The latest update to the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance has been published by the Department for Education, outlining a raft of new changes and requirements for schools as part of their safeguarding duties.

While not as substantial as last year’s update, there are some new recommendations and expectations on schools worth being aware of before the guidance comes into force in September.

Safeguarding: Updates to KCSIE guidance

1. Tell job applicants about online searches

Last year a notable update to KCSIE was the recommendation that schools carry out online searches of job candidates to “identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and are publicly available online, which the school or college might want to explore with the applicant at interview”.

For the update this year, the guidance now states explicitly in paragraph 221 on page 55 that “schools and colleges should inform shortlisted candidates that online searches may be done as part of due diligence checks”.

Luke Ramsden, senior safeguarding lead of an independent school, says this should help to give clarity to schools that they can and should be searching candidates and be transparent about that to avoid any issues of candidates feeling they were being snooped on

“This pretty much confirms to all schools that they must do online searches on shortlisted candidates,” he says.

“I know that quite a few schools’ HRs have got a bit lost on that one because they are a bit frightened of how to do it, but now they can and should just grasp the nettle on that.”

2. Filtering and monitoring

Three notable changes come in the form of new instructions and recommendations regarding online filtering and monitoring software used by schools to keep tabs on what sites pupils are visiting or trying to visit.

• Paragraph 103 on page 28 contains new text making it clear that the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) has responsibility for “understanding the filtering and monitoring systems and processes in place” as part of their remit.
   
• Paragraph 124 on page 32 expressly notes that “an understanding of the expectations, applicable roles and responsibilities in relation to filtering and monitoring” should be included in safeguarding and child protection training at induction for all staff.
   
• Paragraph 138 on page 36 says a school’s child protection policy should include how appropriate filtering and monitoring technology on school devices and school networks form part of its work in this area.
   

These changes are in response, in part, to work done by Judy and Andy Thomas to raise awareness of the importance of this technology in schools after their daughter, Frankie, died by suicide having accessed inappropriate material because the school’s filtering and monitoring software had stopped working and no one realised this was taking place.

Ramsden says that while “it is good that schools bear this in mind” as something they need to be doing, most schools will have systems in place - but DSLs should “go through their safeguarding policies yet again this summer” in response to these new additions.

3. Clarification on allegations against agencies and individuals

Another new element of the guidance is found in paragraph 377 on page 91, which details how schools should handle any allegations made against an outside organisations or individual using school premises.

The guidance says this could relate to the school premises being used by community groups, sports associations or any service providers that run extracurricular activities.

The advice simply states: “As with any safeguarding allegation, schools and colleges should follow their safeguarding policies and procedures, including informing the LADO [local authority designated officer].”

4. Confirmation on DBS documents

One small change apparently introduced to avoid confusion among schools is found in paragraph 276, which states: “Schools and colleges do not have to keep copies of DBS certificates in order to fulfil the duty of maintaining the single central record.”

This is not new wording but the bolding of those three words is new and suggests that schools were unclear before whether this was required or not.

5. New standards references

Finally, some sections have been updated with links to new guidance that the DfE has published since the last KCSIE update to help schools in certain areas.

For example, paragraph 144 on page 38, which focuses on cyber security standards, suggests schools should work to meet the cyber security standards for schools and colleges

Then on page 167 there is a new link to guidance on keeping children safe in out-of-school settings that can help schools ensure that providers using their facilities adhere to necessary safeguarding requirements.

The full KCSIE document can be accessed here, with all changes and amendments listed in Annex F on page 177.