KCSIE 2025: September Update

KCSIE 2025: What’s New and Why It’s Another Year of Technical Changes - September Update

There were some minor but notable changes between the July 2025 draft ("for information only") version of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and the final statutory version published in September 2025.

Here’s a summary of some of the differences:

1. RSHE Guidance Reference Updated
   • The final version references the revised Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance in paragraph 128, with implementation expected by September 2026.
   • Language in paragraph 130 was simplified, removing specific references to types of abuse (e.g., FGM, forced marriage) and replacing them with broader terms like “all forms of sexual harassment and abuse”
     
     
2. Online Safety - Expanded Definitions
   • The “Four Cs” of online risk (content, contact, conduct, commerce) now explicitly include misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories.
     
     
3. Cybersecurity and AI Guidance
   • New references to the DfE’s Generative AI guidance and Cyber Security Standards were added (paras 142–144), encouraging schools to assess their digital safety measures.
     
     
4. Alternative Provision (AP) Oversight
   • Strengthened language around safeguarding responsibilities for AP providers, including:
     • Written confirmation of safer recruitment checks.
     • Half-termly reviews of placements.
     • Clear records of pupil locations.
       
       
5. Attendance as a Safeguarding Issue
   • Wording changed from “should work with” to “must work with” children’s services where absence indicates safeguarding concerns (para 177).
     
     
6. SEND Terminology Update
   • “Autism spectrum disorder” was replaced with “Autism” to align with the SEND Code of Practice (para 205).
     
     
7. New Reference Tool for Teacher Checks
   • References to the Teaching Regulation Agency’s Employer Access Service have been replaced with the Department for Education’s “Check a teacher’s record” service. This is now the recommended tool for verifying teacher prohibitions, sanctions, and restrictions
     
     
8. Updated Reference to Employment Practices Code
   • The Information Commissioner’s Employment Practices Code is now properly named and linked in the guidance, providing clearer direction on data protection during recruitment
     
     
9. Ongoing Safeguarding Responsibilities
   • Part 3 continues to emphasise that safeguarding is not just about recruitment but also about ongoing monitoring and legal reporting duties for employers. This includes ensuring that staff remain suitable throughout their employment.
   
   10. Resources and References
   • New resources added:
     • Shore Space by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.
     • The Children’s Society’s CSE prevention page.
     • Updated links for Operation Encompass and Preventing Radicalisation.

These changes are mostly clarifications and additions, rather than major policy shifts. Schools should ensure their safeguarding policies reflect the final September version, especially around RSHE, online safety, AP oversight, and attendance protocols.

Resources:

Visit the UK Government website for more information on KCSIE >>

If you require any support with allegation management, safeguarding investigations or safer recruitment training for your school then please contact us at info@hrconnect.org.uk