Free safeguarding training online vs paid: what you get at each level

How safeguarding training works, free or paid

Keeping Children Safe in Education says: "Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility." It asks school and college staff to complete any required safeguarding training and refreshers. Whatever your sector, your employer decides which course and level you need.

What the levels mean

• Level 1: basic awareness. elfh aims Level 1 adults' e-learning at "all staff including paid and voluntary staff", and Level 1 children's e-learning at non-clinical staff.
• Level 2: for staff in regular contact with children, adults at risk or their families. You learn to spot abuse, respond to a disclosure and report a concern. elfh says Level 2 is the minimum for all staff who have contact with children, young people, parents or carers.
• Level 3: for staff who help assess concerns and act on them, such as senior care staff and health staff working with children. elfh aims Level 3 children's e-learning at clinical staff who work with children, young people or their parents or carers.

Some sectors expect more than an online course

• Health care. The NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB, following the Intercollegiate Document, says training at all levels "should be at least 50% participatory", for example face to face training. Level 3 staff need 8 hours for adults and 12 hours for children's safeguarding over 3 years.
• Schools. Norfolk County Council says its online package "is not intended to replace whole school face-to-face training for all staff". It says designated safeguarding lead training "should be updated at least every two years".

So an online course often covers the knowledge part, and your employer adds the rest.

Free options: is there free safeguarding training online?

NHS England elfh. elfh says its e-learning "can be accessed for free, 24/7 by health and care professionals". Its Safeguarding Children and Young People programme has sessions for Levels 1, 2 and 3, and its Safeguarding Adults programme covers Levels 1 and 2. You sign in through the elfh Hub.

Local safeguarding partnerships. Many councils and safeguarding partnerships list e-learning for people who work locally. Nottinghamshire's partnership, for example, says "You can find free and low cost eLearning below", including courses from NSPCC Learning, Virtual College and GOV.UK. Check your own area's partnership website.

Free single topic courses. Virtual College offers free courses on topics such as recognising and preventing FGM, forced marriage, child sexual exploitation, and child criminal exploitation and county lines. High Speed Training lists Safeguarding in Sport at £0 +VAT.

Your employer. Many employers pay for safeguarding training or run their own, so ask before you buy.

Free and paid safeguarding courses compared

What each provider shows on its own page, checked 26 October 2026, with prices exactly as shown.

"Check provider" means the provider's page did not show that detail when we checked.

So what does paying add?

• A full course at your level. Free courses are often single topics or limited to health and care staff. A paid Level 2 or 3 course covers recognising abuse, disclosures, recording and reporting in one place.
• A certificate in your name. You can hand it to your employer or add it to your CPD record.
• Access whatever your job. You do not need to work in the NHS or in one council area.
• A set price. Paid online courses in our table run from £30 to £65 +VAT, and several show prices before VAT.

What you get with Lift College

Safeguarding Adults and Children Training covers the basics for work with both children and adults: types of abuse and neglect, the signs, responding when someone tells you, recording and reporting a concern, exploitation, online harm and Prevent.

• £19.99, pay once. No subscription and nothing added at checkout.
• 4 hours of learning in 6 short modules, each with a knowledge check, then a final test: 80% to pass, unlimited free retakes.
• CPD certificate issued by Lift College the same day, with your hours, completion date, a refresh date 3 years on, a unique number and a verification link.
• Human tutor support with every CPD course.
• 14-day money back. Ask within 14 days of paying for a full refund.

Need a level for one group? Safeguarding Adults Level 2 (3 hours), Safeguarding Adults Level 3 (8 hours), Safeguarding Children Level 2 (3 hours) and Safeguarding Children Level 3 (4 hours) are £19.99 each. Our Level 3 courses do not replace the participatory part of Level 3 in health care, or formal designated safeguarding lead training. These are CPD certificates, not regulated qualifications, and none replaces a DBS check. Training a team? It is £16.99 a course on a free organisation account.

Which should you choose?

Take the free route if you work in health or care and can use elfh, your local partnership offers free courses for your role, or you need one topic such as FGM or county lines.

Pay for a course if you do not qualify for elfh, your employer asks for a named level with a certificate, or you are starting a job, volunteering or applying for work and want the certificate in your own name.

Where to go next

• Compare providers in our guides to safeguarding adults and children training online and the best online safeguarding courses in the UK.
• By level: Safeguarding Adults Level 2, Safeguarding Adults Level 3, Safeguarding Children Level 2 and Safeguarding Children Level 3 training online in the UK.
• Browse all safeguarding and care courses.

Ready to start? Book safeguarding training online with Lift College for £19.99, pay once.