Early Years Designated Safeguarding Lead

Industry leading course you can do online

Early Years Designated Safeguarding Lead

Our Early Years Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) course is designed to meet the latest requirements under Annex C of the Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding Reforms, and aligning with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), Working Together to Safeguard Children, and Prevent Duty guidance. Designed for On-Demand learning,  the course allows learners to progress at their own pace while covering responsibilities around managing and responding to concerns, multi-agency collaboration, and the statutory duty of the Early Years DSL.

Through engaging video, real-world case studies, and scenario-based learning, participants gain practical, hands-on experience in recognising and managing safeguarding concerns effectively. The content is designed to be interactive and aligned with best practices, ensuring DSLs feel confident in their role. With 24/7 flexible online access, learners can complete the training at their convenience from any device, including a PC, tablet, or mobile.

The course incorporates a final assessment to reinforce understanding of content and reinforce learning. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate of training, along with access to a information and resources booklet. 

This cost-effective and time-efficient training solution eliminates the need for travel, while ensuring comprehensive, up-to-date safeguarding training for Early Years Designated Safeguarding Leads.

Who should complete this course?

If you are the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in your setting or have additional safeguarding responsibilities, you should complete the Early Years Designated Safeguarding Lead (EYDSL) course. This course provides comprehensive training on the specific responsibilities and duties of the DSL role, in line with the updated Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) safeguarding requirements effective from September 2025.

This course is aimed at the designated person who is taking lead responsibility for in early years provision including:

  • Childminders (sole practitioner)
  • Nursery and Group settings (governor/trustee, proprietor, Designated Safeguarding Lead, manager
  • School settings– (governor/trustee, Designated Safeguarding Lead

Covers the latest statutory and best practice guidance:

If On Demand isn’t right for your trust, school or setting, we offer trainer-led sessions, onsite and/or by virtual delivery. 

If you are looking for bespoke training, please get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

Our course is accessible through desktop, laptop, tablets and mobile devices.

You can access the course at any time convenient to you. We have designed it to give you the flexibility to work around your professional and personal commitments.

Don’t just take our word for it, this is what one learner recently told us

“I have 4 children and like the fact I can learn aspects of my new role at a time convenient to me.”

Definitely not…!  We have designed the course to be interactive and engaging, introducing you to key safeguarding concepts plus lots of interactive learning activities to increase your knowledge. 

Don’t worry you can email our friendly and approachable team on admin@safeguardingsupport.com and they will respond to your question within 2 working days.

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 AET qualified trainer who began her safeguarding career in the charity sector.  There she was a regional manager and part of the safeguarding leadership team.  She was involved in writing policies and procedures, developing, and delivering training and supporting staff and volunteers to work 121 with children struggling with their literacy. 

She has worked in a variety of business environments gaining experience in different sectors. She has always chosen roles that call for collaboration and communication to bring the best out in people and projects to completion.  Abigail passionately believes that empowering educators to work together as part of a safeguarding team will lead to better outcomes for children and young people. 

As part of the SSL training team her role focuses mainly on delivering virtual training. 

Abigail lives near the Jurassic Coast and enjoys long walks and caring for her jungle 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.