DSL refresher training

Use this elearning to refresh DSL training every 2 years for you and your safeguarding team. 

This course is fully up to date with:

  • Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2023, as published by the DfE on 1 September 2023
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, as published by the DfE in December 2023

If you completed this course before 18 January 2024, you'll need to select 'retake course' (see above) to view the new changes in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children. 


Course length3 to 4 hours
Suitable forDSLs and deputy DSLs, as refresher training
Certificate granted?Yes

In 3 to 4 hours, this course recaps all the core aspects of the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) role, as defined in statutory guidance. You'll update your knowledge of the latest requirements and best practice in safeguarding children and draw on the experience of other DSLs and safeguarding experts to develop your practice.

By the end of this course, you will:

  • Understand best practice across all your key DSL duties, as set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education
  • Be clear on the law and latest statutory guidance on safeguarding and child protection
  • Know how to recognise different types of abuse and respond to a concern or incident
  • Be confident in 'making the call' on whether to refer and how to make that decision
  • Know how and when to share data appropriately, and how to use it proactively to safeguard children
  • Understand the different challenges when safeguarding children with SEND and have strategies to help you support their specific needs
  • Feel equipped to work proactively with other agencies, and be ready to contribute confidently to case conferences

At the end, you'll complete 2 in-depth, real-world scenarios, to put your learning into practice.

Note: this course covers everything expected of DSL refresher training in Keeping Children Safe in Education. For initial DSL/deputy DSL training, we recommend going to a local provider (usually your local authority or local safeguarding partners) for training that's more specific to your local context.

Children cheering