Can the headteacher also act as DSL?

Yes, KCSIE permits this provided they have the time, training, and capacity. Most schools find a separate DSL with deputies works better for response times and continuity.

How long should safeguarding records be kept?

Records should be kept securely for the period required by your local safeguarding partnership and data retention policy — generally until the child's 25th birthday at a minimum, longer for serious cases. Check with your local authority.

What if a concern is raised about a member of staff?

Follow Part Four of KCSIE 2025 and your school's managing allegations procedures. Refer to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) without delay. Do not investigate yourself.

DSL Checklist: KCSIE 2025 Responsibilities

A working checklist of the Designated Safeguarding Lead's responsibilities under KCSIE 2025, with practical prompts on online monitoring, incident response, parent communication, and evidence-keeping.

Overview

The DSL holds lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, including online safety. KCSIE 2025 expects the DSL to be appropriately trained, available during school hours, supported by deputies, and visible to staff and pupils. This checklist is a structured prompt for the start of each term and after any major incident.

Key points

•You are the operational lead for safeguarding across the school — including online.
•Filtering and monitoring oversight sits with the DSL working alongside the IT lead and governor with safeguarding responsibility.
•Records must be detailed, contemporaneous, and stored securely with restricted access.
•Multi-agency working (early help, social care, police, health) is part of the role.
•Staff training, induction, and ongoing updates flow from the DSL.
•Annual policy review must be evidenced — date stamped, signed off, and shared.

Practical steps

1
Diary in monthly time to review safeguarding logs and online incident reports.
2
Hold a termly review meeting with the IT lead and link governor on filtering and monitoring.
3
Audit your safeguarding evidence folder once a term (see the dedicated entry).
4
Refresh your knowledge of statutory thresholds with your local safeguarding partnership.
5
Communicate clearly with parents after any significant online incident — facts, support offered, next steps.
6
Debrief staff after a serious case to capture lessons learned without naming the child.

Warnings

!Do not delegate the decision to refer to children's social care — that decision sits with you.
!Do not store safeguarding records in personal email or unmanaged cloud accounts.
!Do not rely on memory — write up concerns the same day, even if brief.

Checklist

Annual safeguarding policy reviewed and ratified by governors
DSL and all deputies have current accredited training (within 2 years)
Whole-staff safeguarding update delivered this academic year
Filtering and monitoring review completed within the last 12 months
Online safety incidents logged and themes reviewed termly
Local safeguarding partnership thresholds document on file and current
Single Central Record audited this term
Low-level concerns log reviewed for patterns
Parents informed of online safety priorities at least once a term

External sources

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 — Department for Education
Working Together to Safeguard Children — Department for Education
DSL training and resources — NSPCC Learning

Frequently Asked Questions

Last reviewed: 2026-05-20Next review: 2026-08-20Reviewed against: KCSIE 2025

This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.