The role in one line
The designated safeguarding lead takes lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection in the school or college. Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) says this includes online safety and understanding the filtering and monitoring systems in place, and that it should be written into the role holder’s job description.
KCSIE is statutory guidance. Schools and colleges in England must have regard to it. The current version is KCSIE 2026, which came into force on 1 September 2026. In it, the role of the DSL is set out in Annex B. In KCSIE 2025 and earlier, the same annex was Annex C.
Who can be the DSL
Governing bodies and proprietors should appoint “an appropriate senior member of staff, from the school or college leadership team” to the role. KCSIE says:
- the DSL should have the status, authority, skills and experience to carry out the role
- the role carries a significant level of responsibility, so the DSL should be given the extra time, funding, training, resources and support they need
- it is not appropriate for the proprietor of a school to be the DSL
- where a school has a sole proprietor, steps should be taken so the DSL can carry out the role with enough independence, particularly when dealing with allegations
What the DSL does
Annex B groups the DSL’s work into a few areas.
Managing referrals
The DSL is expected to refer cases:
- of suspected abuse and neglect to local authority children’s social care, and support staff who make referrals
- to the Channel programme where there is a radicalisation concern
- to the Disclosure and Barring Service where a person is dismissed or leaves because of risk or harm to a child
- to the police where a crime may have been committed
Working with others
The DSL is the main source of support, advice and expertise on safeguarding for all staff, and the point of contact with the local safeguarding partners. They keep the headteacher informed, especially about section 47 enquiries and police investigations. They liaise with the case manager and the local authority designated officer (LADO) when a concern is about a member of staff. They also work with the SENCO, the senior mental health lead, pastoral staff and IT staff.
KCSIE also gives the DSL a lead role in promoting the educational outcomes of children who have or have had a social worker: knowing who they are, understanding their progress, and helping teachers support them.
Child protection files
The DSL is responsible for making sure child protection files are kept up to date, stored securely and only seen by those who need to see them. When a child moves school, the DSL should make sure the file is transferred separately from the main pupil file, within 5 days for an in-year transfer or within the first 5 days of the start of a new term, and that receipt is confirmed.
Raising awareness
The DSL should make sure all staff can find and understand the child protection policy, that the policy is reviewed at least once a year, and that it is available publicly so parents know referrals may be made.
Deputy DSLs
Each school decides whether to have one or more deputy DSLs. KCSIE says any deputy should be trained to the same standard as the DSL, and the role should be explicit in their job description.
The DSL can delegate activities to trained deputies, but “the ultimate lead responsibility for child protection” stays with the DSL and should not be delegated.
Training: every two years, refreshed every year
KCSIE sets two timescales for the DSL and any deputies:
- Formal training updated at least every two years. This should give them a good understanding of their own role, the assessment process for Family Help and statutory intervention, how child protection conferences work, information sharing, the Prevent duty, online safety and the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities. The DSL and deputies should also undertake Prevent awareness training.
- Knowledge and skills refreshed at least once a year. This might be through e-bulletins, meeting other DSLs, or “simply taking time to read and digest safeguarding developments”.
KCSIE does not use the term “Level 3”. It is a common name for DSL training courses, but the guidance sets out what the training should cover rather than naming a level.
Being available
During term time, the DSL or a deputy should always be available during school or college hours for staff to discuss safeguarding concerns. KCSIE says this would generally be in person, but that each school, working with its DSL, decides what “available” means and whether phone or video calls are acceptable in exceptional circumstances. Schools also arrange cover for out-of-hours and out-of-term activities.
KCSIE 2026 adds that schools should put cover arrangements in place for when the DSL is away through illness, leave or other reasons. It gives a confidential shared mailbox, or an equivalent system, as an example of a way to make sure concerns are received and acted on without delay.
If, exceptionally, neither the DSL nor a deputy is available, KCSIE says this should not delay action. Staff should speak to a member of the senior leadership team or take advice from children’s social care, and tell the DSL as soon as they can.