Safeguarding in schools and education settings

The safeguarding in schools team offer a range of support and services to education settings within Lincolnshire.

The safeguarding in schools package includes support and guidance for Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and Deputy Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs) throughout the academic year, termly DSL and DDSL update briefings, drop-in sessions, access to an online safeguarding self-assessment audit tool and DSL and DDSL role specific training sessions led and delivered by the team.

The DSL and DDSL training sessions are incorporated into the current Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) and Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) combined six-year safeguarding training pathway for education DSLs and DDSLs. Training courses with a cost attached identified within the six-year pathway are not delivered or included within this package, and education settings will be required to purchase these courses separately to register and attend.

The role of the DSL and DDSL in Lincolnshire

focussed on individuals who are becoming a DSL and DDSL in education, are new into post or who are new into Lincolnshire from an out of county education setting
incorporates key safeguarding essentials for DSLs or DDSLs when considering your role in relation to the requirements of the current DfE statutory guidance: KCSIE (Keeping children safe in education)
provides an overview to processes, key websites and resources that can be utilised within Lincolnshire in your role as DSL or DDSL
the opportunity to ask any questions about the role of the DSL or DDSL that you may have
delivered seven times per academic year, and spread across each school term

Refresher - the role of the DSL and DDSL in Lincolnshire

provides a two-yearly refresher session for current DSLs or DDSLs when considering your role in relation to the requirements of the current DfE statutory guidance: KCSIE (Keeping children safe in education). A particular focus is on any recent updates to the role of DSL or DDSL, local and national processes, and emerging safeguarding themes
the opportunity to reflect on your practice in your current role as DSL or DDSL
the opportunity to ask any questions about the role of the DSL or DDSL that you may have
delivered six times per academic year, and spread across each school term

Further sessions and briefings delivered in the package include:

DSL and DDSL termly update briefings

updates on changes to safeguarding legislation and guidance
information and presentations from services and partner agencies that work within or support safeguarding in Lincolnshire
the opportunity for questions and answers with the partner agencies in attendance at the briefings
two individual dates per briefing are offered for DSL and DDSLs to attend

Safeguarding training package with Train the Trainer

a session providing an overview of our safeguarding training slide deck and resource package for DSLs and DDSLs to deliver whole staff safeguarding training in your own education setting
includes a template presentation with training notes, trainer manual, bitesize themed safeguarding discussion questions for further team meetings or briefings to be used throughout the academic year, and case studies to assist discussion and reflection within the training
this package is updated each year to include legislation and guidance changes as well as findings from serious case reviews

DSL and DDSL drop-in sessions

an opportunity for DSLs and DDSLs to bring safeguarding scenarios or queries for advice or discussion with fellow DSL and DDSLs. Sessions may also include a visiting speaker or a focused topic or resource for discussion
attendees are encouraged to share practice examples to support and assist others and it is designed to be an interactive peer-led space as opposed to a presentation style format
delivered six times per academic year

Safeguarding essentials for governors and trustees

this training session focusses on governor’s and trustee’s knowledge and awareness of their accountability for the strategic overview of safeguarding in a school
provides governors/trustees, and most specifically Safeguarding Governors/Trustees with an overview of processes, support, and guidance in Lincolnshire for their Safeguarding teams to utilise within the role
delivered four times per academic year, on different days and times to cater for the varying capacity of governors and trustees

To assist you in reviewing and maintaining safeguarding assurances within your setting, the package also provides you access to:

A safeguarding self-assessment audit tool via the online PHEW platform

this is an online audit tool with a built-in action plan feature allowing you to record and monitor safeguarding within your setting throughout the academic year. The safeguarding self-assessment audit supports schools to comply with their duty under section 175 and section 157
a PowerPoint guidance document is received to assist with the completion of the audit, alongside ongoing support from the Safeguarding in Schools team as required
this audit can be used as evidence of safeguarding compliance as requested by the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership
it can benefit your school to show how safeguarding works within the setting and enables you to demonstrate that you are meeting your statutory responsibilities.

General safeguarding advice and guidance

Advice to schools on safeguarding policy and practice via phone, email, or Teams call. Case specific discussions are not available, but signposting to the most appropriate services will be provided.

through research, training and conferences we keep our knowledge updated
we help schools to show how safeguarding works within their setting
enable you to demonstrate that you are meeting your statutory responsibilities
we provide a network for designated safeguarding leads in the county

£375 for academic year 2026 to 2027.

This cost covers the entire academic year and is a fixed price, regardless of when an education setting requests to purchase the package during that academic year.

If your school is part of an academy trust, it is possible for you to receive a discount when you request the safeguarding in schools package for ALL the schools in your trust within one purchase order. This only applies when purchasing for five schools or more.

The following trust discounts will apply:

5 to 9 schools (one free package per trust)
10 to 14 schools (two free packages per trust)
15 schools or more (three free packages per trust)

We are unable to offer discounts where certain schools in the trust have already individually purchased, and then a whole trust purchase is requested for the remainder of the settings at a later date.

Additional cost for educational settings

Audit moderation of a school's safeguarding self-assessment audit

£495 per individual education setting.

The moderation will review the safeguarding self-assessment audit for settings using the Phew online audit tool. The process includes a desktop audit moderation followed by a school visit to review safeguarding arrangements. There are optional virtual drop-in sessions during the process to ask specific questions in a safe supportive environment, with a final report of findings provided to the education setting following the visit.

information gained will be shared with the wider safeguarding team and applied in general practice. This ensures the skills we have are relevant and current to the cohort of pupils
really useful in sharing ideas and practice examples with other DSL and DDSL's
as a DSL for many years, it is always helpful to refresh knowledge
a valuable course for someone who has just started in this role
lots of information given as a new DSL that was useful to be aware of and know how to access

Email: safeguardinginschools@lincolnshire.gov.uk

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