Safeguarding Bulletin - 13 May 2026
The Role of DSL - what settings need to know webinar booking now...
The consultation on Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 sets out that the Designated Safeguarding Lead should have the appropriate status, authority, skills and experience within the school or college to carry out the duties of the post. It also sets out that any deputies should be trained to the same standard as the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
This session takes attendees through the requirements and explores how we can effectively ensure the Designated Safeguarding Lead role is being enacted to the standard required.
We’ll consider why the Designated Safeguarding Lead role exists, the range of responsibilities the role entails and think about what is means to have lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection. This session contains insights for anyone with an interest in the vital role of Designated Safeguarding Lead and could also be used as an introduction to our highly popular courses New to Role of DSL and the DSL Support Programme.
Scheduled for June 3rd, 12pm-1pm, all registrants will receive a session recording and slides.
NON-MEMBERS: this webinar is £10 + VAT.
MEMBERS: This webinar is free for Safeguarding Network members. Please login and go to the Your CPD page for the link to book.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026 and has now become law.
Key measures introduced to strengthen safeguarding include:
statutory multi agency child protection teams in each council area
a system of Single Unique Identifier numbers for children across services to assist information sharing
access to family group decision-making meetings for all families with children at risk of entering the care system
registers of ‘children not in school’ in each local authority
Whilst we are waiting for implementation guidelines, read:
The Children's Commissioner's summary article
New website for safeguarding learning
Late last month, the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel launched their dedicated website hub for practical safeguarding learning. Safeguarding Network has long referenced and signposted DSLs to Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel thematic reviews and their other publications.
The Panel’s work is such a rich source of learning and understanding for anyone wanting to improve and strengthen their safeguarding practices. This new website hub for practical safeguarding learning presents the essential, evidence-based knowledge in an accessible and useful way – with consideration being given to all professionals who work with children. There are also resources and links to resources in order for the evidence to be used in practice.
New online safety guidance and resources for schools
The Department for Education has launched a new Cyber Security Hub for schools: 'What you need to know and do to strengthen your school's cyber security. Information for early years, primary and secondary schools in England."
The UK Safer Internet Centre's UK Online Harms Early Warning Working Group has published new guidance sharing best practice and considerations for education settings and organisations working with children and young people on the use of photos and videos across their online platforms, to address the risk of AI image manipulation.
Find out more and download the guidance
The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner has published a new report looking at the risks that could shape the prevalence and nature of modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) through to 2036.
The study involved an evidence review, surveys and a series of workshops with participants from across various sectors and individuals with lived experience as well as an action plan.
Amongst other findings, the study found that safeguarding and enforcement systems remain a critical strategic vulnerability in the UK: "Persistent resource constraints, fragmented multi- agency coordination, inconsistent victim identification, declining specialist expertise, and low prosecution rates continue to weaken the UK’s ability to identify victims, support survivors, and disrupt offenders effectively. Without sustained investment and reform, these pressures risk creating a more permissive environment in which exploitation can persist, adapt, and become further embedded."
Find out more and download the report
Free webinar: Strengthening Cybersecurity in Schools
Cyberattacks are evolving in both scale and sophistication and schools must balance the protection of their digital infrastructure with the responsibility of equipping pupils and staff with the knowledge and confidence to stay safe online.
Following their February 2026 webinar Strengthening Cybersecurity in Schools, our partner SWGfL, and Secure Schools are hosting a follow-up session taking place on Thursday 21st May at 2pm - 3pm aimed at supporting schools with many of the topics and queries that were raised at the last event.
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