Keeping children safe in education 2025 Statutory guidance for schools and colleges July 2025 (for information) version, pending publication of final version which comes into force in September 2025. 2 Contents Summary 4 The status of this guidance 4 About this guidance 4 Part one: Safeguarding information for all staff 7 What school and college staff should know and do 7 What school and college staff need to know 8 What school and college staff should do if they have concerns about a child 17 Part two: The management of safeguarding 25 Legislation and the law 25 Part three: Safer recruitment 57 Recruitment and selection process 57 ii. Pre-appointment vetting checks, regulated activity and recording information 62 Prohibitions, directions, sanctions and restrictions 73 iii. Other checks that may be necessary for staff, volunteers and others, including the responsibilities on schools and colleges for children in other settings 79 iv. How to ensure the ongoing safeguarding of children and the legal reporting duties on employers 90 Part four: Safeguarding concerns or allegations made about staff, including supply teachers, volunteers and contractors 93 Section one: Concerns or allegations that may meet the harm threshold 93 Section two: Concerns or allegations that do not meet the harm threshold 107 Part five: Child-on-child sexual violence and sexual harassment 112 What schools and colleges should be aware of 112 Responding to reports of sexual violence and sexual harassment 117 Ongoing response 133 Annex A: Safeguarding information for school and college staff 144 The role of school and college staff 144 What school and college staff need to know 144 Annex B: Further information 149 Table of contents 149 3 Annex C: Role of the designated safeguarding lead 171 Deputy desi