This page provides direct links to every source document referenced in Safeguarding and Child Protection: A Reference Guide for Governors and Trustees. All documents are hosted on gov.uk, legislation.gov.uk or the National Cyber Security Centre website and are free to access. URLs checked September 2026.

Statutory safeguarding guidance

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 (KCSIE 2026)
Department for Education, September 2026
Main document page

Working Together to Safeguard Children (March 2026 update)
Department for Education, March 2026
Main document page

Information Sharing Duty: statutory guidance for safeguarding organisations and their practitioners
Department for Education, September 2026. Duty in force from 30 September 2026.
Main document page

Restrictive Interventions including Reasonable Force in Schools
Department for Education, April 2026. Statutory guidance on recording and reporting (page 14); remainder non-statutory.
Main document page

Inspection

State-funded Schools Inspection Toolkit, version 2.0
Ofsted, June 2026, for use from September 2026. The safeguarding section (from page 4) sets out the met/not met criteria.
Toolkit and operating guides page

Inspection materials updated ahead of September 2026
Ofsted, June 2026. Summary of the September 2026 changes to the inspection toolkits and operating guides.
Ofsted announcement

Governance: maintained schools

Maintained Schools Governance Guide
Department for Education, updated July 2026. Replaces the Governance Handbook for maintained schools.
Full guidance

Governance: academy trusts

Academy Trust Handbook 2026
Department for Education, effective October 2026. Compliance is a condition of the funding agreement.
Full handbook

Academy Trust Governance Guide
Department for Education, updated July 2026. Replaces the Governance Handbook for academy trusts. Section 4.6 covers DBS and Section 128 check requirements for members, trustees and committee members.
Full guidance

Safeguarding and Protecting People for Charities and Trustees
Charity Commission. Applies to academy trusts as charitable companies.
Full guidance

Online safety, cyber security and safer recruitment

Cyber Security Standards for Schools and Colleges
Department for Education, updated September 2026.
Cyber security standards | Filtering and monitoring standards | Plan technology for your school (self-assessment tool)

Cyber Security in Schools: Questions for Governors and Trustees
National Cyber Security Centre.
Questions for governors and trustees

Generative AI: Product Safety Standards
Department for Education, updated January 2026. Previously titled 'Generative AI: product safety expectations'.
Full guidance

Barring Unsuitable Individuals from Managing Independent Schools (Section 128 guidance)
Department for Education, updated December 2025.
Main document page | Individuals prohibited from managing or governing schools

Legislation

Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026
2026 c. 21.
Full text on legislation.gov.uk

Crime and Policing Act 2026
2026 c. 20.
Full text on legislation.gov.uk