Advanced Certificate in Online Safety for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinators (SENDCos)

About the Course

Duration: 101 mins (approx)

Children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities can face additional safeguarding challenges online. They often experience more online harms than their peers and can be vulnerable to online risks such as cyberbullying, online grooming and exploitation. SENDCOs play a central role in safeguarding pupils with SEND. They are a core element of ensuring relevant policies are adhered to, co-ordinating SEND provision and providing the necessary support that SEND and vulnerable learners need.

Our Advanced Certificate in Online Safety for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinators (SENDCos) provides you with the core content you need to ensure adherence with your online safety statutory requirements. 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.

Delivered by subject matter expert, Lorna Ponambalum, the course has been divided into seven easily digestible 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 2020
Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education 2019
Teaching Online Safety in Schools 2019

Learning Outcomes

Understanding the roles and responsibilities of a SENDCo 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.

Modules

Module 1: Your responsibilities as a SENDCO in relation to online safety

Module 1 will discuss what you must be aware of and understand in your role as a special educational needs and disabilities coordinator. It will define your role and expectations as a SENDCO and your responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children online.

Module 2: Statutory guidance and the legislative framework in relation to online safety

Module 2 will explore the statutory guidance that SENDCos must be aware of around online safety in schools. It will look at the key policy documents, including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) 2020, as well as curriculum requirements and guidance from the UKCIS.

Module 3: School policies including the Online Safety Policy and the Acceptable Use policy

In module 3 you will learn about the need to develop and implement different polices which will support you school’s online safety provision. It will discuss the need to ensure policies are inclusive, transparent, relevant and reflective of the current environment.

Module 4: Understanding the online risks to children

Module 4 will explore different risk factors in depth. You will learn about different types of content, unsafe communication, conduct online and the effects of online harms and risks on children’s wellbeing, mental health and lifestyle.

Module 5: Developing a safe online culture

Module 5 will discuss your role in developing a whole school approach to online safety in schools. It will explore reporting mechanisms, referrals, compliance promoting good practice, teaching online safety and providing the necessary support to children.

Module 6: Safeguarding remote learners

In module 6 you will cover what your responsibilities are in relation to safeguarding remote learners in line with DfE requirements and ensuring they continue to remain safe online through blended learning and in respect adapted teaching and learning due to COVID-19.

Module 7: Staff use of digital technologies

Module 7 will explore your role in ensuring effective staff use of digital technologies, particularly in supporting enhanced teaching and learning and in complying with relevant safeguarding requirements.