Articles linked to safeguarding, child protection and DSL responsibilities.
Last updated: October 2025 | 7 min read The internet in 2025 has become both a creative playground and a dangerous minefield for children. From the deadly Nutmeg Challenge causing hospitalizations to the Lip Glue Challenge risking permanent injury, viral social media dares are putting kids at unprecedented risk. With hospital visits from internet challenges … Read more
As a parent in the digital age, I’ve mastered the art of negotiating bedtime with a 9-year-old who’s convinced his avatar just needs one more diamond in Roblox. Picture this: It’s 8 PM, the house is quiet, and suddenly, the living room erupts into a symphony of frantic button-mashing, Shouts of “He stole my Brianrot” … Read more
What is “Brainrot” “Brainrot” in the context of Roblox refers to a popular trend of user-generated games and memes that feature absurd, AI-generated characters, often bizarre hybrid creatures with nonsensical, fun-to-say names like “Ballerina Cappuccina,” “Strawberry Elephant,” or “Tung Tung Sahur.” These characters stem from the broader “Italian Brainrot” internet meme (popularized by Gen Alpha … Read more
In today’s tech-driven world, social media plays a massive role in how young people communicate and express themselves. Platforms like Snapchat have become particularly popular among children and teenagers because of their ephemeral nature — messages, pictures, and videos disappear after a short time, giving users a sense of privacy and spontaneity. While this can … Read more
Creating a Secure and Accessible Online Learning Environment for Students with Disabilities Digital education is becoming increasingly prevalent. Online learning environments must be safe and available to everyone without discrimination. The advent of technology can help us balance online safety with providing educational materials for every learner. Using the right tools and methods, we can … Read more
Embracing Trauma-Informed Practice: A DSL’s Guide to Supporting Vulnerable Children and Families Trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are alarmingly prevalent, affecting millions of children worldwide. According to research, nearly two-thirds of adults have experienced at least one ACE, such as physical or emotional abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or parental substance abuse (NHS Scotland). These … Read more
DSL: Using Supervision for Mastering Counter Transference As a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), you face a demanding and emotionally charged role. Dealing with sensitive safeguarding cases involving child abuse, neglect, or exploitation can trigger a range of emotions and personal biases, known as countertransference, which can potentially compromise your objectivity and decision-making abilities. This is … Read more
The interactive whiteboard may well be the greatest ICT resource available to teachers today. It can also be the biggest waste of money possible. If used as a display device just buy a cheap flat-screen TV. However, for students with SEN the whiteboard can provide some fantastic opportunities for interaction and motivating activities. There are … Read more
I have discussed on many occasions the importance of positive relationships when working with young people. I work with vulnerable student groups, mainly autistic young people, and those who communicate and see the world differently. This relationship dynamic can shape their view of adult to adult and adult to child interactions for their entire lives.
Why is Teaching Online Safety to SEN Pupils so Important? n this blog I will look at why teaching online safety is so important to ensure that our most vulnerable students are supported. What is it that makes students with special educational needs so vulnerable? I am primarily talking about those students with complex needs … Read more
Online Safety is essential. This is not up for argument. But what are the risks for children with special educational needs?
Ideas and Values for Developing a Wellbeing Focussed Curriculum. Links to the original Wellbeing Curriculum posts: Part 1 Part 2: Teaching the wellbeing curriculum It is our job as teachers to remove barriers to learning, in online safety it is often the curriculum that forms a barrier to meaningful learning. The fact that online safety … Read more
This Blog is a follow up to my previous post, my plans and reasoning for the wellbeing Curriculum (My Original Post). In short it was an attempt to give meaning and context to the subjects of PSHE, Citizenship, e-Safety. The subject is timetabled form 11.30 to 3.30 on Mondays with a break for lunch, it … Read more
After Attending the Child Internet Summit I was inspired to develop a new curriculum to replace our PHSE and Citizenship curriculums. I wanted to move the focus for online safety away from computing and ensure that whilst it is threaded throughout the curriculum there was an area we could cohesively focus on online issues. So when we … Read more
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