Package of online safety measures announced

Keeping children safe in education is statutory guidance that all schools and colleges must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. In December the government announced that all schools will be required to put in place strengthened measures to protect children from harm online – including cyber bullying, pornography and the risk of radicalisation.

Under the proposals currently out for consultation, all schools will:

• need to have appropriate filters and monitoring systems, so that no child can access harmful content via the school’s IT systems and concerns can be spotted quickly
• be required to ensure that they teach their pupils about safeguarding, including online

Read more: here

Practical guides on social media

The government made internet safety a compulsory part of the new curriculum in 2014. Schools can also teach e-safety during PSHE lessons and they are all required by law to have measures in place to prevent bullying and cyber bullying. Read more about cyberbullying here: Advice for headteachers and school staff 

In July the government issued new advice to all schools and childcare providers to coincide with the new prevent duty and social media guidance, introduced as part of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, which legally requires a range of organisations including schools, local authorities, prisons, police and health bodies to take steps to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.

The government is now looking to bolster these measures with a further package of measures to help keep children safe online including:

1. Guide to help parents keep their children safe online – designed to help children understand the risks and benefits of social media, and prevent risks becoming problems.
2. Thinkuknow website – the new site offers a completely refreshed suite of articles and guidance on all aspects of child internet safety, as well as providing specific advice for parents and carers on preventing their children from becoming victims of sexual abuse and exploitation both online and in the ‘real world’
3. New online training is also being launched for professionals, including nurses, doctors and teachers who work with children and young people, to equip them with the tools they need to handle online risks and support young people in today’s digital world