Do I have to read all of KCSIE 2025?

Part One is mandatory for all staff who work directly with children. Annex A is the shortened version for staff who do not. Your school will tell you which applies and will ask you to sign to confirm you have read it.

What if I am not sure whether something is a safeguarding concern?

Report it anyway. Your DSL's job is to weigh the information; your job is to pass it on. It is always better to share a low-level concern that turns out to be nothing than to hold back one that matters.

Can I look at a pupil's phone if I think there is something on it?

No — not without following your school's searching, screening and confiscation policy and the DSL's direction. Viewing or copying images of children is itself an offence in many circumstances. Speak to the DSL first.

For staff

KCSIE 2025: Plain-English Summary for School Staff

A calm, plain-English briefing on what every member of staff needs to know about Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 — online safety, child-on-child abuse, reporting, and recording.

Overview

Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) is statutory guidance from the Department for Education. All staff are required to read Part One (or Annex A for staff who do not work directly with children). The 2025 edition retains the strong focus on online safety, child-on-child abuse, mental health, and the responsibilities of every adult on site. This summary is a working aid, not a substitute for reading the document itself.

Key points

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility — not only the DSL's.
If you have a concern about a child, act the same day. Do not wait to be certain.
Online abuse is real abuse. Behaviours include sharing nudes, group-chat bullying, AI-generated images, and contact from unknown adults.
Child-on-child abuse must never be dismissed as "banter" or "part of growing up."
Record concerns in writing using the school's system. Include facts, dates, times, and direct quotes where possible.
Speak to the DSL or deputy DSL — not to the alleged perpetrator, and not to the child's parents in the first instance unless the DSL agrees.

Practical steps

Step 1

Read KCSIE 2025 Part One in full and sign your school's acknowledgement.

Step 2

Know the names and contact details of your DSL and deputy DSLs.

Step 3

Know how to log a concern in your school's safeguarding system before you need it.

Step 4

Read your school's behaviour, anti-bullying, online safety, and low-level concerns policies.

Step 5

Notice and act on changes in a child's appearance, mood, language, or online behaviour.

Step 6

Pass on any concern the same working day — sooner if a child may be at risk of significant harm.

Checklist

Tick boxes are for on-screen working only — they do not save between visits. Use the checklist as a prompt and capture outcomes in your school's safeguarding system.

I have read KCSIE 2025 Part One (or Annex A) this academic year.
I know my DSL and at least one deputy DSL by name.
I can log a safeguarding concern in our system without asking for help.
I know what low-level concerns are and how to report one about a colleague.
I have completed this year's safeguarding and online safety training.
I know what to do if a child discloses something to me.

What not to do

Do not promise confidentiality to a child who is disclosing. Explain calmly that you may need to share to keep them safe.
Do not investigate, search devices, or contact other pupils involved before speaking to the DSL.
Do not delay because you are unsure — the DSL's role is to decide, yours is to report.

Frequently Asked Questions

External sources

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 — Department for Education
Safeguarding training and CPD — NSPCC Learning
Reporting online abuse and grooming — CEOP

Last reviewed: 2026-05-20Next review: 2026-08-20Reviewed against: KCSIE 2025

This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.