KCSIE 2026
Key Changes & Updates

The resources and information you need to understand what's changed in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance.

All in one place.

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KCSIE 2026 brings substantial
changes to safeguarding

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 The guidance now names several new risks education settings need to recognise, emphasises the need for staff to identify mental health concerns early, and expands on the requirements for the
DSL role. 

It also updates the expectations around filtering and monitoring, including annual reviews, checks across all internet-connected devices, and a more proactive approach to harmful and AI-generated content. 

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Understand the full KCSIE 2026 changes

Download our full KCSIE 2026 changes guide here

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Try our new interactive KCSIE guide here

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Download our full KCSIE 2026 changes guide here

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Try our new interactive KCSIE guide here.

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KCSIE 2026 Webinar Series

KCSIE 2026: The digital safeguarding changes DSLs and leaders need to act on.

In this session our very own Kat Howard, runs through the key digital safeguarding changes you need to understand within KCSIE 2026 and some of the practical steps to help achieve compliance from September and through the year ahead.

KCSIE 2026: How to remove blind spots for early risk detection

An in depth look at  what KCSIE 2026 has to say about early risk detection within safeguarding, the blind spots schools and colleges may be unaware of, and the technology that can help them spot students at risk sooner.

How to review your filtering and monitoring provision for KCSIE 2026

KCSIE 2026 emphasises the importance of reviewing the filtering and monitoring systems you have in place to ensure they remain effective in keeping young people safe online.


Below we've provided useful templates to help your education setting complete these checks.   

Reviewing your filtering provision

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Reviewing your monitoring provision

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KCSIE 2026 Changes
A digital safeguarding roundtable discussion

Smoothwall experts Ben McGrath, Gabi Walshaw, Kat Howard and Tom Newton share their insights on KCSIE 2026 and the digital safeguarding implications for schools, colleges and MATs.

Covering everything from AI and misogyny to mental health and filtering & monitoring, this informative discussion outlines key actions educators and technicians can take to ensure compliance. 

Also available to listen to on Spotify

KCSIE 2026 Shorts

AI DEEPFAKES

Kat Howard explains what the KCSIE guidance says about deepfakes, when a safeguarding response is required, and key changes to make to your policies and staff training. 

MISOGYNY

What do the new references to misogyny mean for your curriculum and policies? How can you adapt your safeguarding culture accordingly? Kat Howard shares the answers.

MENTAL HEALTH

KCSIE frames mental health concerns as potential safeguarding risks. Learn the warning signs to look for, where they appear first, and how settings can detect them early. 

FILTERING AND MONITORING

Filtering & monitoring systems must now be reviewed at least once every academic year. Kat explains what your review should include, who leads it, and why this is essential in the age of AI.

Get further advice & guidance on KCSIE 2026

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 comes into effect this September

Get ready with support from a team that knows education

Smoothwall has worked alongside schools, colleges and MATs for 25 years, helping them put the right systems and processes in place to respond confidently to Department for Education guidance. Whether you’re after advice, digital safety solutions, training workshops or just a conversation, our team is ready to support you. 

Talk to us at enquiries@smoothwall.com and we'll help you prepare for KCSIE 2026.

KCSIE 2026 is clear: Early risk detection is now a critical component of your safeguarding strategy. 


Without an effective digital monitoring tool to help you and your teams spot students at risk online, you're probably missing more than you think.

To learn more about how digital monitoring technology works, simply book a call using the form. 

In just 30 minutes a Smoothwall expert can show you:

  • What to look for in a monitoring system
  • How other schools and colleges are using digital monitoring
  • The impact digital monitoring has on safeguarding & compliance