Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) is the statutory guidance that all schools and colleges in England must follow. The 2026 edition introduces several significant updates that school leaders, designated safeguarding leads (DSLs), and all staff need to understand and implement before the start of the new academic year.
What Is KCSIE?
KCSIE is published by the Department for Education and sets out the legal duties schools must follow to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. It applies to all schools and colleges in England and is updated annually to reflect new legislation, emerging risks, and best practice. All staff — including supply teachers, teaching assistants, and volunteers — are required to read at least Part One of the guidance.
Key Changes in the 2026 Edition
- Strengthened online safety requirements — Schools must now demonstrate a whole-school approach to online safety, with explicit expectations for filtering and monitoring systems. DSLs are expected to take a lead role in overseeing online safety incidents.
- Enhanced guidance on agency and supply staff — The 2026 edition places greater emphasis on the responsibilities of schools when using supply staff from agencies. Schools must ensure that agencies provide evidence of all safer recruitment checks, including enhanced DBS, right-to-work, and prohibition checks.
- Updated approach to low-level concerns — The guidance expands on the importance of recording and acting on low-level concerns about staff behaviour. Schools must maintain clear records and ensure all staff understand how to raise concerns through appropriate channels.
- Focus on children with SEND — New sections highlight the additional vulnerability of children with special educational needs and disabilities, requiring schools to ensure safeguarding procedures are accessible and adapted to their needs.
- Revised filtering and monitoring standards — Schools are expected to meet new minimum standards for internet filtering and activity monitoring, with regular reviews and documented risk assessments.
What This Means for Schools Using Supply Agencies
The strengthened requirements around agency and supply staff mean schools should only work with agencies that can demonstrate robust safer recruitment processes. At GAC Education, we maintain full compliance with KCSIE requirements — every candidate we place has undergone enhanced DBS checks, reference verification, qualification checks, and safeguarding training. We provide all documentation to schools upfront so you can be confident in your compliance.
How to Prepare
- Ensure all staff read the updated Part One before September 2026.
- Review and update your school's safeguarding policy to reflect KCSIE 2026 changes.
- Audit your filtering and monitoring systems against the new minimum standards.
- Check that your supply agency partners meet the enhanced requirements.
- Update your low-level concerns recording process and train staff on the revised procedures.
Stay Compliant with GAC Education
Navigating annual KCSIE updates can be challenging, but you don't have to do it alone. Our team stays up to date with every change to safeguarding guidance and ensures every candidate we supply meets the latest requirements. Contact us to discuss how we can support your safeguarding compliance this year.