DSL planning checklist - Plan for the year ahead
Example
School details
School name: Wellington College
Location: Crowthorne
Phase: Secondary
Number of pupils: 1,180
Contact details: Delyth Lynch, Director of Safeguarding dal@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
Download the example
Background from Delyth Lynch, Director of Safeguarding
This checklist was developed to help designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) plan confidently for the start of a new academic year. It removes the stress of having to hold everything in their head. I began it 10 years ago and add to it annually.
It brings together the key safeguarding tasks that often fall over the summer period and sets them out in a practical, manageable way. This includes:
- policy updates
- training
- systems
- transitions and
- quality assurance
The checklist is designed to support DSLs to prioritise effectively, reduce duplication and ensure nothing critical is missed at a particularly busy time of year. My own checklist is tailored to my setting. This version is more generic and suitable for most schools and colleges.
How to use this resource
- Use the checklist to plan safeguarding activity at the end of the summer term
- Adapt it to reflect your setting, phase and local context
- Use it to allocate responsibilities across the safeguarding team
- Revisit it at the start of term to confirm key actions are complete.
Who this resource is for
- Designated Safeguarding Leads
- Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads
- Senior leaders with safeguarding responsibility
- Safeguarding teams in schools and colleges (all phases)
Key benefits
- Saves time by bringing core safeguarding tasks into one place
- Supports compliance with statutory safeguarding duties
- Reduces last-minute pressure and avoid missed tasks
- Maintains strong oversight of safeguarding systems, training and culture
- Promotes consistency and good practice across safeguarding teams
- Supports workload and wellbeing for school leaders
Things to consider
- Not all tasks will apply to every setting. Tailor the checklist as needed
- Some actions may sit with other teams (e.g. HR, IT, pastoral leads)
- Keep the checklist under review as guidance or risks change
- Use alongside your safeguarding action or development plan
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