We talk you through the guidance updates for 2025
The “Keeping children safe in education 2025” guidance includes several updates related to mental health support compared to the 2024 version. These changes reflect ongoing efforts to refine guidance and provide additional resources.
Here are the changes to mental health support:
Updated Resource Link for Mental Health Promotion
– In the 2024 guidance, under the section for “Children requiring mental health support,” it advises schools and colleges to consult Public Health England’s resources, including “Every Mind Matters,” for materials and lesson plans promoting positive health, well-being, and resilience among children
– The 2025 guidance updates this reference to “Better Health Every Mind Matters” for links to materials and lesson plans. This change is also explicitly noted in the “Table of changes” in Annex F of the 2025 document
Changes to Guidance on Gender Questioning Children
Note on Upcoming Guidance:
▪ The 2024 guidance includes a disclaimer that the section on “Children who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or gender questioning” “remains under review, pending the outcome of the gender questioning children guidance consultation, and final gender questioning guidance documents being published”.
▪ The 2025 guidance updates this disclaimer to state that revised guidance on gender questioning children is expected to be published in summer 2025, with signposting planned for September 2025
Terminology Refinement:
▪ When discussing the Cass review’s findings regarding wider vulnerabilities in gender questioning children, the 2024 guidance refers to “additional diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder”.
▪ The 2025 guidance refines this terminology to “additional diagnoses of autism and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,” aligning with the SEND code of practice. This specific change is highlighted in the 2025 “Table of changes”
Removal of Specific Guidance Reference:
▪ The 2024 guidance advises schools to “refer to our Guidance for Schools and Colleges in relation to Gender Questioning Children, when deciding how to proceed” in supporting gender questioning children.
▪ This specific sentence has been removed in the 2025 version. This removal is consistent with the updated note regarding the forthcoming revised guidance on gender questioning children, indicating that the previous standalone guidance will be superseded.
New Resource for Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) Support
▪ While both documents acknowledge that children displaying Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) have often experienced their own abuse and trauma and should be offered appropriate support, and both refer to the Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s HSB toolkit, the 2025 guidance introduces an additional resource.
▪ The 2025 guidance adds a reference to ‘Shore Space’ by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, describing it as “an online resource which works to prevent harmful sexual behaviour. Shore Space offers a confidential chat service supporting young people who are concerned about their own or someone else’s sexual thoughts and behaviour”. This new resource is also listed in the “Table of changes” in Annex F of the 2025 document
The team at AMHIE
9th July 2025
Get support for your setting with membership to AMHIE:
AMHIE will support you and your team through membership to our association, enjoy signposting to the resources, tools and information you need, feel supported and have a place to turn to for advice and help.
If you would like to ask any questions our team is happy to help: 02381 120010 or support@amhie.com