Source: IICSA
Date: 17 December 2020

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has published a report looking at child sexual abuse in schools in England and Wales. Analysis of 691 accounts of victims and survivors who were sexually abused in the context of schools – including residential, non-residential, state and independent schools between the 1940s and 2010s found that: the majority of perpetrators reported were male teachers or other educational staff who often manipulated and groomed children and young people and staff and parents in order to facilitate sexual abuse; 15% of participants reported sexual abuse perpetrated by peers or older children; and independent and special schools were disproportionately represented in participants’ accounts of sexual abuse in education settings.

Read the news story: Child sexual abuse committed in schools was open secret, survivors tell Inquiry
Read the report: Truth Project thematic report: child sexual abuse in the context of schools (PDF)

Source: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, UK Council for Internet Safety
Date: 23 December 2020

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and  the UK Council for Internet Safety have published guidance to support designated safeguarding leads and senior leadership teams in education settings in England in responding to incidents involving the sharing of nudes and semi-nudes and safeguarding children and young people. The guidance covers: risk assessing incidents; safeguarding and supporting children and young people; handling devices and imagery; recording incidents; and providing education on the sharing of nudes and semi-nudes.

Read the guidance:Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people

See also on NSPCC Learning 
> Sexting: advice for professionals

Source: UK Safer Internet Centre
Date: 14 December 2020

The UK Safer Internet Centre and the South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) have released a pilot version of a digital wellbeing resource to support children and young people aged 11-14 in learning about what determines and drives their behaviour. The tool includes an interactive module which allows young people to do self-reflection, understand their behaviour and come up with strategies for managing it in a positive way.

Read the news story:UK Safer Internet Centre Partner SWGfL pilot a new digital wellbeing tool

Source: Childnet
Date: 03 December 2020

Childnet has launched a teaching toolkit for educators to support the online safety of young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) in Key Stages 3 and 4 in England.

Read the news story: Looking at online safety with young people with SEND – New resource from Childnet

Access the toolkit: STAR SEND Toolkit

Source: Department for Education (DfE)
Date: 02 December 2020

The Department for Education is consulting on revised standards for boarding schools and residential special schools in England. The standards will replace the current national minimum standards which were published in 2015. The consultation closes on 23 February 2021.

Read the news story: Standards for boarding schools and residential special schools
Read the consultation document: Standards for boarding schools and residential special schools Government consultation (PDF)