Annual Advanced Certificate in Online Safety for Safeguarding Leads

About the course

Duration: 113 minutes (approx.)

Designated Safeguarding Leads should take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, including online safety, in schools. They should undergo training to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role, including the ability to understand the unique risks associated with online safety. They should be confident that they have the relevant knowledge and up to date capability required to keep children safe whilst they are online at school or college (Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) statutory guidance 2020).

Our annual advanced certificate in online safety has been created by experienced safeguarding consultant, former DSL and mental health lead, Lorna Ponambalum. It will provide you with the core content you need to feel confident and empowered to tackle online safety issues head on.

Delivered in high-quality video CPD format that has been skilfully organised for busy workloads and is accessible on any device, anytime, anywhere, our online safety training has been designed to provide maximum learning potential in the leanest, most cost effective and most time-efficient manner.

The course has been divided into ten easy-to-digest modules and contains links to further learning and resources throughout, with a knowledge assessment at the end to help you evidence your compliance in online safety.

Designed in line with the following policies

Keeping Children Safe in Education
Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education
Teaching Online Safety in Schools
Ofsted Education Inspection Framework
Ofsted School Inspection Handbook
Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings

Learning Outcomes

Understanding the roles and responsibilities of a designated safeguarding lead in relation to online safety and key safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
Recognising the need for developing robust and rigorous online safety policies to help mitigate risk and ensuring engagement and compliance.
Identifying and responding to different types of harm and abuse at a more senior level, managing disclosures and the role of contextual safeguarding.
Implementing a whole school approach and developing a culture of online safety.
Recognising your responsibilities around safeguarding remote learners, adapting policy and promoting effective online safety practice.

Course Units

Introduction

Delivered by subject matter expert, Lorna Ponambalum, the course has been divided into eight easily digestible modules and contains links to further learning and resources throughout, with a knowledge assessment at the end to help you evidence your c...

Module 1: What is the need for online safety?

Module 1 discusses why online safety is so important. It explores how children’s use of technology and the internet evolves as they get older and what kind of risks they may be exposed to online.

Module 2: Your responsibilities as a DSL and deputy DSL in relation to online safety

Module 2 discusses what you must be aware of and understand in your role as the designated safeguarding lead or deputy safeguarding lead. It will define your role and expectations as a DSL and your responsibilities in relation to safeguarding childre...

Module 3: Statutory guidance and the legislative framework in relation to online safety

Module 3 explores the statutory guidance that DSLs must be aware of around online safety in schools. It examines the key policy documents, including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) 2020, as well as curriculum requirements and guidance in r...

Module 4: School policies including the online safety policy and the acceptable use policy

In module 4, you learn about developing and implementing policies which support your school’s online safety provision. You’ll consider the need to ensure policies are inclusive, transparent, relevant and reflective of the current environment.

Module 5: Understanding the risks children face online – unsafe communications

Module 5 looks at the dangers around who children might engage with online (and how they might do it), along with the different ways they may encounter harm. It provides advice and guidance on how schools can take appropriate action.

Module 6: Understanding the risks children face online – managing online information

In module 6, you’ll cover types of online content that children may have control over or access to. You’ll learn to identify the activities which can place their own online information in danger.

Module 7: Understanding the risks children face online – effects on health, wellbeing and lifestyle

In module 7, you’ll learn about some of the online activities that children may become involved in and how technology and social media can negatively impact on children’s mental health, wellbeing and lifestyle.

Module 8: Developing a safe online culture

Module 8 discusses your role in developing a whole-school approach to online safety. It explores reporting mechanisms, referrals, compliance promoting good practice, teaching online safety and providing the necessary support to children.

Module 9: Staff use of digital technologies

Module 9 explores your role in ensuring effective staff use of digital technologies, particularly in support of enhanced teaching and learning and in complying with relevant safeguarding requirements.

Module 10: Safeguarding remote learners

In module 10, you’ll cover what your responsibilities are in relation to safeguarding remote learners in line with DfE requirements. You’ll consider how to ensure children remain safe online through blended learning and in respect of adapted teaching...

About The Expert

Lorna Ponambalum

Senior leader and safeguarding consultant with over 15 years’ experience as a DSL in education.

Find out more

Annual Advanced Certificate in Online Safety for Safeguarding Leads (2020-21)

Available on demand

Available on demand

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About The Course