On this page7 sections
KCSIE 2026 at a glance
The essentials from the guidance. The Department for Education lists every change in Annex C of KCSIE 2026.
In force
From 1 September 2026, replacing KCSIE 2025
What all staff must read
Part one in full, including staff who don't work directly with children. The shorter Annex A version has gone.
Training for all staff
Safeguarding and child protection training, including online safety, at induction and regularly updated, plus updates at least once a year
What the DSL needs
Training for the role updated at least every two years, Prevent awareness training, and knowledge refreshed at least once a year
Main changes
Part one for all staff, volunteers and regulated activity, DSL cover, yearly filtering and monitoring reviews, and new sections such as mobile phones and generative AI
What changed in KCSIE 2026
The main changes from KCSIE 2025, taken from the Department for Education's summary of changes. Read Annex C for the full list, including the updated definitions and the rewritten mental health and serious violence sections.
Part one
All staff now read Part one in full. The condensed Annex A version has been removed.
Volunteers
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 removed the supervision exemption. Anyone volunteering in a role that involves teaching, training, instructing or supervising children on more than 3 days in a month, or overnight, is now in regulated activity.
DSL cover
New expectations for robust cover when the DSL is unavailable, for example a confidential shared mailbox.
Filtering and monitoring
A review of how well it works at least once every academic year, carried out by the senior leader responsible with the DSL and IT support, with a record kept of the checks.
Nudes and semi-nudes
Part five was substantially rewritten. All incidents involving sharing nude or semi-nude images need a safeguarding response, whether consensual or not.
New sections
Mobile phone policy, sport, school premises, boarding and residential accommodation, young carers, children with medical conditions, and guidance on using generative AI safely.
Trainee teachers
Referred to throughout, with new expectations for handling concerns about them.
What KCSIE 2026 expects for all staff
All staff should receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training, including online safety, at induction. KCSIE says this training should be regularly updated.
In addition, all staff should receive safeguarding and child protection updates, including online safety, as required and at least annually. Updates can come through emails, e-bulletins and staff meetings.
- Safeguarding and child protection training at induction
- Online safety, including filtering and monitoring expectations
- Training that is regularly updated
- Safeguarding updates at least once a year
Reading Part one
KCSIE 2026 removed the shorter version of Part one that used to sit in Annex A. All staff, including those who do not work directly with children, are now expected to read Part one in full, and a copy of Part one should be given to staff at induction.
The Department for Education also publishes a short overview of Part one for all staff. It is a quick reference and does not replace reading Part one.
Designated safeguarding lead training
The designated safeguarding lead and any deputies should have training for the role, updated at least every two years. KCSIE also says they should undertake Prevent awareness training.
On top of that formal training, their knowledge and skills should be refreshed at regular intervals, as required and at least once a year, for example through e-bulletins, meeting other DSLs or reading safeguarding updates. KCSIE 2026 also expects robust cover arrangements for when the DSL is unavailable.
Keep a clear date for each lead's last training so the two-year point does not pass unnoticed.
What to record
Keep a record that shows each person's training, when it happened and when it is next due, so leaders and governors can see where the school stands. The education staff training tracker shows that record across a school or trust.
- Induction safeguarding training and its date
- Each annual safeguarding update
- Confirmation that the person has read Part one
- DSL and deputy training dates and the next due date
- Prevent awareness training for safeguarding leads
How SkillProof helps
SkillProof lets schools set safeguarding training by role, so it applies automatically to staff in those roles. It records induction training and annual updates, shows what is due, expiring or overdue, and reminds staff and leaders before the next update is due. DSL training can run on its own two-year cycle.
On Growth and above, staff confirm the policies and documents you give them, such as KCSIE Part one, against the version you issued. A confirmation records that the person confirmed. It is not proof that the document was read and understood.
SkillProof is a record and reminder system, not a safeguarding training provider, and it does not decide what training your school needs.
Official guidance used for this guide
Checked
The KCSIE 2026 statutory guidance used for this article, including its Annex C summary of changes. Always read the current edition.
Questions this guide answers
What changed in KCSIE 2026?
All staff now read Part one in full, volunteers who teach, train, instruct or supervise children on more than 3 days a month or overnight are in regulated activity, and there are new expectations for DSL cover and yearly filtering and monitoring reviews. Annex C of KCSIE 2026 lists every change.
When did KCSIE 2026 come into force?
On 1 September 2026, replacing KCSIE 2025.
How often do school staff need safeguarding training?
KCSIE 2026 says staff should be trained at induction, the training should be regularly updated, and all staff should receive safeguarding updates at least annually.
How often does a DSL need training?
The designated safeguarding lead and any deputies should have their training updated at least every two years, and should also undertake Prevent awareness training.
Do all staff need to read KCSIE Part one?
Yes. KCSIE 2026 removed the shorter Annex A version, so all staff, including those who do not work directly with children, should read Part one in full.
Does SkillProof provide KCSIE training?
No. SkillProof records the training your school chooses, reminders and read confirmations. It is not a safeguarding training provider.