Kido International Hit by Ransomware Attack Exposing Children's Data
A major early-years education provider operating in the UK and internationally has confirmed a ransomware attack that led to the theft of sensitive personal data belonging to thousands of children and staff, raising serious concerns around safeguarding and cybersecurity in the education sector.
The incident affected Kido International nursery, a nursery group with sites across Greater London and overseas. The attack was first disclosed in September 2025 and quickly drew national attention due to the age of those affected and the nature of the data involved.
What happened
Kido International confirmed it had been targeted in a ransomware attack that resulted in unauthorised access to internal systems and the exfiltration of data.
According to public disclosures, the compromised information included:
- Children’s names and dates of birth
- Photographs of children and staff
- Home addresses and contact details
- Parent and guardian information
The attack was reported to UK authorities and prompted an investigation involving law enforcement.
Scale and impact of the breach
The breach is believed to have affected around 8,000 individuals, including young children enrolled at Kido nurseries and members of staff.
Given the sensitivity of early-years data, the incident raised immediate safeguarding concerns and highlighted the potential long-term risks of identity exposure involving minors.
The breach also placed operational strain on the organisation as it worked to:
- Secure affected systems
- Notify families and staff
- Cooperate with regulators and investigators
- Review internal cybersecurity controls
Law enforcement response
Following the incident, two teenagers were arrested in connection with the cyberattack, underscoring the increasing accessibility of ransomware tools and the evolving profile of threat actors targeting education providers.
The case also triggered guidance and warnings to the wider education sector from the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), urging schools and childcare organisations to strengthen cyber hygiene and monitoring.
Why early-years providers are at risk
While cyberattacks on universities and secondary schools are well documented, this incident highlighted a growing threat to early-years and childcare providers, who often store large volumes of highly sensitive personal data but operate with limited cybersecurity resources.
Common risk factors include:
- Reliance on third-party childcare and admin platforms
- Limited in-house IT and security expertise
- High volumes of personal and safeguarding data
- Legacy systems not designed with modern threats in mind
In many cases, organisations only become aware of weaknesses after an incident has already occurred.
A wider warning for the education sector
The Kido International ransomware attack is part of a broader pattern of cyber incidents affecting education organisations across the UK. Increasingly, attacks are resulting not just in data loss, but in operational disruption, reputational damage, and safeguarding risk.
For education providers, the lesson is clear:
Cybersecurity failures now have direct consequences for children, families, and trust in education institutions.
Conclusion
The breach at Kido International serves as a stark reminder that no part of the education sector is immune to cyberattacks — including organisations caring for the youngest and most vulnerable.
As attackers continue to target education providers, proactive monitoring, early detection of exposure, and clear accountability for cyber risk are becoming essential to protecting both data and the people behind it.
