The Safeguarding Awareness Calendar 2026: Key Dates and Awareness Resources for Schools and Families
A month-by-month planning guide for DSLs and parents — every major safeguarding awareness date, what it covers, and how to use it in school and at home.
Safeguarding Awareness Calendar — Key Annual Dates
Why a Safeguarding Calendar Matters
Effective safeguarding is not reactive — it is planned, sustained and embedded into school culture throughout the year. Awareness initiatives give DSLs a structured opportunity to refresh staff training, communicate with parents and engage pupils around specific issues at the moments when they are most receptive.
Research from the PSHE Association and Public Health England consistently shows that awareness initiatives are most effective when they are followed up with ongoing curriculum content, rather than being treated as one-off events. Use the dates below as launch points, not endpoints.
Month-by-Month Action Guide
January — Back-to-School Safeguarding Refresh
The January return is an opportunity to reinstate routines disrupted over winter. Remind staff of their reporting duties (KCSIE 2024 Part 1), conduct a brief team briefing on any new concerns, and send a "keeping your child safe this term" communication to parents. Review and update the Single Central Record.
February — Safer Internet Day (Second Tuesday of February)
Safer Internet Day 2026 theme builds on online resilience and critical digital literacy. Run age-appropriate assemblies (The Safeguard Hub has full classroom resources), hold an evening parent workshop on parental controls and online risks, and use the week to audit your school's online safety policy. See our dedicated Safer Internet Day 2026 article for full resources.
March — National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Originating in the US but widely adopted in the UK, this month is an opportunity to raise awareness of child abuse and the protective role communities play. The pinwheel is the international symbol. Use this time to review your child protection policy, hold a staff training update, and ensure your school's safeguarding notice board is current.
April — Alcohol Awareness Week (usually mid-April)
Organised by Alcohol Change UK, Alcohol Awareness Week 2026 focuses on reducing alcohol harm across communities. For schools: deliver age-appropriate PSHE sessions on alcohol's effects on the developing brain, send parent letters with conversation guide tips, and connect with your local authority substance misuse team.
July — County Lines / Summer Exploitation Risk Peak
The summer holidays represent the period of highest risk for county lines exploitation, as young people are away from the protective factor of school. NCA data consistently shows a spike in exploitation and missing episodes over the summer. Before the end of term: ensure all at-risk children have a safeguarding plan, alert parents through a newsletter or letter, and confirm handover arrangements with Children's Services for any open cases.
October — Anti-Bullying Week (Third Week of November in UK)
Organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, Anti-Bullying Week typically falls in the third week of November. Odd Socks Day on the Monday launches the week. Use this time to run pupil-led activities, audit your anti-bullying policy, provide staff training on cyberbullying, and engage parents with guidance on spotting the signs at home.
November — Road Safety Week (Third Week of November)
Run by Brake, Road Safety Week reaches thousands of UK schools. Use it to cover pedestrian safety, active travel, and the dangers of distracted phone use near roads. This is also a relevant hook for county lines awareness — exploitation often involves young people being asked to travel, sometimes on foot or public transport through unsafe areas.
Planning Tips for DSLs
- Add all key dates to your school improvement / CPD calendar at the start of each academic year
- Assign a named member of staff as lead for each initiative — don't carry it all yourself
- Order physical resources (posters, stickers) at least 6 weeks in advance — popular initiatives often run out
- Record each initiative in your safeguarding evidence file — Ofsted will look for evidence of sustained awareness activity
Sources: Anti-Bullying Alliance, Anti-Bullying Week 2026 Resources; Alcohol Change UK, Alcohol Awareness Week 2026; Brake, Road Safety Week 2026; NCA, County Lines 2024 Assessment; UK Safer Internet Centre, Safer Internet Day 2026 Resources. Last reviewed: April 2026.