Child protection: annual safeguarding update for staff
The CPSLO Service Annual Safeguarding Update for academic year 2025-2026 is now ready. It is available to those schools who have purchased whole school Safeguarding Children Training from the CPSLO service in the last 3 years or have a session booked in the future. If you have not received this update, please email cpsloadmin@hertfordshire.gov.uk
The pack has been updated to refresh delegates knowledge of What school and college staff should know and do to fulfil their professional duty to safeguard and Promote the Welfare of Children in accordance with, Part One, Annex B of Keeping Children Safe in Education DfE 2025 (KCSiE).
The DfE's KCSiE (2025) stipulates that all staff should receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training which is regularly updated (every 3 years in Hertfordshire). In addition, all staff should receive safeguarding and child protection updates (for example, via email, e-bulletins and staff meetings), as required, and at least annually, to provide them with relevant skills and knowledge to safeguard children effectively.
This annual update package should not replace staff reading Part One, Annexes B and C of KCSiE and the setting’s child protection policy. This input does not replace the formal three yearly statutory training.
Please note - the expectation is that the package is for the sole purpose of use in your school/college and should not be shared with others.
New Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputies - Annual Safeguarding update
Keeping Children Safe In Education sets out: In addition to the formal training, their knowledge and skills should be refreshed (this might be via e-bulletins, meeting other DSLs, or simply taking time to read and digest safeguarding developments at regular intervals, as required, and at least annually, to allow them to understand and keep up with any developments relevant to their role.
The CPSLO Service has produced this resource for DSLs and deputies to assist with this. This is a different version to what DSLs provide annually to update whole school staff on safeguarding. This version is pitched at a more senior leadership / management level and focusses on key national and local safeguarding updates and safeguarding themes that DSLs need to know and share with school staff.
DSLs can use this and self-pace their own learning, either as an individual update or as part of a DSL team/group session peer learning exercises (similar to how DSL delivers the whole school staff version).
We recommend DSLs take at least up to 90 minutes however as you can see from the aims and objectives you may choose to divide the learning into two 45 minutes sessions.
Please note: This resource does not replace the need for DSLs to undertake their refresher training at 2 yearly intervals. This resource has been created to serve as a prompt and reminder of the minimum core information and topics that DSLs should keep abreast of within Hertfordshire during the interim period between their training.
This resource is free to schools who buy into other CPSLO service statutory training for DSL (DSL 2 day and Refresher) – however, if your school does not but you would like access to this self-paced annual update, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss at cpsloadmin@hertfordshire.gov.uk
For schools that meet the criteria for free access, you can email your schools CPSLO or if unknown email cpsloadmin@hertfordshire.gov.uk , a member of the team will provide you with a copy of the resource pack (with guidance) and the password.
Aims & Learning Objectives of DSL annual safeguarding update:
To support DSL and deputies' to update their knowledge and skills on what they need to know about local and national safeguarding developments and themes, at least annually and as part of their role and responsibilities.
National and local guidance updates:
- KCSiE updates
- Early Years Framework
- Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures Manual
- Children who may benefit from early help
- Parental consent
- Continuum of need
- Local Authority Designated Officer LADO threshold criteria
- The Gateway - Referrals and Request for Support
- How to make a Safeguarding Referral
- Resolution of professional differences
Safeguarding themes:
- Online Safety and AI
- Disinformation
- Child Sexual Abuse and safety and support plans
- Risk management
- Domestic Abuse
- Parental conflict
- Child Against Parent Violent Abuse
- Mental health
- Prevent
- Kinship care