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.
Published 26 March 2015 Last updated 1 September 2022 +show all updates
The 2022 version of 'Keeping children safe in education' is now in force and replaces previous versions. Since the 2022 for information version published in May we have updated a few things, annex F shows all the substantive changes that apply from September 2022. We have also replaced 'Keeping children safe in education: for school and college staff (part 1)' with an updated 2022 version.
Updated 'Keeping children safe in education 2022 (from 1 September 2022) - updated links in paragraphs 141 and 210 and corrected paragraph cross-referencing.
Added 'Keeping children safe in education 2022. This document is for information only and does not come into force until 1 September 2022.
The September 2021 version of the keeping children safe in education guidance is now in force and replaces previous versions.
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".
Added 'Keeping children safe in education 2021. This document is for information only and does not come into force until 1 September 2021.
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.
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.
