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DSL: Statutory New to Role (2 days)

Trainer-led sessions for new DSLs, deputies, SENCOs, or safeguarding team members. Includes guidance, responsibilities, and best practices.

09:15 AM - 04:30 PM

Online

Session information

Sessions

Session 1 - 8th July 2025
09:15 BST - 16:30 BST
1 day
    Session 2 - 9th July 2025
    09:15 BST - 16:30 BST
    1 day
      • £269.00 excl. VAT

      09:15 AM - 04:30 PM

      Online

      Session information

      Sessions

      Session 1
      09:15 BST - 16:30 BST
      1 day
        Session 2
        09:15 BST - 16:30 BST
        1 day
          • £295.00 excl. VAT

          09:15 AM - 04:30 PM

          Bradford

          Session information

          Sessions

          Session 1
          09:15 - 16:30
          1 day
            Session 2
            09:15 - 16:30
            1 day
              • £295.00 excl. VAT

              09:15 AM - 04:30 PM

              Online

              Session information

              Sessions

              Session 1
              09:15 GMT - 16:30 GMT
              1 day
                Session 2
                09:15 GMT - 16:30 GMT
                1 day
                  • £295.00 excl. VAT

                  Description

                  Delivery options available:  

                  Advanced training: fully compliant with the criteria as laid out in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) and as described in the previous level 3 DSL training level system. 

                  This in-depth course is designed for DSLs, Deputy DSLs, and those stepping into safeguarding leadership roles.  

                  As a DSL or deputy, you are expected to take lead responsibility for safeguarding within your school, acting as the key point of contact for staff, pupils, families, and external agencies. KCSiE highlights that you are likely to have the most complete picture of a child’s safety and are best placed to guide the appropriate response to concerns. This training ensures you have the knowledge, confidence, and tools to carry out this responsibility effectively. 

                  Developed by our NSPCC Approved Trainer and delivered by Award in Education and Training (AET) qualified trainers, the session explores the statutory duties associated with the DSL role, including relevant legislation such as Working Together to Safeguard Children, the Early Years Statutory Framework (EYFS), and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act. It also provides practical guidance on safeguarding policies, multi-agency working, information sharing, record keeping, and supporting a culture of safeguarding across your setting. 

                  The training is interactive and workshop-based, with embedded training videos designed to develop critical thinking, build confidence, and support the practical application of safeguarding procedures in real-world contexts. 

                  It fulfils the requirement for DSLs and deputies to complete initial and refresher training every two years, as set out in KCSiE. 

                  Content 

                  • Understand the role and responsibilities of the DSL, deputies, and wider safeguarding team 

                  • Explore key safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance including KCSiE, Working Together to Safeguard Children, Prevent duty and relevant local procedures 

                  • Learn the importance of building effective working relationships with local safeguarding partners and agencies 

                  • Understand why a contextual safeguarding approach is essential and how to apply it in your setting 

                  • Explore the signs and indicators of different types of abuse, with a focus on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) and other emerging risks 

                  • Learn how to respond to allegations, disclosures, and low-level concerns about adults in school 

                  • Reflect on real-life case studies and lessons learned from serious case reviews and audits 

                  • Introduction to reflective practice and tools for confident safeguarding leadership 

                  • Understand the importance of high-quality record keeping and information sharing 

                  • Consider the unique vulnerabilities of different groups of children (SEND, looked-after children, EAL, young carers, etc.) 

                  • Explore how to develop and embed a whole-school safeguarding culture 

                  • Build confidence in supporting staff, pupils, and families with early help and intervention 

                  • Responsibilities for ensuring the effectiveness of the schools filtering and monitoring systems 

                  • Recognise the importance of staff supervision, self-care, and maintaining professional boundaries 

                  Following the training delegates will be required to complete an Online Training Assessment to demonstrate their understanding of their role and responsibilities. 

                  Those successfully achieving an 80% pass rate will receive: 

                  • Certificate of Participation 

                  • Information Booklet signposting to the latest guidance, additional training 

                  • PDF overview of the standard course slides 

                  Safeguarding Simplified

                  Prerequisites

                  All participants will benefit from reading the latest version of the following guidance prior to the training.

                  Experienced DSLs and DDSLs who have already attended a 2-day Designated Safeguarding Lead training should attend our 1-day DSL: 2 Yearly Update session.

                  Who should attend this course?

                  This course is aimed at: 

                  • NEW DSLs and deputy DSLs 

                  • NEW members of the Safeguarding Team 

                  • NEW Senior Leadership Team members, with responsibility for Safeguarding 

                  • NEW Nominated Safeguarding Governors 

                  • Other experienced safeguarding practitioners wanting to refresh their understanding of the importance of the role and responsibilities of the DSL role in education. 

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                  Rachel Priestley

                  Rach has a background in Business Development and Administration, gaining much of her knowledge and experience through her 19 year career with the NHS working within the executive office, community services and public health. 

                  Before moving on from the NHS, Rach supported the Chief Executive, the Chairman and the Trust Board of a local NHS Care Trust, which managed Children’s Services. Her responsibilities spanned across HR, Finance, Governance, Compliance, Risk, systems and processes, and internal training. Rach also supported the Children’s Safeguarding Lead with safeguarding investigations.

                  In 2017, she left the NHS to pursue a successful self-employed career supporting business to grow, with flexible business development and administration support, which she continues to do on a part-time basis.

                  Rach is in house trained, and is passionate about delivering outstanding services and enjoys working as part of the safeguarding team to achieve a common goal.

                  In her own time, she loves spending time outside, and long walks with the two family dogs. 

                  Shelley Armstrong

                  Shelley joined Safeguarding Support in 2020 as an experienced AET-qualified freelance trainer, and now enjoys working across the business, keeping clients as up to date as possible with the ever changing challenges facing safeguarding children in education.

                  Whilst we aim to simplify safeguarding, Shelley’s passion is to ensure engagement, pride and confidence through training and support. Shelley enjoys applying the competencies gained in different industries and environments to researching, designing, and developing materials for those with the responsibility to safeguard children, and in return has enormous respect for their commitment.

                  Her experience across the private business sector brings commercial skills to training and her background in psychology and counselling ensure courses are designed and delivered with the learner in mind.

                  Shelley lives in Yorkshire and enjoys walking her springer spaniels – come rain or shine!

                  Abigail Havon

                  Abigail is an experienced and AET-qualified trainer with a strong foundation in safeguarding, having begun her career in the charity sector. During her time there, she served as a regional manager and a key member of the safeguarding leadership team, where she contributed to the development of policies and procedures, designed and delivered training, and supported staff and volunteers working one-to-one with children in schools. 

                   

                  In her current role with Safeguarding Support, Abigail primarily leads the Reflective Supervision programme.  Supervision is a process where through 1-2-1 meetings and in a group setting, structured support is given to safeguarding professionals across England. The programme focuses on helping DSL’s and DDSL’s manage complex workloads, reflect on their practice, build resilience, and promote wellbeing—enabling them to sustain their capacity to protect and support vulnerable children and families.

                   

                  Abigail’s professional journey spans a variety of sectors and business environments, always in roles that demand strong communication, collaboration, and a people-centred approach. She is deeply committed to empowering educators to work collectively as part of a safeguarding team, believing this collaborative approach leads to better outcomes for children and young people.

                  Based in the Midlands, Abigail enjoys long walks and tending to her ever-growing collection of houseplants.

                  Carol Stephenson

                  Carol has spent her entire career teaching in Bradford primary schools. Most recently she was Head Teacher of a large, outstanding, multi-academy trust, inner-city
                  school where she gained Local Leaders of Education (LLE) status.

                  Carol is a highly experienced Designated Safeguarding Lead and safeguarding Governor, with an extensive range of expertise, skills and knowledge. It was through this depth of experience that she became a dedicated representative of Bradford Children’s Safeguarding Board. In June 2019, Carol was awarded a Bradford Safeguarding Champions lifetime achievement award 2019 for her continued work in safeguarding the children of Bradford.

                  Carol is in-house trained and is NSPCC certified to deliver Child Protection and Safeguarding training.

                  In her spare time, Carol enjoys working on her allotment.