The latest guidance that the Department for Education issues for schools and colleges on safeguarding and safer recruitment, Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026 raises the bar for safeguarding across the sector. But its implications for further education need particular attention. FE colleges support a high proportion of learners who have not completed formal education, or who have come through alternative pathways such as pupil referral units, alternative provision or exclusion. That makes the renewed focus on violence prevention especially important for the sector. This year’s guidance reflects the way that safeguarding risks are changing. The explicit inclusion of deepfakes and AI-generated nude imagery shows how seriously digital harms now need to be treated. Stronger language on misogyny and harmful sexual behaviour, alongside the recognition of cybersecurity as a safeguarding issue, also makes clear that online and offline risk can no longer be looked at separately. Become a member for unlimited access to FE Week subscribe Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism on FE and skills, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits.