Keeping Children Safe in Education proposed changes (KCSIE 2026 consultation)

• KCSIE 2025 remains the live compliance baseline for schools and colleges.
• The 2026 draft is a consultation proposal, not final law or final statutory wording.
• Leaders should map likely operational impact now so implementation is faster if changes are confirmed.
• Family Help pathways, online safety controls, DSL cover, safer recruitment and staff training are practical priorities.

• The DfE says the draft reflects changes to multi-agency working ahead of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, relevant learning from the Casey Audit, and adds content relating to Violence Against Women and Girls.
• Family Help updates distinguish community-based early help from targeted early help delivered through Family Help, with additional content on referrals to Family Help.
• Part one includes clearer references to modern slavery, stalking and financial exploitation, and clarifies that emotional abuse can include verbal abuse such as criticism, belittling and name-calling.
• Child-on-child abuse content is expanded with clearer language on prevention, overlap of safeguarding issues, and serious physical harm or threats involving weapons.
• Online safety updates include revised online risk wording, Generative AI guidance, a new mobile phone policy section, and a clearer expectation to review filtering and monitoring at least once every academic year across all internet-connected devices in relevant locations and keep a record of checks.
• Part two adds or strengthens content on sport, safeguarding requirements relating to school premises, DSL cover arrangements, boarding and residential accommodation, young carers, children with medical conditions, alternative provision, and children requiring mental health support.
• Preventive education content adds references to racism and derogatory behaviour or other forms of physical violence and conflict.
• Safer recruitment and allegation-management sections explicitly include trainee teachers, and Annex D references a new single central record template.
• Content on children who are questioning their gender remains draft consultation text only and is not yet final statutory guidance.

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