The Department for Education’s updated statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 (KCSIE 2026), came into force on 1 September 2026.

The changes reinforce the shared safeguarding responsibilities of schools, colleges, recruitment agencies and other organisations involved in placing people in education settings. They also clarify requirements relating to regulated activity, DBS checks and the management of safeguarding allegations.

Schools, colleges and education recruitment businesses should review their policies and working arrangements to ensure they reflect the updated guidance.

What has changed?

Regulated activity and volunteers

The section covering regulated activity with children has been rewritten for clarity and now refers expressly to both work and volunteering.

The regulated activity table has also been updated following the removal of the “supervision exemption”. This means organisations should review whether roles previously treated as supervised activity now fall within the definition of regulated activity and require the appropriate checks.

KCSIE 2026 also clarifies the circumstances in which a separate children’s barred list check may be completed for newly appointed staff or volunteers while an enhanced DBS certificate containing barred list information is awaited.

Further information is available in the government’s guidance on regulated activity with children.

DBS Update Service applications

Individuals can join the DBS Update Service when applying for a new DBS check or within 30 calendar days of the certificate’s issue date.

This service allows eligible employers to carry out status checks and establish whether new information has been added since the certificate was issued.

Checks for self-employed workers

The guidance now explains that a school or college should either obtain the required DBS check for a self-employed person or, where that person has obtained their own check, inspect the certificate and confirm that it is at the appropriate level for the role.

DBS referral duties

The section concerning referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service has been expanded to make clear that the referral duty applies equally to paid staff and volunteers engaged in regulated activity.

Where the relevant criteria are met, referrals should be made as soon as possible after an individual is removed from regulated activity. This can include suspension, redeployment, dismissal, resignation or, in the case of a volunteer, ceasing to volunteer.

Clearer responsibilities when allegations involve agency workers

One of the most significant changes for education recruitment businesses appears in Part Four of the guidance.

KCSIE 2026 now states more explicitly that schools and colleges share safeguarding responsibilities with an employment agency or business when concerns or allegations relate to a supply teacher, trainee teacher or contracted worker.

The school or college remains responsible for gathering the facts and managing the safeguarding process. The recruitment business should work closely with the setting and will usually lead any disciplinary process involving its worker.

Schools and colleges should not simply end a supply teacher’s assignment because a safeguarding concern has been raised. They must establish the facts, consult the Local Authority Designated Officer where appropriate and work with the supplying agency to determine a suitable course of action.

Recruitment businesses are expected to:

• cooperate fully with enquiries from the LADO, police and local authority children’s social care;
• share relevant information, including any previous concerns or allegations;
• participate in relevant meetings;
• keep the school or college informed about their own policies and processes;
• consider whether suspension or another temporary arrangement is appropriate; and
• meet any applicable DBS or Teaching Regulation Agency referral duties.

The guidance also confirms that teacher-training providers should follow the same procedures as supply agencies when an allegation concerns a trainee teacher.

What should organisations do now?

Schools, colleges and education recruitment businesses should:

1. Review safeguarding, safer-recruitment and allegations-management policies.
2. Reassess roles potentially affected by the removal of the supervision exemption.
3. Confirm that DBS and barred-list checking procedures reflect the new guidance.
4. Agree clear information-sharing and escalation arrangements between settings and recruitment partners.
5. Ensure relevant staff understand who will lead the safeguarding and disciplinary elements of an investigation.
6. Update processes for DBS and Teaching Regulation Agency referrals where necessary.
7. Brief supply staff, contractors and trainee teachers on the procedures that apply if a concern is raised.

Clear communication between schools and their recruitment partners will be essential. Responsibilities should be understood before a placement begins—not after a safeguarding concern arises.

Read the guidance

You can read the APSCo update on the changes to KCSIE 2026 and the full Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 statutory guidance on GOV.UK.

Long Term Futures remains committed to safer recruitment and to working collaboratively with schools, education professionals and safeguarding partners. If you have questions about our recruitment and compliance processes, please contact our team.

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Organisations should consult the statutory guidance and obtain professional advice where required.