Published: Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 (For information version, July 2025)

On 8/7/2025 the Department for Education published the latest version of Keeping Children Safe in Education for 2025. You can download it here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education–2

No new substance

As expected, the changes are technical. The key point is that by the time the new Keeping Children Safe in Education comes into force on the 1st of September 2025, the DfE are anticipating that there will be new guidance to link to regarding relationships, sex and health education and revised guidance on gender questioning children. However, this ‘for information’ version seems to suggest this might not be ready in time. The words they use are: ‘if published’. 

Online Risks and Harms

This version has updated wording and updated links for existing topics. From an online perspective, three areas are updated: firstly, adding to the list of safeguarding harms is misinformation; disinformation; conspiracy theories; a link to the Generative AI guidance that came out a few weeks ago; and a reference to the cyber security standards for schools.

The Plan Technology Service

This service helps schools in England identify how to meet the digital and technology standards, using self-assessments to generate recommendations. (You can find it here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/plan-technology-for-your-school 

Alternative Providers

Finally, KCSIE 2025 reminds schools that they should always know where a child is based during school hours. This includes having records of the address of any alternative providers and any subcontracted provision or satellite sites the child may attend. Schools placing children with alternative providers should obtain written information from the provider that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out on individuals working at their own establishment.

Harmful Sexual Behaviour

Although the Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s HSB toolkit has been referenced for several years, KCSIE now links to the Shore Space online resource which offers a confidential chat service that supports  young people who are concerned about their own or someone else’s sexual thoughts and behaviours. 

What schools should do now?  

In essence, you need to make sure that your use of alternative provision meets the required standards (See paragraphs 169 and 170); and that you have begun to consider the safeguarding issues around generative AI.

You can watch a watch a video explaining the changes here – this is shared courtesy of Andrew Hall/Safeguarding in Schools