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Pupils: Protection

Asked by Dr Al PinkertonLiberal DemocratDepartment for EducationTabled Answered 29 May 2025UIN 51715

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support Designated Safeguarding Leads in schools in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Stephen Morgan

The department recognises the incredibly important role designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) play in keeping children and young people safe in schools. We support them to do this through our robust safeguarding framework, ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (KCSIE), the statutory guidance that all schools and colleges, including schools in Surrey Heath constituency, must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

KCSIE is clear that every school must have a DSL who should take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection. Annex C of the guidance supports DSLs to understand the role and expectations placed on them.

The department regularly reviews KCSIE to see where it needs to be strengthened to ensure it continues to provide the support that DSLs need.

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