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22 May 2018
By Rebecca Avery

Online Safety within Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018

On the 17th May 2018 the Department for Education (DfE)  published the updated ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (KCSIE) guidance ready for implementation from the 3rd September 2018. Schools and Colleges must comply with KCSIE 2016 until that date.

KCSIE is statutory guidance from the DfE; all schools and colleges must have regard to it when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; schools and colleges should comply with the guidance unless exceptional circumstances arise.

Rebecca Avery, Education Safeguarding Adviser (Online Protection) within the Education Safeguarding Team. has put together a briefing for Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and educational setting leadership teams regarding the changes in relation to online safety.

The document focuses on elements of KCSIE 2018 relevant to online safety specifically and highlights additions and changes from KCSIE 2016. It is recommended that DSLs and leaders read the entire KCSIE 2018 document when evaluating their current safeguarding practice and considering required actions for September 2018.

Summary of key changes related to online safety:

  • All staff should undergo safeguarding and child protection training (including online safety) at induction
  • The updated guidance includes a new section (Part 5) on Child on child sexual violence and sexual harassment, which can occur both on and offline
  • New or more detailed information on safeguarding issues, which can include online issues
  • Online safety is specifically referenced as part of the responsibility for the DSL within Annex B; The role of the DSL
  • There is an expectation that DSLs will access appropriate training to ensure they are able to understand the unique risks associated with online safety, recognise the additional risks that children with SEN and disabilities (SEND) face online and have the relevant knowledge and up to date capability required to keep children safe whilst they are online
  • Additional links have been added to supporting materials in annex C, online safety

This document is available for educational settings to use to help consider their online safety practice. Other organisations may use the document for educational (not for profit) use only, with credit to the Education People.