Need-to-know: Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) updated for 2026/27

KCSIE 2026/27 has been published. Changes include the requirement for all staff to read part 1 of KCSIE in full, as well as enhanced guidance on pupils who are questioning their gender, and new sections covering single-sex sports exceptions based on biological sex, and mobile phones in schools.

Last reviewed on 8 July 2026

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The Department for Education (DfE) has published Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) for the 2026/27 academic year. The guidance comes into force on 1 September 2026.

All staff must now read part 1 of KCSIE in full

All staff in your school must now read part 1 of KCSIE in full (previously, your school could decide whether to let staff who don't work directly with children read a condensed version – see page 7, under ‘School and college staff’.

Annex A (the condensed version of part 1 in KCSIE 2025) has been removed.

Other key changes

Enhanced guidance on supporting pupils who are questioning their gender – your school is expected to take a ‘very careful’ approach when responding to requests related to social transition (paragraphs 252 to 282) New safeguarding requirements for school premises and sports – your school must

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All staff must now read part 1 of KCSIE in full

Other key changes

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