Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025

The Department for Education has published Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025, which came into force on 1 September 2025. This year’s updates are primarily technical rather than transformative, but several changes are particularly relevant for those working with children.

What’s Changed in KCSIE 2025

The 2025 guidance includes the fewest changes of any annual iteration in recent years. However, certain updates have direct implications for SEND practice and safeguarding children with additional needs.

SEND and Inclusive Language Updates

• “Autism spectrum disorder” has been replaced with “autism” throughout the guidance to align with the SEND Code of Practice.
• This reflects the move towards more inclusive terminology in SEND practice.

Online Safety Updates

• Online safety now explicitly includes misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories as safeguarding concerns.
• Updated references to DfE guidance on artificial intelligence in educational settings.
• New resources added on filtering, monitoring, and cyber resilience to help schools meet digital safety standards.

Statutory Attendance Guidance

• “Working Together to Safeguard Attendance“ guidance is now formally recognised as statutory.
• Schools, trusts, governing bodies, and local authorities must have regard to this guidance as part of their safeguarding duties.

Alternative Provision Clarifications

• Schools must ensure they have written confirmation that full safer recruitment steps have been completed for all staff at alternative provisions
• Alternative provision placements should be reviewed at least half-termly to ensure children are attending, their needs are met, and the setting remains safe

Virtual School Head Role

• Virtual School Heads now have non-statutory responsibilities to promote educational outcomes for children in kinship care, in addition to their existing duties for looked-after children

Safer Recruitment Updates

• References to the TRA’s Employer Access Service have been replaced with direct GOV.UK links
• Updated systems now include “Check a teacher’s record” and “Individuals prohibited from managing or governing schools”
• These changes make key safeguarding checks easier to access

Future Guidance Updates

• The document references upcoming Relationships, Sex and Health Education guidance, expected to be implemented from September 2026
• Guidance on supporting gender questioning children is expected to be published and will be incorporated into future KCSIE updates

New Resources

There has been a new link added to the Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s Shore Space service for young people concerned about their own or someone else’s sexual behaviours.

What KCSIE 2025 Means for Education Settings

These KCSIE 2025 updates maintain the guidance’s core focus on child protection while ensuring language and references remain current. The emphasis on inclusive terminology is particularly important when working with children who have additional needs.

The shift from “autism spectrum disorder” to “autism” should be reflected in all school documentation, assessment reports, and communications with families. This change supports more inclusive practice and aligns with current SEND guidance.

Schools need to consider how misinformation and conspiracy theories may affect their pupils, particularly those who are more vulnerable to online manipulation. The new filtering and monitoring resources provide practical tools to strengthen digital safety measures.

The statutory status of attendance guidance reinforces the link between regular school attendance and effective safeguarding. Settings using alternative provision need robust systems to verify arrangements and maintain regular oversight.

Schools should prepare for KCSIE updates when new RSHE and gender questioning guidance is published, as these may bring additional requirements for supporting children with diverse needs.

Looking Ahead

Future KCSIE iterations are expected to include more significant changes reflecting:

• Progress on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
• Learnings from ongoing child protection inquiries
• New guidance on relationships education and gender questioning children

The DfE has indicated that this guidance will continue to evolve as understanding of safeguarding risks develops.

Supporting children with additional needs requires specialist expertise and understanding of current guidance. Psychology Direct provides high-quality educational psychology services to local authorities and multi-academy trusts. Our experienced team supports the well-being and development of children and young people in your community, offering services tailored to meet your specific needs. Contact us to discuss how we can support your work.