Welcome to our
safeguarding blog
Expert commentary and opinion pieces, the latest safeguarding news and legislation, and information about our latest training courses, webinars, and events.
Prevent Update 2026: Making the right referral
Oct 08, 2026
The Department for Education published updated Prevent duty guidance for DSLs on 26 September. The update is timely, reflecting growing national concern following recent serious case reviews, the tragic events in Southport and the Children’s Commissioner for England’s latest report on Prevent.
Recent posts
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How can school Designated Safeguarding Leads respond to incidents of intimate image sharing in their schools/colleges?
Oct 06, 2026
It has never been easier than now to take and share images. With just a click of a button, a photo or film can be sent instantly or shared with countless people at once on social media. Social media applications such as TikTok, Snapchat and even WhatsApp have some safeguards, but it is still extremely easy for nudes to be shared and saved quickly. DSLs are uniquely placed to provide timely support, ensure appropriate reporting procedures are followed, and help victims access specialist services.
Safeguarding students – Talking about consent and why it matters
Oct 02, 2026
Understanding consent is a vital part of helping young people build healthy, respectful relationships. While consent is often portrayed as complex, the core message is simple: it should always be clear, enthusiastic and freely given. Schools play a crucial role in embedding this understanding. How can you ensure that the message is clear and age-appropriate?
Nicotine: The addiction that is becoming a safeguarding concern and what DSLs can do to support students
Sep 30, 2026
We all know as educators the health risks of smoking and vaping. We can talk to students about this in science, PSHE and in awareness sessions. Nicotine use is becoming not only a logistical issue for schools (for example, due to having to install vapour detectors or stop and search students) but also leading to behavioural and safeguarding concerns. How can DSLs and staff look for signs and support young people who may be using nicotine?
Safeguarding Bulletin - 30 September 2026
Sep 30, 2026
In this Bulletin: Information Sharing Duty: What educations settings need to know; Unconscious bias: How your judgements and assumptions impact your safeguarding practice; The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners susceptible to radicalisation; SEND and inclusion training for mainstream schools; Nicotine: The addiction that is becoming a safeguarding concern; Hidden NEETs: The attendance of 16 and 17-year-olds in further education colleges in England; Whole school approach to tackle misogyny; Persistent themes in child safeguarding reviews
New Information Sharing Duty: What education settings need to know
Sep 28, 2026
The Department for Education have issued statutory guidance that radically changes the way we approach information sharing, placing children’s well-being and safety as the primary concern in any information sharing conversation. It is vital that DSLs and staff are confident prior to its implementation on 30 September 2026...
Upcoming Training Courses - October 2026
Sep 25, 2026
Check out our October courses, designed for new and experienced DSLs and their staff: the DSL Refresher Course, and Building Support Systems for Bereaved Children.
Two webinars this week!
Sep 21, 2026
We are running two webinars this week to help you along the process of implementing KCSiE 2026 and the other legislation coming into effect on 30th September: Early Years Safeguarding Update 2026: Understanding the Changes to KCSiE and EYFS; and Information sharing to safeguard children and young people. Find out more.
Safeguarding Bulletin - 16 September 2026
Sep 16, 2026
In this Bulletin: Major changes with launch of Information Sharing statutory guidance; Early Years and KCSiE 2026; Healthy relationships: a toolkit for secondary schools; Enduring relationships for care-experienced children; Teacher wellbeing toolkit: start the school year well; Allergy safety in schools and education settings
Early Years and Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026
Sep 14, 2026
KCSiE 2026 is an affirmation of good early years safeguarding. What has changed in KCSiE 2026 and what does that mean in practice? Sharon Birch explores the key implications for private, voluntary and independent (PVI) Early Years settings.
Unconscious Bias: How your judgements and assumptions impact your safeguarding practice
Sep 07, 2026
As a DSL, we may believe that we are free from making assumptions or passing judgement. However, there is a growing body of safeguarding research that explores how unconscious bias directly shapes professional judgement, risk assessment and ultimately outcomes for children. Sophie Baker looks at the issue in more detail and asks what do we mean when we talk about unconscious bias and how can we prevent it?
Safeguarding Bulletin - 2 September 2026
Sep 04, 2026
In this Bulletin: KCSiE 2026 and new laws and guidance related to child safeguarding; Supervision – a short explanation for DSLs; Prevent, violence fixation and the children falling between services; Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework 2026: summary of requirements; Benedict's Law is here - take the new e-learning available now; So, did you have a good holiday?
Supervision – A short explanation for DSLs. What it is and why they need it to get the best outcomes for students
Sep 03, 2026
Supervision is a complicated word. In education and training it often is perceived as something or someone who needs support or monitoring to be effective. It can have a slightly negative feel to it and a common misconception is that if you need to be supervised you are doing it wrong. This could not be further from the truth!
A quick guide to the KCSiE 2026 changes
Sep 02, 2026
We’ve been poring over the final KCSiE 2026 Statutory Guidance and comparing this to last year’s KCSiE, the consultation and the draft. For everyone who wants to know the main changes we’ve set them out below in a quick summary.
“So, did you have a good holiday?”
Sep 01, 2026
The freedom of the summer break can be difficult for some pupils to navigate, for a variety of reasons. As we prepare to welcome pupils back, it is worth remembering that opening the first form time with stories of fabulous holidays abroad or setting ice-breaking activities centred around your best holiday moment is not always the most inclusive way to start the academic year... Instead, why not schedule informal check-ins with pupils?