Online Safety
The internet is a big part of children’s lives in the UK, with children spending 2 to 5 hours online daily (OFCOM, 2024). It helps them make friends, learn, and be creative. However, the internet also has risks, such as exposure to harmful content and online abuse.
Schools have a duty to ensure children are protected and taught how to keep themselves safe. Filtering, monitoring and a robust online safety curriculum all form part of this duty.
However, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and while it is never possible to remove risk entirely, parents and carers also have a duty to ensure their children are kept safe and are able to manage risk effectively both in the real world and online. Our parental guide is designed to help families to develop safe and healthy internet use using the TECH approach. It is research-based, practical and trauma-informed.
Schools are expected to support families to understand and implement T.E.C.H Safeguarding Guidance
T - TALK - Encourage two-way communication with your child
E - EDUCATE - Stay informed about the latest online risks
C - CO-VIEW - Spend time online together
H - HOUSE RULES - Set clear rules for internet use
Helpful Guides for Specific Online Risks:
- Report sexual abuse images/videos here: Report online child sexual abuse imagery or 'child pornography' (iwf.org.uk)
- Parental guidance of sexual image-sharing: Parent guide to sexual image-sharing among kids | Internet Matters
- Resources to tackle online grooming: Online grooming resources | Internet Matters
- Resources to protect children for radicalisation and grooming: Radicalisation of young children online | Internet Matters
- Resources to support your child if they are being bullied: How can I help my child if they are being bullied? | NSPCC
- Resources to tackle cyberbullying: Resources to deal with cyberbullying | Internet Matters
- Guidance for online abuse: How to talk about harassment and abuse online | Internet Matters
- Resources on racism and racial bullying: Racism and racial bullying | Childline
- Supporting LGBTQ+ children online: Supporting LGBTQ children and young people online | Internet Matters
- Resources to tackle harm from inappropriate content: Learn about inappropriate content online | Internet Matters
- Resources to protect children’s privacy and identity online: Online identity theft facts and advice for parents | Internet Matters
- Resources to manage in-game spending: How to manage in-game spending:
- Quick Guide to Filtering and Monitoring - Attached