KCSIE stands for Keeping Children Safe in Education — the statutory safeguarding guidance that all schools and colleges in England must follow. It is updated annually, and the current version came into force on 1 September 2026.
“Statutory” is the important word. Schools and colleges must have regard to it, and Ofsted inspects against it. It is not best practice or a suggestion.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Who has to read it
Every member of staff must read Part One in full. That includes teachers, teaching assistants, supply and agency staff, administrative staff, caretakers, catering staff and governors.
This changed in 2026. Previously, schools could give staff who did not work directly with children a condensed version — Annex A. Annex A has been removed, so the condensed route no longer exists. If your setting is still issuing a summary document in place of Part One, that is now out of date.
Leadership, governors and those responsible for recruitment need to go further into Parts Two to Five.
How the guidance is structured
| Part | Covers | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Part One | Safeguarding information for all staff — types and signs of abuse, what to do if you have a concern, what to do if a child discloses | All staff, in full |
| Part Two | The management of safeguarding — governance, policies, training, online safety, filtering and monitoring | Leadership and governors |
| Part Three | Safer recruitment — vetting, DBS, the single central record, agency and contractor checks | Anyone recruiting |
| Part Four | Concerns and allegations about staff, supply staff, volunteers and contractors, including low-level concerns | Leadership |
| Part Five | Child-on-child sexual violence and sexual harassment | All staff and leadership |
| Annex B | Further detail on the designated safeguarding lead role | DSLs and deputies |
What changed in KCSIE 2026
- Annex A removed. All staff must read Part One in full; the condensed version no longer exists.
- Volunteer DBS supervision exemption removed. Volunteers now require checks that previously could be avoided where they were supervised. This mirrors the parallel change to the EYFS framework and is the change most likely to catch settings out.
- Mental health strengthened, with self-harm and suicidal ideation or risk of suicide recognised as standalone safeguarding concerns rather than only as indicators of something else.
- Terminology updated — “making or sharing nudes” replaces “sexting”, and the guidance now explicitly covers AI-generated imagery.
- Mobile-free school expectations established.
- Gender-questioning children guidance incorporated, with expectations around parental involvement.
- Serious violence and misogyny given greater emphasis.
- DSL responsibilities clarified, including robust cover during absence, transferring child protection files when pupils move, considering LADO referrals early, and reviewing filtering and monitoring annually.
If you only action two things, make them the volunteer DBS change and the removal of Annex A. Both alter what a setting must actually do, rather than how it describes what it already does.
What Part One asks of you personally
The core of it is short, and worth knowing without looking it up:
- Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and you should act on a concern rather than assume someone else will.
- Adopt a child-centred approach — consider at all times what is in the best interests of the child.
- If you have a concern, act immediately. Speak to the designated safeguarding lead the same day. Do not investigate it yourself.
- Never promise confidentiality to a child.
- Record factually, in the child’s own words where possible.
- Escalate if nothing happens. Passing a concern on once does not discharge your responsibility, and you may contact children’s social care directly.
- Maintain an attitude of “it could happen here”.
Our safeguarding questions and answers page works through realistic scenarios against these principles, with model answers.
KCSIE and safer recruitment
Part Three is where KCSIE and the practicalities of hiring meet. It governs the vetting checks a setting must carry out and record on its single central record — identity, enhanced DBS with barred list where the role is regulated activity, right to work, prohibition from teaching checks for teaching staff, qualifications where required, and overseas checks for time lived abroad.
For agency and supply staff, the agency carries out the checks and the setting must obtain written confirmation that they have been done. The setting does not repeat them, but it does have to evidence that it satisfied itself. Our guide to DBS checks for schools and nurseries covers what that confirmation needs to contain.
Staff who arrive already compliant
Every Quint Education candidate is DBS checked and referenced before we put them forward, and your written confirmation comes with them for your single central record.
KCSIE and the EYFS: which applies?
A question we are asked constantly, because the answer is “it depends on the setting”.
- Schools and colleges follow KCSIE.
- Standalone nurseries, preschools and childminders follow the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the EYFS statutory framework.
- School nursery and reception classes sit under both — KCSIE as part of the school, and the EYFS for children under five.
The two were aligned further in September 2026, notably on volunteer DBS checks, but they remain separate documents with separate requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What does KCSIE stand for?
Keeping Children Safe in Education. It is the statutory safeguarding guidance that all schools and colleges in England must follow, published by the Department for Education and updated annually.
Is KCSIE statutory?
Yes. Schools and colleges in England must have regard to it, and Ofsted inspects against it. It is not optional guidance or best practice.
Who has to read KCSIE?
All staff must read Part One in full, including teachers, teaching assistants, supply and agency staff, administrative staff, catering and site staff, and governors. Leadership, governors and anyone involved in recruitment need to read Parts Two to Five as well.
What happened to Annex A?
Annex A, the condensed version of Part One for staff not working directly with children, was removed in KCSIE 2026. All staff must now read Part One in full, and a summary document is no longer an acceptable substitute.
What changed in KCSIE 2026?
Annex A was removed so all staff read Part One in full; the supervision exemption for volunteer DBS checks was removed; mental health was strengthened with self-harm and suicidal ideation treated as standalone concerns; terminology was updated so making or sharing nudes replaces sexting and AI-generated imagery is covered; mobile-free school expectations were established; guidance on gender-questioning children was incorporated; and serious violence and misogyny received greater emphasis.
When did KCSIE 2026 come into force?
1 September 2026. It was published by the Department for Education in July 2026 ahead of the academic year.
How many parts does KCSIE have?
Five parts. Part One covers safeguarding information for all staff; Part Two the management of safeguarding; Part Three safer recruitment; Part Four concerns and allegations about staff; and Part Five child-on-child sexual violence and sexual harassment. Annex B gives further detail on the designated safeguarding lead role.
Does KCSIE apply to nurseries?
KCSIE applies to schools and colleges. Standalone nurseries, preschools and childminders follow the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the EYFS statutory framework instead. School nursery and reception classes are covered by both.
Does KCSIE apply to agency and supply staff?
Yes. Supply and agency staff must read Part One in full in the same way as directly employed staff. Part Three also sets out that the agency carries out the vetting checks and the school must obtain written confirmation that they have been completed.