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Designated safeguarding lead interview questions

Questions and answer guidance for designated safeguarding lead interviews, covering staff training, record-keeping and multi-agency working.

Interview guide

The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners (DfE): what changed

Dated changes to The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners (DfE), with the official source linked.

The Roundup

The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners (DfE): what changed on 2 October 2026

The 'Concerning behaviours' section of the practical guidance for DSLs has been updated to include guidance on fixation with weaponry or explosives and guidance regarding antisemitism.

The Roundup

DSL

The designated safeguarding lead takes lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection in a school or college in England, including online safety and understanding the filtering and monitoring systems in place. KCSIE says the DSL should be an appropriate senior member of staff from the leadership team. The DSL works closely with, and liaises with, the headteacher; the governing board has a senior board-level lead for safeguarding.

Role

Data

Data helps schools understand performance, attendance, safeguarding, behaviour and improvement priorities through careful analysis and responsible use.

Topic

EYFS

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the learning, development and welfare requirements for children from birth to five in England, including school nursery and reception classes. New versions came into force on 1 September 2026, with changes on safer sleep, a requirement to have regard to screen use and further safeguarding clarifications. This topic covers early years leadership, the early learning goals, the reception baseline assessment and the EYFS profile.

Topic

KCSIE

Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) is the Department for Education’s statutory safeguarding guidance for schools and colleges in England. KCSIE 2026 came into force on 1 September 2026, replacing the 2025 edition, and every member of staff must read part one in full. This topic covers the duties it places on headteachers, governing bodies and designated safeguarding leads, including safer recruitment. Some articles here describe earlier editions: check any duty against KCSIE 2026 on GOV.UK before acting.

Topic

Prevent

Prevent covers schools’ responsibilities to identify risks, support pupils and meet safeguarding duties linked to radicalisation and extremism.

Topic

Inspection

Ofsted inspects maintained schools and academies in England under its renewed education inspection framework, which replaced the 2019 framework in November 2025. A full inspection now ends in a report card: each evaluation area is graded exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention or urgent improvement, and safeguarding is reported as met or not met. Ofsted’s school inspection toolkit and operating guides were revised for September 2026; articles written before November 2025 describe the old framework.

Topic

Al Kingsley

Al Kingsley MBE, NetSupport CEO and school governance leader, writes and speaks on digital strategy, safeguarding and educational technology.

Author

Lee Haywood

Lee Haywood, founder of Online Safety UK, provides schools with support on online safety, safeguarding, public speaking and practical pupil guidance.

Author

Hannah Carter

Headteacher, executive coach and author Hannah Carter provides practical support for school leadership and safeguarding through her books and professional work.

Author

Mobile Phones

The Department for Education’s Mobile phones in schools guidance, on writing and keeping a policy that prohibits phone use in school, became statutory on 29 June 2026, and schools in England should follow it from 1 September 2026. This topic covers setting and enforcing a phone policy, explaining it to parents and its links to behaviour and safeguarding.

Topic

Pastoral Leader

A pastoral lead leads a school's care, guidance and support for pupils' personal development, behaviour, attendance and wellbeing. The post is not defined in law; it carries out school duties on behaviour, attendance and safeguarding, often working closely with the DSL. Pastoral leads usually report to a deputy or assistant headteacher.

Role

Child Protection

Child protection is the part of safeguarding that deals with children suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm. For schools in England the duties sit in Keeping children safe in education 2026, in force from 1 September 2026, and in Working together to safeguard children 2026, the multi-agency statutory guidance the Department for Education published in March 2026. This topic covers recognising and recording concerns, referrals to children’s social care and the designated safeguarding lead’s role.

Topic

Digital Learning

Digital learning focuses on using technology effectively to support teaching, assessment, accessibility, safeguarding and pupil engagement.

Topic

Sophie Wilkinson

Sophie Wilkinson is an education technology product leader at CPOMS Systems. She previously worked as a teacher in the UK and leads safeguarding solutions.

Author

Principal Planner

Compare Principal planner designs and formats.

Planner

School Leadership

School leadership covers strategy, culture, safeguarding, curriculum, people management and the practical realities of leading schools.

Topic

Deputy Headteacher

A deputy headteacher is a senior leader who works under the overall direction of the headteacher and takes on the headteacher's duties when the headteacher is absent. Deputies usually lead major whole-school areas such as curriculum, behaviour, attendance or safeguarding, and report to the headteacher.

Role

Headteacher Planner

Compare Headteacher planner designs and formats.

Planner

Alternative Provision

Alternative provision resources support schools with placements, safeguarding, attendance, reintegration and the right support for pupils who need a different setting.

Topic

Digital Learning Lead

Digital learning leads support the effective use of technology across teaching, learning, safeguarding, systems and staff development.

Role

School Leader Planner

Compare School Leader planner designs and formats.

Planner

SENCO interview questions

Interview guide

Deputy Headteacher Planner

Compare Deputy Headteacher planner designs and formats.

Planner

Assistant Headteacher Planner

Compare Assistant Headteacher planner designs and formats.

Planner