As children head back to school, it’s important to give them the tools they need to make positive choices online. See our advice and guidance below for how you can help your child make the most of their school year.
Headteacher Mr Burton offers 5 tips to help parents make online safety collaborative as children head back to school.
Be familiar with the platforms schools use for online learning and how kids submit their work online, whether that’s homework or classwork. There have been instances of some children telling their parents that they have to submit their homework via Fortnite but I can guarantee this will never be the case!
Familiarise yourself with the school’s online safety and learning policies. Schools should have them on their websites for parents and carers to access. This will include information around the websites and apps they might use to support children’s learning across subjects. Additionally, you can learn about their online safety curriculum.
Have an open and honest conversation with your child about the normal risks of the online world. Over the school break, children's ideas of what's acceptable to send or say online versus face-to-face might have become slightly skewed.
Familiarise yourself with what your child’s school day looks like online and off. Do they have a time limit for submitting work? Are teachers sending examples through with a task for students to complete? Every school will be slightly different, so it’s best to know what it looks like for your child.
Work together with the school to best support your child. Only by working together can we keep children safe online, which is ultimately the most important thing.
Whether your child is just starting primary, transitioning to secondary or settling into their GCSE year, there are online risks and challenges. Choose a guide below to help them start the school year safely.
Support your primary-aged child as they head back to school. At primary school, children start using more technology, so it’s important to build good habits as they experience many digital firsts.
SEE PRIMARY SCHOOL GUIDEIf your child is moving from primary to secondary school, it’s important to understand what new challenges they might face online – from managing passwords to communicating in new ways.
SEE TRANSITION GUIDEAs children age, parents are less likely to engage them in online safety. Unfortunately, this leaves them at greater risk for harm during an important moment in their digital life.
SEE SECONDARY GUIDEFrom safeguarding to online safety policies, here's what you can expect from your child's school when it comes to their digital safety.
All schools across the UK have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of their pupils. You can explore the official guidance that schools follow below:
While specifics and wording might change, general guidance explains that:
Each country in the UK has their own curriculum guidance on online safety. Generally, the outcomes will be similar across nations. However, language and depth of the guidance will change.
All schools must have regard to the statutory guidance- Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). Amongst other things KCSIE says:
Schools should teach children about safeguarding, including online safety. This should be considered as part of providing a broad and balanced curriculum and many schools will utilise PSHE. The PSHE association provide guidance for schools on developing their PSHE curriculum.
Online safety is also covered at all key stages in the national curriculum for computing. It is compulsory in maintained schools and can be used as a benchmark by academies and free schools. Pupils are taught how to keep personal information private, how to use technology safely and respectfully, and where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.
Finally, Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is required teaching in schools. The curriculum covers relationships and behaviour in both online and offline spaces.
Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence outlines how staff can take care of pupils’ health and wellbeing across the curriculum. It states that:
It covers relationships, physical wellbeing, social wellbeing and helping children take control of their mental health and wellbeing.
In the Technologies curriculum, teachers must also cover Digital Literacy, which includes:
Wales provides online safety guidance to schools via their Keeping Learners Safe guidance. It states that:
The document also includes additional guidance for schools on nude/semi-nude image sharing and harmful online challenges or hoaxes. Additionally, the document signposts further resources and guidance for school governors.
Wales’ national curriculum also covers online safety through PSE and RSE outcomes, especially those related to relationships and wellbeing.
The Northern Ireland Education Authority signposts resources to support with online safety in schools or at home. It encourages the use of digital technology across subject areas to improve children’s understanding of tech for different purposes. The guidance also outlines the importance of giving children the opportunity to “understand how to keep safe and display acceptable online behaviour.”
Additionally, the CCEA of Northern Ireland provides guidance on eSafety, including enhancing digital literacy across curriculum areas. They include particular guidance on how to do this with ICT.
