Keeping children safe in education
Statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children and safer recruitment.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
‘Keeping children safe in education 2022’ is for information only and does not come into force until 1 September 2022. Schools and colleges must continue to use ‘Keeping children safe in education 2021’ until then.
This guidance applies to all schools and colleges and is for:
- headteachers, teachers and staff
- governing bodies, proprietors and management committees
It sets out the legal duties you must follow to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 in schools and colleges.
All school and college staff should read part 1 of this guidance. Part 1 of the guidance is also available as a standalone document.
Statutory guidance sets out what schools must do to comply with the law.
Where the guidance states schools and colleges should do something, you should follow this unless you have a good reason on to.
‘Regulated activity in relation to children: scope’ describes work that a barred person must not do.
We have also published guidance on disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006.
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Updated 'Keeping children safe in education 2022 (from 1 September 2022)’ - updated links in paragraphs 141 and 210 and corrected paragraph cross-referencing.
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Added 'Keeping children safe in education 2022’. This document is for information only and does not come into force until 1 September 2022.
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The September 2021 version of the keeping children safe in education guidance is now in force and replaces previous versions.
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Revised the new low level concerns in part 4, section 2 to better align with paragraph 74 “What school and college staff should do if they have safeguarding concerns about another staff member".
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Added 'Keeping children safe in education 2021’. This document is for information only and does not come into force until 1 September 2021.
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Updated 'Keeping children safe in education - for schools and colleges' to reflect legal changes following EU exit, including guidance on checking the past conduct of individuals who have lived or worked overseas.
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The September 2020 version of the keeping children safe in education guidance is now in force and replaces previous versions. We have made changes in 3 circumstances: 1. where legislation has required it e.g. reflecting mandatory Relationship Education, Relationship and Sex Education and Health Education from September 2020. 2. where we have helpful additional information that will support schools and colleges protect their children e.g. mental health, domestic abuse, child criminal and sexual exploitation and county lines. 3. important clarifications which will help the sector better understand and/or follow our guidance. A table of changes is included at Annex H.
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Added 'Keeping children safe in education (from 1 September 2020)'. This document is for information only and does not come into force until 1 September 2020 - continue to refer to KCSIE 2019 until then.
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Added a link to the guidance 'Coronavirus (COVID-19): safeguarding in schools, colleges and other providers'.
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Updates to paragraphs 164 and 165 in attached document Keeping children safe in education.
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The September 2019 version of the keeping children safe in education guidance is now in force and replaces previous versions.
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Added draft guidance for 2019.
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Updated document 'Keeping children safe in education: for schools and colleges'. Paragraph 132 - new link to The Childcare (Disqualification) and Childcare (Early Years Provision Free of Charge) (Extended Entitlement) (Amendment) Regulations 2018. Paragraphs 158 and 159 updated to clarify the point at which a school must make a referral to DBS. Updated document 'Keeping children safe in education: for school and college staff (part 1)'. Flowchart titled 'Actions where there are a concern about a child' updated to make it more accessible.
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Updated 'Keeping children safe in education'. Updates include changes to information for all staff (part 1) and the management of safeguarding (part 2) and a new section covering child on child sexual violence and sexual harassment (part 5). Annex H provides a table of all changes.
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Added 2 new guidance documents due to take effect from 3 September 2018.
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Updated 'Keeping children safe in education'. Updates include changes to information for all staff (part 1) and the management of safeguarding (part 2). Annex H provides a table of all changes.
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Added 'Keeping children safe in education: for schools and colleges - guidance from 5 September 2016'.
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Added 'Regulated activity in relation to children: scope' document.
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Both documents updated to reflect the new prevent duty, to emphasise responsibilities concerning children missing from education, and to provide more content on female genital mutilation.
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In 'Regulated activity' section, corrected the link to the factual note on regulated activity in relation to children.
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First published.