Committee publication · Correspondence · 25 February 2026
Correspondence from the Minister for Women and Equalities re, Keeping children safe in education guidance, dated 12.02.2026
Summary
The Minister for Women and Equalities announces a 10-week public consultation on updates to the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026 statutory guidance, closing 22 April 2026. Proposed changes include advice on grooming gangs, domestic violence protocols, misogyny, information-sharing between safeguarding agencies, and new sections on gender-questioning children addressing toilets, changing rooms, sports and residential accommodation, informed by the Cass Review.
Key findings
- KCSIE 2026 consultation will include enhanced guidance on grooming gangs, serious violence, Operation Encompass (police notification of domestic incidents), and child sexual abuse/criminal exploitation
- New substantive sections proposed for gender-questioning children covering toilets, changing rooms, showers, boarding accommodation and single-sex sports, informed by the Cass Review
- Guidance emphasises schools must make decisions in children's best interests, take cautious approaches especially with primary-aged children, involve parents, and safeguard all children
- Proposed changes include advice on misogyny, mobile phone use, and improved information-sharing protocols between safeguarding agencies during school transfers
- Consolidating gender-questioning guidance into KCSIE aims to integrate children's wellbeing and safeguarding considerations in one accessible resource
Tone
ProceduralTopics
safeguardingeducation-policychild-protectiongender-identitydomestic-violence
Key actors
Bridget Phillipson MP, Sarah Owen MP, Women and Equalities Committee, Schools and colleges in England, Police forces
Notable line
“The guidance is clear that supporting social transition should not include allowing children into facilities designated for the opposite sex.”
Key Quotes
“All schools and colleges in England must have regard to this guidance when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.”
“The purpose of this consultation is to gather views on the proposed changes. The consultation will run for 10 weeks, closing on 22 April”
“The advice reflects the importance for schools and colleges of making careful decisions about what is in the best interests of children, including children who are questioning their gender.”
“It draws on the Cass Review of gender identity services for children and young people to set out the key principles which we expect schools and colleges to follow, including taking a strong stand against bullying, safeguarding all children, involving parents in decision-making and taking a cautious approach, particularly in relation to primary-aged children.”
“The guidance is clear that supporting social transition should not include allowing children into facilities designated for the opposite sex.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗