Artificial intelligence policy toolkit launched for schools

LGfL-The National Grid for Learning has launched a free Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Toolkit to help schools across the UK develop clear approaches to AI that put safeguarding at the forefront.

Aimed at senior leaders and Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs), the toolkit provides practical guidance to help schools create policies that are safe, effective and future-ready. It is aligned with Keeping Children Safe in Education and the latest guidance from the Department for Education, supporting schools to navigate the rapid growth of AI technologies with confidence.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life, children are encountering these tools at ever younger ages. While this presents new learning opportunities, it also raises significant safeguarding and welfare considerations. Generative AI in particular has been linked to risks including exposure to harmful or age-inappropriate content, misinformation, biased or fabricated outputs, privacy concerns and potential exploitation. Schools must also carefully consider how staff use AI tools, especially in relation to data protection and intellectual property.

LGfL says its toolkit is not a one-size-fits-all template but a flexible framework that allows schools to shape their own AI vision and policies. It encourages a whole-school approach, with safeguarding and compliance underpinning decision-making. Clear guidance on approved tools, appropriate use and information-sharing boundaries forms a central part of the resource, with DSLs playing a key role in overseeing safe implementation.

The toolkit includes structured development guidance, practical resources such as pupil safeguarding questions and staff surveys, and templates to help schools track approved AI tools and Data Protection Impact Assessments. It also supports leaders in understanding and applying the Department for Education’s Generative AI Product Safety Standards.

To help schools put the guidance into practice, LGfL will host a live webinar, AI Policy Toolkit: A Practical Roadmap for School Leaders, on 18 March 2026. The session will outline practical next steps and offer advice on embedding AI safely and responsibly within a school setting.

Schools are being encouraged to download the toolkit, register for the webinar and share the information with safeguarding leads and senior leadership teams to ensure they are prepared to harness the benefits of AI while keeping pupils protected.