Template
Safeguarding training plan template
Safeguarding training has to be planned, delivered, evidenced and repeated. This template is the structure for that plan — who needs which level of training, how often, how it is delivered and what record you will hold. It does not tell you what the training must contain: that comes from the statutory guidance for your sector, which the template asks you to reference.
No credit card required. Free plan available.
Before you start
This is a planning structure, not guidance. For schools and colleges in England the content and frequency requirements come from the Department for Education's statutory guidance and your local safeguarding partnership; other sectors and nations have their own. Write the source into section 1 and check it each year — the guidance changes, and the plan should say which version it follows.
The template separates levels of training (everyone; staff with additional responsibilities; the designated lead and deputies; governors or trustees) because the requirements differ, and separates induction from refreshers because the deadlines differ.
The template
Everything in square brackets is yours to replace.
1. Basis and ownership
| Field | Your entry |
|---|---|
| Organisation | [Name] |
| Designated safeguarding lead | [Name] |
| Deputy DSL(s) | [Names] |
| Statutory guidance followed | [Title and year of the guidance for your sector and nation] |
| Local partnership requirements | [Name of local safeguarding partnership; any local expectations] |
| Period covered | [e.g. September 2026 – August 2027] |
| Approved by | [Name, role, date] |
2. Levels of training and who needs them
| Level | Who | Frequency | Delivery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Induction | [All new staff and volunteers, before unsupervised contact] | [On starting] | [Live briefing + policy reading + quiz] | [Attendance + quiz pass + signed policy acknowledgement] |
| Whole-staff training | [All staff] | [As guidance requires, e.g. annually plus updates] | [Live session + assessment] | [Attendance certificate + assessment pass] |
| Regular updates | [All staff] | [Through the year] | [Briefings, bulletins, short modules] | [Completion record] |
| Designated lead training | [DSL and deputies] | [As guidance requires] | [External / partnership course] | [External certificate, filed] |
| Governors / trustees | [All] | [As guidance requires] | [Session or module] | [Attendance / completion record] |
| Specific responsibilities | [e.g. online safety lead, recruitment panel members] | [As required] | [Named course] | [Certificate] |
3. Annual calendar
| When | Activity | Audience | Owner | Evidence produced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Start of year] | [Whole-staff training] | [All staff] | [DSL] | [Attendance certificates, assessment results] |
| [Termly] | [Update briefing] | [All staff] | [DSL] | [Attendance] |
| [On starting] | [Induction] | [New starters] | [Line manager + DSL] | [Quiz pass, acknowledgement] |
| [As scheduled] | [DSL refresher] | [DSL, deputies] | [DSL] | [External certificate] |
4. Policy acknowledgement
Which documents each group must read and confirm, and how the confirmation is recorded.
| Document | Who must read it | When | How acknowledged |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Safeguarding policy] | [All staff and volunteers] | [Induction; annually; on change] | [Signed form / online acknowledgement] |
| [Code of conduct] | [All staff] | [Induction; on change] | [As above] |
| [Relevant part of the statutory guidance] | [As guidance requires] | [Induction; annually] | [As above] |
5. The training record
What the record holds for each person, so it can be produced on request.
- Name, role and start date
- Each training activity: date, level, delivery, evidence (certificate, assessment result, attendance)
- Policy acknowledgements with dates
- Next due date for each level
- Where certificates are stored and who can verify them
6. Overdue training and escalation
- How overdue training is identified: [report, frequency]
- Who chases and how it is logged: [DSL / line manager; reminder record]
- Escalation if not completed: [step, timescale]
- How the record is reviewed by governors / trustees: [frequency]
7. Review
| Review date | Completion by level | Guidance changes | Changes to the plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Termly] | |||
| [Annual] |
Select the template above and paste it into any document. Square-bracketed text is yours to replace.
Running the plan in Learner Journey
- 1
Whole-staff sessions become internal events
Registration, check-in and automatic attendance certificates give you the evidence for section 2 without a sign-in sheet.
- 2
Induction becomes a learning path
Policy reading, a short module and a quiz with a pass mark, assigned to the new-starter cohort with a deadline.
- 3
Updates become short modules
Generate a briefing page and quiz from the updated guidance with AI, assign it to all staff, track completion.
- 4
Acknowledgements become a form
A form block at the end of the policy page records who confirmed and when.
- 5
The record is the compliance report
Completed, overdue and stale per level; nudges logged; certificates verifiable; CSV export for governors.
Related pages
Staff Training Plan Template
Free staff training plan template: training matrix by role, delivery calendar, induction, evidence and review, with steps to run it in Learner Journey.
Teacher CPD Tracking
Teacher CPD tracking for schools: sessions as events, attendance at check-in, statutory training with due dates and certificates per teacher.
Staff Training Platform
Staff training platform for schools: AI-built courses, INSET sessions as events with check-in, mandatory training with due dates and certificates.
Mandatory Training Management
Mandatory training management: cohort assignment with due dates, completed/overdue/stale reporting, logged reminders and verifiable certificates.
Event Management for Schools
Event management for schools: staff-only, invite-only and public events with guest registration, capacity, check-in, reminders and attendance certificates.
Resources
Free on-page templates for CPD, staff training and safeguarding training plans, plus the AI builders and tutorials.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this template contain the training content?
- No. It is the structure for planning, delivering and evidencing safeguarding training. The content and frequency requirements come from the statutory guidance for your sector and nation, which you reference in section 1.
- Can external DSL training be recorded here?
- Yes. Record the external course in the training record with its certificate. In Learner Journey, create an event for the external session and check the attendee in, and file the external certificate in the workspace library.
- How do we evidence policy acknowledgement?
- Section 4 defines it. In Learner Journey, a form at the end of the policy page records each acknowledgement with a timestamp; submissions export to CSV.
Turn the plan into a programme
Create a free workspace and set up the events, learning paths and certificates the template describes.
No credit card required. Free plan available.