A Safeguarding Lead’s Permission to Press Pause

A reminder for safeguarding leads and those around them to take a breath and pause this May half term

By the time May half term arrives, most safeguarding leads - and the teams around them-are running on tea, professional judgement and the ability to remember seven things at once.

The summer term is a busy one. There are transitions to plan, Year 6 and Year 11 pupils to support, attendance patterns to keep an eye on, online safety concerns that rarely take a holiday and the ever-present need to make sure safeguarding records tell the story clearly.

It is important work - but it is also human work.

So, this half term, here is a gentle Brightcore reminder:

safeguarding leads are allowed to pause too. Not because the work matters less, but because it matters so much.

The DfE’s Keeping children safe in education makes clear that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, with all staff playing a part in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action.

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 reinforces the need for clear roles, shared responsibility and effective multi‑agency working. Safeguarding is a collective effort; it doesn’t rest on one person carrying everything alone.

Half term is a good moment to do three small things:

Safeguarding leadership is serious, skilled and often emotionally demanding. It is also full of care, humour, teamwork and small moments of hope.

So, this May half term, take the walk, read the book, sit in the garden, ignore the laminator and let someone else be in charge of the biscuits.

The children and staff need safeguarding leads who are alert, grounded and well supported - not exhausted superheroes.

From all of us at Brightcore Consultancy, have a restful and well-deserved half term.