Online Safety and Harms Course

• Refresher training
• Inductions
• Awareness
• Knowledge enhancement

Online Safety and Harms Online Training: Who is this for?

The Online Safety and Harms online training is designed to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognise, prevent, and respond to risks and threats associated with online environments. In the UK context, where digital technology is deeply embedded in everyday life, especially among children and young people, this training is pivotal in promoting safe and responsible use of the internet and digital devices.

1. School Teachers and Educators
   Educators across primary, secondary, and further education settings play a critical role in promoting safe online behaviours among pupils. This training helps teachers understand the online risks young people face, such as cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, grooming, and online exploitation. It equips them to incorporate effective online safety education into their curriculums and to support pupils in using technology responsibly.

2. Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and School Safeguarding Teams
   DSLs and safeguarding staff are responsible for managing and responding to online safety incidents within schools. This course enables them to develop and implement robust online safeguarding policies, procedures, and risk assessments and coordinate effective responses to concerns raised about pupils’ online activities.

3. Parents, Carers and Guardians
   As children increasingly access digital technologies at home, parents and carers must be aware of potential online harms and how to mitigate them. This training provides practical guidance for families to create safe home internet environments, understand privacy settings, identify early signs of online harm, and communicate effectively with children about online risks.

4. Youth Workers and Early Years Practitioners
   Professionals working in youth clubs, childcare settings, and community organisations benefit from this training by learning how to raise awareness of online safety among the young people they support, promote positive digital behaviours, and identify signs of exploitation or harm linked to online activity.

5. School Governors and Leadership Teams
   Governors and school leaders have a strategic responsibility to ensure schools provide an environment that safeguards pupils from online harm. This training provides them with awareness of their role in governance, policy-making, and resource allocation related to online safety.

6. IT and Network Administrators in Education Settings
   Those responsible for managing school IT infrastructure will benefit from the course by understanding the technological safeguards available, including filtering, monitoring, and data protection protocols, to help reduce risks at a technical level.

7. Healthcare and Social Care Professionals Working with Children and Young People
   Professionals such as nurses, social workers, and safeguarding officers who interact with children and families can use this training to better understand the online environments affecting their clients, enabling early identification and intervention in cases of online harm.

The Online Safety and Harms online training is essential for all professionals and carers involved in the education, care, and safeguarding of children and young people across the UK. By completing this course, participants will be better prepared to create safer online environments, educate children effectively on digital risks, and respond promptly and appropriately to online safety concerns. This training supports safeguarding commitments and contributes to the wellbeing and protection of young people in an increasingly digital world.