Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) 2020: CASPAR briefing

Our briefing summarises changes to the Keeping children safe in education government guidance updated in 2019 and 2020 by the Department for Education (DfE). It also includes updates made in January 2021 to reflect legal changes following the UK's exit from the European Union.

2021 updates

In January 2021, the guidance was updated following the UK’s exit from the European Union to:

• remove references to checking Teacher Services for European Economic Area sanctions
• update advice on checking the past conduct of individuals who have lived or worked overseas.

2020 updates

As of September 2020, schools in England must follow the 2020 edition of Keeping children safe in education. The guidance includes changes in the following areas:

• legislation, including the mandatory Relationship Education, Relationship and Sex Education and Health Education guidance applicable from September 2020
• the addition of information that will support schools and colleges to protect their children in areas including: mental health, domestic abuse, child criminal and sexual exploitation and county lines
• clarifications to help the sector better understand and follow the guidance
• new guidance on managing allegations against supply teachers.

2019 updates

The 2019 edition included additional updates in the following areas (these are now incorporated in the 2020 guidance):

• changes to local safeguarding children’s boards (LSCBs) arrangements
• changes to Ofsted framework
• the new RSE curriculum
• schools' responsibilities in recognising and responding to concerns around pupils at risk of engaging in serious crime
• information regarding ‘upskirting’.