Safeguarding Updates Every School Should Know BEFORE September 2025
Published on 14th August, 2025
As the new academic year approaches, schools and education providers must prepare for a series of important updates in safeguarding policy and guidance. These changes reflect a growing emphasis on multi-agency collaboration, accountability, and proactive intervention to protect children and young people. Below is a comprehensive overview of the latest developments, including draft guidance, new resources, and proposed legislation that could reshape safeguarding practices across the sector.
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025: Draft Guidance Released
The Department for Education (DfE) has published the draft version of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025. The final version will come into force on 1 September 2025, and schools are encouraged to begin reviewing the proposed changes now to ensure readiness.
Key updates in the draft include:
Attendance and Alternative Provision: Schools are expected to maintain robust communication with alternative provision (AP) providers, particularly regarding attendance and safeguarding concerns. This reinforces the shared responsibility for pupil welfare across educational settings.
Virtual School Heads and Kinship Care: A new non-statutory responsibility encourages Virtual School Heads to support the educational achievement of children living in kinship care arrangements. This reflects a broader commitment to inclusive support for vulnerable children.
Statutory Attendance Guidance: The updated guidance places greater emphasis on regular attendance as a safeguarding issue. Schools must treat persistent absence as a potential indicator of wider concerns and act accordingly.
Safeguarding Policies: Schools are reminded to ensure their safeguarding policies are up to date, clearly communicated, and easily accessible to all staff. This includes regular reviews and staff training to reflect current best practices.
Working Together to Safeguard Children: May 2025 Update
Although no statutory changes were introduced in the May 2025 update to Working Together to Safeguard Children, the DfE has released several new resources aimed at improving understanding and engagement:
Illustrated Guide and Animated Video: These tools are designed to help children and young people understand what safeguarding means and how they can seek help if they feel unsafe. They are particularly useful for PSHE lessons and pastoral support sessions.
Practitioner Toolkit: This practical resource supports professionals in initiating safeguarding conversations with families. It includes templates, guidance notes, and strategies for building trust and encouraging openness.
These materials are part of a wider effort to make safeguarding more accessible and child-centred, ensuring that young people feel empowered to speak up.
NSPCC’s Six-Point Plan to Protect Children
In March 2025, the NSPCC published a six-point plan aimed at strengthening the child protection system. The plan calls for:
Improved Multi-Agency Collaboration: The NSPCC advocates for better information sharing between education, health, and social care professionals to ensure timely and coordinated responses to safeguarding concerns.
Enhanced Resources and Support: The plan highlights the need for increased funding and staffing to enable professionals to carry out their safeguarding duties effectively.
Preventative Family Support: Emphasis is placed on promoting positive parenting and early intervention to reduce the risk of abuse and neglect.
This plan has been widely welcomed by practitioners and is expected to influence future policy development.
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Proposed Legislative Changes
Following the tragic death of Sara Sharif, the government introduced the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill in December 2024. Although the bill is still under review and has not yet become law, it proposes several significant changes that could impact home education and local authority powers:
Restrictions on Home Education: Parents who are under investigation for child protection concerns may no longer have an automatic right to home-educate their children. This aims to prevent children from being removed from formal education settings where safeguarding oversight is stronger.
Local Authority Oversight: Councils may be granted the power to mandate school attendance if a child’s home environment is deemed unsafe or unsuitable for education.
National Register for Home-Educated Children: The bill proposes the creation of a national register, including unique identifiers for each child, to improve monitoring and accountability.
Strengthened Safeguarding Measures: The legislation seeks to improve communication between schools and social services and establish clearer thresholds for intervention when concerns arise.
These proposals reflect a growing recognition of the need for consistent oversight and stronger safeguards for children educated outside mainstream settings.
Preparing for Change
With these developments on the horizon, it is essential for schools, trusts, and education professionals to review their safeguarding policies, update training materials, and ensure staff are aware of their responsibilities. Proactive preparation will not only support compliance but also help create safer, more responsive environments for children and young people.
If your organisation needs support in interpreting these changes or implementing new procedures, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Staying informed and prepared is the foundation of effective safeguarding.
