What is Keeping Children Safe in Education?

A Guide for Parents

At Brayford Academy, your child’s safety is our top priority. We follow a government document called Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), which sets out the legal duties schools have to keep children safe and promote their wellbeing.

This page explains what KCSIE is and what it means for you and your child.

What is KCSIE?

KCSIE is statutory guidance from the Department for Education. That means all schools and colleges in England must follow it by law.

It outlines how schools should:

• Protect children from abuse and neglect
• Identify concerns early and act quickly
• Promote safe, supportive environments for learning
• Work with families and other professionals to keep children safe

Key Areas Covered in KCSIE

Here are the main things that KCSIE covers, in simple terms:

1. Everyone is Responsible

All staff in school — teachers, teaching assistants, lunchtime staff, office staff, and governors — have a role in keeping children safe. They are trained to notice signs of abuse, neglect, or harm and know what to do if they are concerned.

2. Designated Safeguarding Leads

Every school must have a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), a trained senior member of staff who takes the lead on safeguarding and child protection. At our school, that is Mrs Leggott and Mr Thomas.

3. Safer Recruitment

Schools must check that all staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children, including background checks and references.

4. Raising and Responding to Concerns

If a child is at risk or discloses something worrying, staff must report it straight away. The school works closely with social care and other professionals to protect children when needed.

5. Online Safety

Schools must teach children how to stay safe online and protect them from harmful content. This includes education about cyberbullying, inappropriate websites, and online grooming.

6. Safeguarding in the Curriculum

Children are taught about personal safety, relationships, consent, and how to get help — through PSHE lessons, assemblies, and discussions.

What Does This Mean for Parents?

We want you to feel confident that your child is safe at school. Here’s how you can help:

• Talk to your child regularly about how they feel at school and online.
• Let us know if anything changes at home that might affect your child emotionally or mentally.
• Read our Safeguarding and E-Safety Policies to understand how we manage safety and digital risks.
• Contact us if you ever have concerns — no matter how small.

If You’re Worried About a Child

If you are ever concerned about the safety of your own or another child, you can:

• Speak to a member of our Safeguarding Team
• Call the school office
• Email the school
• Contact Devon MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub): 0345 155 1071

Where to Find Out More

You can read the full government guidance here:
[Link to KCSIE document – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2]

Or view our school’s own Safeguarding Policy