what is the most current uk statutory guidance for safeguarding called

The most current UK statutory guidance for safeguarding is "Keeping Children Safe in Education" (2025 edition).

This guidance, issued by the Department for Education (DfE), outlines legal duties for schools and colleges to protect children under 18. It's updated periodically to reflect new legislation and best practices, with the latest version effective from September 1, 2025.

Key Details

• Full Title : Keeping children safe in education – Statutory guidance for schools and colleges.
• Publisher : Department for Education (DfE), under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002.
• Effective Date : Applies from September 1, 2025, replacing prior versions like the 2023 update.

• Scope : Covers safeguarding roles, procedures for reporting abuse, staff training, safer recruitment, and managing allegations. Schools must comply or face Ofsted scrutiny.

Why It's Statutory

Unlike non-binding advice, this is legally required for maintained schools, academies, and colleges in England. Policies like E-ACT's 2025-26 explicitly reference it as the foundation.

"This is statutory guidance from the Department for Education... issued under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002."

Related Guidance

For broader child welfare, pair it with Working Together to Safeguard Children (last major update 2023, still current). No full replacement announced for 2026 yet, though RSHE tweaks loom.

TL;DR : "Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025" – download from gov.uk for the official PDF (187 pages).

Information from public web sources as of January 2026.