BCSSP KCSiE Newsletter 2026
The final version of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) 2026, published on 1 September 2026, introduces a number of important safeguarding updates for schools and education settings. While there are no major new statutory safeguarding duties, the guidance strengthens expectations around recognising and responding to racism, discrimination and prejudice-based harm, which are now explicitly identified as safeguarding concerns. Child-on-child abuse guidance has also been expanded to include discriminatory behaviour, and schools are expected to promote an inclusive, anti-discriminatory safeguarding culture.
Other significant changes include a strengthened definition of sexual abuse aligned with Working Together to Safeguard Children, updated safeguarding flowcharts to improve accessibility, and new references to child knife possession guidance within the serious violence section. The guidance also clarifies information-sharing responsibilities and lawful data sharing for safeguarding purposes.
For schools operating Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision, the updated guidance introduces stricter safer recruitment requirements, confirming that staff and volunteers must not begin work until enhanced DBS and barred list checks have been completed. Additional updates include revised homelessness guidance, refreshed links to family court information and a range of drafting and clarification amendments throughout the document