The OSA’s popular CPD-accredited course, Online Safety for School Staff, has been comprehensively updated for the 2025-26 academic year. We strive to keep this course as accurate and current as possible, ensuring participants are well-informed of the latest statutory requirements, official guidance, and online risks that affect both children and school staff.
Although the changes to KCSIE for 2024 are relatively limited compared to previous years, Online Safety for School Staff has undergone its most substantial update since the course’s original launch.
Below is a detailed change log outlining the content updates made to Online Safety for School Staff.
Module One: Official Guidance And Statutory Requirements
New slides added to detail relevant updates in KCSIE, including:
- Expanded Categories of Online Harm
- New Filtering and Monitoring Resources
- Clarification on Cybersecurity Standards
- New links and resources added to KCSIE
New slides added to detail online safety-related updates to RHSE requirements, effective September 2026.
Clarified filtering and monitoring requirements and responsibilities, as per KCSIE.
Updated government advice on smartphones in schools.
Details added on relevant impacts of the enforcement of the Online Safety Act.
Module Two: Understanding The Social Media Landscape
Added data from the May 2025 Ofcom report on children’s media use.
Updated statistics on the usage of different social media platforms.
Updated details on new features of social media platforms.
Updated case studies and statistics on the impacts of social media platforms throughout.
A new slide has been added on parental abuse of teachers through WhatsApp groups.
Module Three: Understanding Online Harms
3.1: Sexual Risks and Exploitation
Statistics on online grooming crimes updated using NSPCC data (July 2024).
Latest statistics from IWF added.
Grooming case studies updated.
New slide added: ‘Sextortion and Deepfakes: New Risks for Young People’.
New slide added: ‘Age Verification Requirements Under the Online Safety Act’
New slide added: ‘Emerging Challenges: VPN Use and Circumvention’
3.2: Navigating Digital Information
Multiple slides added on conspiracy theories in line with updated KCSIE.
Added NASUWT guidance on disinformation leading to racism and misogyny.
New slide added on the rise of exam influencers.
Updated government statistics relating to Prevent.
Updated ONS statistics on knife crime.
Added new slides to summarise DfE / Ofsted Guidance on Artificial Intelligence.
3.3: Further Online Harms
Reference added to NCA warning about sadistic online harm groups.
Added updated trolling case study.
Updated statistics on bullying from OSA survey.
Updated NHS statistics and guidance on mental health issues for children.
Added guidance on muscle dysmorphia to section on Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
Updated statistics on gaming and gambling (sourced from Ofcom, ADL and The Gambling Commission).
Updated explanation of the regulation of gaming features.
New slides added relating to scams as per KCSIE new requirements relating to Commerce.
Module Four: Supporting Children’s Online Safety
Added The Lucy Faithfull Foundation as a source of support, as per updated KCSIE.
Module Five: Staff Use Of Digital Technology
Updated TRA case studies throughout.
Updated statistics using UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025.
Get your access to the OSA’s Online Safety CPD-accredited training here.