Issue #3 – 8th May 2026
Tech & Training: Safeguarding Updates & EdTech Opportunities
By Phillippa Chippendale โ ICT in Schools Team
Hello everyone, and welcome to your weekly 5-minute Friday digest! Weโve gathered the latest updates in technology, education, and classroom innovation to keep you up to speed. This week, we have critical online safeguarding alerts from CEOP, an important warning about a dangerous viral toy trend, and some great upcoming CPD opportunities.
Let’s dive in!
๐ Crucial Safeguarding Updates from CEOP
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Education team has released several new resources and critical guidance for schools and families.
๐น๏ธ Band Runner: New Interactive Scenarios
Band Runner is an interactive game designed to test childrenโs knowledge on online threats and help them make safer choices. CEOP has recently updated the game with new, relevant scenarios that accurately reflect the modern online experiences of 8 to 10-year-olds.
- New Topics Covered: Livestreaming, online gaming, and in-game chat.
- Accessibility Update: The game now features a built-in voice-over function so children can click to have questions and answers read aloud.
๐ฑ ‘What to Do When…’ Parent Poster
CEOP has created a handy visual guide to help parents navigate tough digital milestones and worries. The poster signposts parents and carers to practical advice for when:
- A child asks for their first phone.
- Parents worry about who their child is talking to while gaming.
- A child wants to join social media.
- There is concern about inappropriate content, nude images, or online blackmail.
๐ Download the ‘What to Do When’ Poster Here
๐ฅ Demystifying the CEOP Safety Centre
To support secondary-aged students, CEOP has released a new “Reporting to CEOP” video. This resource explains what the Safety Centre is, how to navigate the reporting form, and what happens after a report is assessed. It is an excellent tool to share during PSHE lessons or wider pastoral discussions.
๐ค CEOP AI: Protecting School Imagery
With the rise of generative AI, the manipulation of images taken from school websites and social media channels has become a serious safeguarding threat. Protecting student imagery must be a high priority for every educational setting.
The UK Online Harms Early Warning Working Group has developed vital image security guidance designed to:
- Raise awareness across organizations working with youth.
- Support the responsible management and protection of online imagery.
- Offer an actionable staff checklist to help prevent, recognize, and respond to image-based abuse.
โ ๏ธ Urgent Safety Alert: NEEDOH / Jelly Cube Viral Trend
We want to draw your attention to a highly dangerous viral trend currently circulating on social media apps like TikTok.
Children are microwaving squishy silicone toys (such as NeeDoh or Jelly Cubes) because online videos claim it makes them softer and more pliable. In reality, when the toys are squeezed afterward, they burst and spray boiling liquid material, causing severe burns to children’s hands and faces. Serious injuries have already been reported in the US and the UK, including a recent incident in Bristol.
Staff & Parent Action Required: Please speak with your children about the dangers of this trend. Crucially, do not search for this challenge on social media platforms. Every search feeds the algorithm, increasing the video’s reach and making it visible to even more children.
๐ Upcoming CPD & Training Courses
Note: All courses listed below are FREE to schools within our service agreement. External schools are welcome to attend for ยฃ40 + VAT.
Upskill Your Staff with “Duo Courses”
Our Duo courses are designed to help you maximize your school’s curriculum points. Teachers attend the training session, and then book a half-day class visit to The Word to practice their skills. Attending teachers receive a 50% points discount on the class visit (30 points instead of 60)! (Please note: The attending teacher must be present at the half-day session for professional development, and schools can only claim the reduced rate once per specific Duo course).
Mark Your Calendars:
- Duo Course: Y4 Repetition in Shapes โ Pictoblox | 19th May, 4:00 PM
- AI Champions Network Termly Meeting | 21st May, 4:00 PM
- Duo Course: Y2/3 Stikbot Animation | 9th June, 4:00 PM
- Summer Termly Website Clinic (Virtual) | 10th June, 1:30 PM
๐จ To book your spot on any of these courses or meetings, please email Julia directly at [email protected].
๐ Curriculum Bookings 2026/2027
It is already time to look ahead to the next academic year! How do you plan to use your allocated 180 curriculum points for 2026โ2027?
Popular dates fill up quickly. Please get in touch with the team NOW to guarantee your preferred calendar dates.
Thank you for reading this week’s digest! Stay tuned next week for more EdTech news, leadership tips, and practical classroom ideas. If you have a specific topic you would like us to cover, please reach out with your feedback.
Have a wonderful, safe weekend!
Phillippa
ICT in Schools Team