Publication date 2020

Our briefing summarises changes to the Keeping children safe in education government guidance updated in 2019 and 2020 by the Department for Education (DfE).

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:

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’.