay annex has moved into the main guidance.
- DBS wording is clarified for self-employed people, existing staff and volunteers, and referrals involving volunteers.
- References to the TRA Employer Access Service are replaced by DfE’s “Check a teacher’s record” service.
- The proposed single central record template was removed after consultation. Schools should continue to follow the mandatory and non-statutory SCR requirements set out in Part three.
Parts four and five: adults, allegations and child-on-child sexual harm
Supply staff, trainee teachers and contractors
Part four makes shared safeguarding responsibilities clearer. The school or college gathers facts and manages the safeguarding process; the agency or employer leads any employment or disciplinary action. Specific expectations are added for concerns about trainee teachers.
Harmful sexual behaviour and sexual violence
Part five has been substantially rewritten around the progressive continuum from harmful sexual behaviour to sexual violence. It provides more support for distinguishing age-appropriate, problematic and harmful sexual behaviours.
Nude and semi-nude images
Every incident involving the sharing of nude or semi-nude images requires a safeguarding response, whether consensual or non-consensual. The final terminology deliberately avoids “self-generated” so it also captures coercion, exploitation and third-party or AI creation or alteration.
Family Help referrals
Part five now separates universal and community-based early help from referrals to targeted Family Help and local authority children’s social care.
Annex changes
- Annex A is now the former “Further information” annex. It adds or updates cybercrime, domestic abuse, Operation Encompass, parental online-safety support, temporary accommodation notifications, Channel and serious violence.
- Annex B now contains the role of the DSL and strengthens DSL cover, information sharing, criminal and sexual exploitation indicators and Operation Encompass duties.
- The former annex on supervised activity has been removed because the supervision exemption from regulated activity is being abolished.
KCSIE 2026 implementation checklist
Use these actions to assign owners, record evidence and track readiness before the new guidance comes into force.
Keep KCSIE 2025 live until 31 August
Continue using the September 2025 guidance as the statutory baseline while completing preparations for the new version.
Give Part one to every member of staff
Remove the former condensed Annex A from induction materials, issue Part one in full and retain evidence that all staff have read and understood it.
Update Family Help routes
Confirm local thresholds, assessment processes, escalation routes and contacts for community-based early help, targeted Family Help and statutory services.
Audit volunteers and regulated activity
Review existing and planned volunteer roles against the new definition and arrange the appropriate enhanced DBS and children’s barred-list checks.
Review safeguarding policies
Update child protection, child-on-child abuse, online safety, generative AI, mobile phone, filtering and monitoring, information-security and image-sharing content.
Complete and record the filtering review
Ensure the responsible senior leader completes the annual effectiveness review with DSL and IT support, covering every relevant device and location.
Test DSL cover and information sharing
Document confidential cover arrangements and test reporting, access, risk-assessment and information-sharing processes when the DSL is unavailable.
Strengthen child protection file transfers
Check that files are transferred promptly at every transition, including in-year moves, and that receipt, review, access and resulting actions are recorded.
Refresh staff and DSL training
Cover exploitation, modern slavery, serious violence, mental health, harmful sexual behaviour, nude and semi-nude images, trainee teachers and third-party staff.
Review wider operational guidance
Assign owners for SEND, medical conditions, young carers, alternative provision, sport, premises, boarding, reasonable force and LGB or gender-questioning children.
Record leadership and governor assurance
Minute who owns each change, the evidence reviewed, any remaining actions and confirmation that the setting will be ready for 1 September 2026.
Want help preparing your safeguarding processes for KCSIE 2026?
FAQs
Is KCSIE 2026 in force now?
No. It was published for information on 7 July 2026 and comes into force on 1 September 2026. KCSIE 2025 remains in force until 31 August.
What are the headline changes?
They include Part one for all staff, Family Help terminology, stronger online safety and child-on-child abuse guidance, clearer DSL and information-sharing expectations, and new volunteer-checking requirements.
Should all staff read Part one?
Yes. The condensed Annex A has been removed. The one-page overview is a useful prompt, but it does not replace reading Part one.
What is the biggest recruitment change?
The supervision exemption is removed. Some supervised volunteers will now be in regulated activity and require an enhanced DBS check with children’s barred list information.
Was the proposed SCR template adopted?
No. The DfE removed it after consultation feedback. Settings should follow the mandatory and non-statutory SCR requirements in Part three.
What should leaders do now?
Continue following KCSIE 2025 while completing policy, training, recruitment, information-sharing and operational changes in time for 1 September 2026.