Learning hub enhancements to support schools with remote safeguarding and online CPD during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Project summary
National Education Group Ltd operate as two programmes; National Online Safety (NOS) and The National College (TNC).

National Online Safety (www.nationalonlinesafety.com)

NOS support schools to meet their statutory safeguarding duties to keep children safe online. We provide training and resources to the whole school community, including all school staff, teachers, governors and parents through our online Learning Hub.

The demand for our service has significantly increased since the closure of schools due to COVID-19. Schools still have a safeguarding responsibility, albeit remotely, and never has online safety been such a prevalent issue due to children spending an increased amount of time online, be it for remote learning or entertainment.

The National College (www.thenationalcollege.co.uk)

TNC provide remote video CPD for school leaders and teachers. School leaders can access up-to-the minute video webinars to respond effectively to change, such as policy updates, new practice or the latest education research. Teachers have access to a library of statutory and responsive CPD.

School leaders use our service to stay updated on the changes and updates as a result of COVID-19. Many schools have also instructed teachers to complete remote CPD in the period of school closures.

The Learning Hub

NOS and TNC share the same infrastructure to deliver our service, known publicly as The Learning Hub. The Learning Hub provides schools with the ability to share training and resources to parents, staff, teachers, governors and school leaders. They can track completion and evidence compliance through downloadable certificates and management reporting.

We will use this funding to further develop The Learning Hub to support both TNC and NOS. We aim to improve our infrastructure, such as hosting and application optimisation, in order to handle the increased demand as well as adding some new features requested by our users as a result of COVID-19. These are:

* Providing all of our guides through a mobile application so that they can be easily accessed by parents.
* Including the ability for schools to add their own CPD to our Learning Hub. Many schools are recording their own updates and training that they want to share.
* Improving the report functionality for schools to be able to manage training effectively whilst being remote.

The extension for impact funding will focus on increasing the impact and speed to market of our iOS and Android application. This will also include developing the app to international expansion.

Lead Participant

Project Cost

Grant Offer

NATIONAL EDUCATION GROUP LTD £71,639 £ 71,639
 

Participant

INNOVATE UK

Publications

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