The Department for Education (DfE) has released the latest updates to the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, set to take effect from September 2024. This statutory guidance is crucial for schools and colleges in England, outlining the necessary measures to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under the age of 18. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the key changes and updates introduced in KCSIE 2024:

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Key Changes in KCSIE 2024

1. Expanded Definition of Safeguarding: The definition of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children now includes providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge. It also clarifies the importance of protecting children from maltreatment within or outside the home, including online contexts​​.

2. Early Help Contexts: The contexts in which children may require early help have been expanded. This includes factors like frequent absences from education and experiences of multiple suspensions, highlighting the importance of early intervention to support at-risk children​.

3. Abuse and Neglect Focus: The guidance now includes a specific focus on exploitation where abuse and neglect are mentioned. This addition underscores the need for vigilance and proactive measures to protect children from various forms of exploitation​.

4. Domestic Abuse Impact: There is an added emphasis on the impact of domestic abuse on children. The guidance now clearly states the necessity to support children who see, hear, or experience the effects of domestic abuse​.

5. Safeguarding Responsibilities for Alternative Provision: Schools placing pupils with alternative provision providers remain responsible for the safeguarding of those pupils. This change ensures that schools maintain oversight and ensure that these placements meet the students’ needs​.

6. Data Protection Guidance: A new paragraph links to the DfE Data Protection guidance, helping school staff, governors, and trustees understand how to comply with data protection laws and prevent personal data breaches​​.

7. Support for SEND Children: The list of resources to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) has been expanded, providing schools with additional tools and guidance from specialist organisations like the NSPCC​​.

8. Support for Gender Questioning Children: New paragraphs detail how to support children who are questioning their gender, advising schools to take a cautious approach and consider the broad range of their individual needs​​.

9. Child-on-Child Sexual Violence and Harassment: The definition of early help has been updated to better reflect the guidance from Working Together to Safeguard Children, emphasising support at any point in a child’s life to improve family resilience and outcomes​.

 

Importance of Compliance

Adhering to the updated KCSIE 2024 guidance is critical for all educational institutions to ensure they are providing a safe and supportive environment for all students. By understanding and implementing these changes, schools and colleges can better protect the welfare of children and young people.

For further details and to stay updated on all the latest safeguarding requirements, you can refer to the full KCSIE 2024 document on the Department for Education’s website​.

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Conclusion

The updates to KCSIE 2024 emphasise early intervention, the expanded scope of safeguarding, and the importance of supporting vulnerable children, including those affected by domestic abuse or questioning their gender. Schools and educational institutions must ensure they are fully compliant with these changes to maintain a safe and nurturing environment for all students.