KCSIE 2026 paragraph 27 describes emotional abuse. It can mean telling a child, in words or behaviour, that they are worthless, unloved or only valued when they meet someone else's needs. It can mean silencing a child or mocking how they speak, expecting things far beyond their age or development, overprotecting them so they can't explore and learn, or stopping them mixing with others.
KCSIE 2026 added that it may include verbal abuse, such as persistent criticism, belittling or name-calling. Annex C lists this as one of the 2026 clarifications.
Seeing or hearing someone else being ill-treated, such as domestic abuse at home, can be emotional abuse. So can serious bullying, including cyberbullying, that leaves a child frequently frightened, and the exploitation or corruption of children.
KCSIE says some emotional abuse is part of every kind of maltreatment, though it can also happen on its own. That makes it one of the harder forms to evidence: there is rarely a single incident. Schools are well placed to notice the signs over time, such as a child who is very anxious, withdrawn, desperate to please or harsh about themselves, and to record each observation so the DSL can see the pattern. The Working Together 2026 glossary uses a similar definition.