The short answer
Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) 2026, in force from 1 September 2026, sets two timescales for the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and any deputies. They are in Annex B, under “Training, knowledge and skills”.
| What | How often | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Formal DSL training | At least every two years | A course or programme covering what Annex B lists |
| Knowledge and skills refresh | At least once a year, and “at regular intervals, as required” | E-bulletins, meeting other DSLs, or “simply taking time to read and digest safeguarding developments” |
| Prevent awareness training | KCSIE sets no interval | See below |
The two-year rule is a maximum gap, not a target. The refresh is due “at regular intervals, as required” as well as yearly, so a big change, such as a new edition of KCSIE, is a reason to refresh sooner.
Deputies are included
Every timescale above applies to deputies too. KCSIE says any deputy “should be trained to the same standard as the designated safeguarding lead” (paragraph 130 and Annex B). A deputy whose training is out of date isn’t trained to the DSL’s standard, even if the DSL’s is current. See the deputy DSL guide.
What “Level 3” means, and doesn’t
KCSIE never uses the term “Level 3”, or any numbered level. It describes what the training should cover rather than naming a course, level or provider. “Level 3” is a label that training providers and some local safeguarding partnerships use for courses aimed at DSLs. Lower numbers are used for courses aimed at other staff, but there is no national scheme behind the numbers.
That has three consequences:
- A “Level 3” certificate doesn’t prove the training is suitable. Check it against what Annex B lists. A course that doesn’t cover, say, local referral arrangements or online safety leaves gaps, whatever it is called.
- A course without “Level 3” in its title can still meet KCSIE. Some local partnership courses are simply called “DSL training” or “new to role”.
- “How long does Level 3 last?” has no national answer. For a DSL, the answer is the KCSIE one: update it at least every two years. Some providers print an expiry date. That is the provider’s convention, not a statutory one.
What the training should cover
Annex B says training should give the DSL and deputies a good understanding of their own role and of the processes of other agencies, especially children’s social care, so that they:
- understand the assessment process for Family Help and statutory intervention, including local criteria for action and referral arrangements
- know how child protection conferences and review conferences work, and can contribute to them
- understand the lasting impact of adversity and trauma
- are alert to the needs of children in need, children with SEND, children with relevant health conditions and young carers
- understand information sharing, within the school and with safeguarding partners
- understand the Prevent duty and can advise staff on radicalisation
- understand online safety risks, including the extra risks children with SEND face online
- can keep detailed, accurate and secure records of concerns, discussions and decisions, and the reasons for them
KCSIE also asks DSLs to “link with the safeguarding partner arrangements” so staff know about local training. Local content matters, because referral routes and thresholds differ between areas.
Prevent training
KCSIE says the DSL and any deputies “should also undertake Prevent awareness training”. It doesn’t set an interval.
The Home Office’s Prevent duty guidance, which applies to schools, goes further. It says the DSL or Prevent lead “should receive more in-depth training, including on extremist and terrorist ideologies, how to make referrals and how to work with Channel panels”, and that “it is recommended that this training is updated at least every two years” (paragraph 159).
Options for the annual refresh
The annual refresh is lighter than the two-yearly training, but it should be deliberate and recorded. KCSIE’s own examples are:
- reading safeguarding e-bulletins, such as those from your local safeguarding partnership
- meeting other DSLs, for example at local DSL network meetings or trust safeguarding forums
- taking time to read and digest safeguarding developments, such as the changes in a new KCSIE
Other options include short update sessions run by the local authority, briefings on serious case learning in your area, and webinars on new guidance. Keep a short note of what was done and when, so it can be shown at a governor visit or an Ofsted inspection.
Options for the two-yearly update
DSLs usually choose between:
- local safeguarding partnership or local authority courses, which cover local procedures and thresholds
- courses from private providers, online or in person
- trust-run programmes in multi-academy trusts
Whatever the route, check that it covers Annex B and your local arrangements. A short online “refresher” may suit an experienced DSL who has kept up the annual refresh. A DSL who is new to the role, or new to the area, may need a fuller course.
Training for everyone else
For all other staff, KCSIE says safeguarding and child protection training, including online safety, should happen at induction and be “regularly updated” (paragraph 153), with updates “at least annually” (paragraph 154). It sets no fixed renewal period for them, and says induction and training should be in line with any advice from local safeguarding partners.
Tracking the dates
Work out when each person’s next training and refresh are due with the DSL training dates tool. Record the date each person trained, not just the year, since the two-year limit runs from that date.