Prefer to listen to our podcast on this topic? Please play the link below. Smartphone Use Among Children: A Growing Crisis Fueling Calls for National Action Smartphone use among children and adolescents has dominated headlines in recent weeks—an urgency perhaps amplified by the Netflix drama Adolescence. While it may be disheartening that a television drama Read more about The Push for Smartphone Reform[…]
At What2Learn CPD, we’re committed to providing high-quality, impactful training to schools across the UK. As the organisation behind the Online Safety Alliance (OSA), we are excited to announce the launch of our latest initiative: the Teacher Wellbeing Alliance. The Teacher Wellbeing Alliance Awards—offering Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels—are designed to recognise and celebrate schools Read more about Introducing the Teacher Wellbeing Awards[…]
We’re thrilled to share that the OSA’s school package of online safety training for the whole school community, managed by What2Learn Ltd, has been recognised for its incredible impact on thousands of individuals across England! Our commitment to raising awareness and equipping schools with essential online safety knowledge has earned us a place as a Read more about Exciting News![…]
Prefer to listen to our podcast on this topic? Please play the link below. How Organised Crime is Targeting Teenage Boys—and What Needs to Change We have previously reported on sextortion cases in the news, and raising awareness of the risks has long been a part of OSA training, but incidents of this alarming crime Read more about Update: The Sextortion Crisis[…]
Prefer to listen to our podcast on this topic? Please play the link below. Cyber-Attacks on UK Schools: An Escalating Threat Demanding Urgent Action The UK education sector is facing an unprecedented surge in cyber-attacks, with schools, colleges, and universities increasingly falling victim to ransomware, phishing schemes, and financial fraud. These attacks not only disrupt Read more about Cybersecurity Threats to Schools[…]
Prefer to listen to our podcast on this topic? Please play the link below. The UK’s online safety regulator, Ofcom, has taken a significant step forward in enforcing the Online Safety Act by publishing its first Codes of Practice to tackle illegal online harms. These new regulations set out clear expectations for online platforms, search Read more about Ofcom Publishes First Online Safety Act Codes of Practice[…]
Prefer to listen to our podcast on this topic? Please play the link below. Across England and Europe, a significant shift is underway to ban or severely restrict smartphone use in schools. Concerns over the “catastrophic” impact of smartphones on student mental health, learning, and social development have driven this movement, with increasing support from Read more about School Smartphone Bans Grow[…]
The Escalating Crisis of Online Child Grooming: A Call for Stronger Protections Prefer to listen to our podcast on this topic? Please play the link below. Online child grooming offences have reached record levels in the UK, with recent data revealing a dramatic rise in cases. Reports indicate an 89% national increase since 2017-18, with Read more about Update: Online Grooming[…]
The OSA’s popular CPD-accredited course, Online Safety for School Staff, has been comprehensively updated for the 2024-25 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 Read more about Online Safety CPD, Updates for 2024[…]
Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Hove is taking a strict new approach to mobile phone use by introducing Yondr pouches, which will lock students’ devices away for the entire school day. The school’s decision follows concerns that its existing no-phone policy was not being effectively enforced, creating a significant burden on staff. Under the new Read more about Phone Pouches in Schools[…]
Unlock Comprehensive Online Safety Education with Our Full School Package! Empower your entire school community with our all-inclusive subscription! The Full School Package provides unparalleled access to a suite of transformative online safety and cyber security courses, ensuring a holistic approach to digital well-being. What’s Included: Why Subscribe to the Full School Package? 💡 Subscribe Read more about OSA – Whole School Package[…]
In an era where smartphones are an everyday part of life, the UK government has announced new guidance backing schools in banning mobile phones throughout the school day, including break times. The aim? To minimise disruption, improve behaviour, and reduce issues like online bullying, distraction, and the negative impact of excessive screen time on young Read more about Government Supports Phone Ban[…]
Important Update: Google Sign-In for Online Safety Alliance We want to inform you about changes to how you access Online Safety Alliance courses through Google Sign-In, especially if your school relies on Google credentials. These changes are set to take effect after October 23, 2023. To ensure uninterrupted access, your school’s Google Workspace for Education Read more about Update for schools using Google logins[…]
After years of slow progress, September 2023 has seen the Online Safety Bill pass the final steps required to become law. This groundbreaking legislation is set to have a huge impact on the digital landscape and child protection, but what does it mean for schools? In this summary video, the OSA explains what the Online Read more about The Online Safety Bill Is Passing Into Law![…]
The OSA online safety CPD training for school staff is an accredited course ensuring those working with children have an up-to-date knowledge of the statutory requirements they must meet, the threats to children online, how to reduce these risks, and guidance on ensuring staff use of digital technology is safe and responsible. Thank you for Read more about Accredited CPD – school package[…]
Stay Current with Online Safety: Introducing the Online Safety Updates Course Are you a dedicated school staff member who has already completed our comprehensive Online Safety course in a previous year? We understand the importance of keeping your knowledge up-to-date, without revisiting the entire course. That’s why we’re excited to introduce the Online Safety Updates Read more about Online Safety Updates for School Staff, 2023-24[…]