Online safety
The breadth of issues classified within online safety is considerable, but can be categorised into four areas of risk:
- content - being exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful content For example, pornography, fake news, racism, misogyny, self-harm, suicide, anti-semitism, radicalisation and extremism
- contact - being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users. For example, peer to peer pressure, commercial advertising and adults posing as children with the intention to groom or exploit them for sexual, criminal, financial or other purposes
- conduct - personal online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes, harm. For example, making, sending and receiving explicit images (for example, consensual and non-consensual sharing of nude and semi-nude images or videos) and/or pornography or other explicit images and online or cyber bullying
- commerce - financial risks such as online gambling, inappropriate advertising, phishing and/or financial scams.
It is essential that children are safeguarded from potentially harmful and inappropriate online material and behaviours. An effective approach to online safety enables educational settings to empower, protect and educate learners and staff in their use of technology and establishes mechanisms to identify, intervene in and escalate any concerns where appropriate.
Local online safety guidance, training and resources
LESAS have specialist online safety staff who are responsible for supporting the delivery and oversight of online safeguarding arrangements in the Kent children’s workforce, including schools, education settings and early years childcare settings.
LESAS provide specific strategic online safety advice and guidance and develop links with relevant local and national agencies and can be commissioned to provide bespoke online safety training and reviews.
Resources and guidance for Kent schools and settings can be accessed through the LADO Educational Safeguarding Advisory Service (LESAS).
LESAS policy templates and guidance
Acceptable use policy templates and mobile and smart technology and social media policy templates can be found on the safeguarding policies and guidance page.
- Online tools and platforms risk assessment form
- Dealing with complaints on social media - guidance for headteachers and managers
- Image use policy template and guidance
- Safer remote learning during Covid-19 - information for school leaders and DSLs
- Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024: online safety summary for DSLs and leaders
- Engaging parents and carers with children's use of apps
- Online safety FAQ - how can we get families more involved in online safety?
- Online safety alerts - think before you scare
Additionally, LESAS has supported KSCMP to develop local multi-agency guidance:
- Kent and Medway nude and semi-nude image sharing guidance
- Kent and Medway safer professional practice with technology FAQs
LESAS commissioned resources and support
- Online safety policy toolkit
- Social media toolkit
- Whole school online safety training pack for DSLs
- Making informed decisions about filtering and monitoring
- E-learning - online safeguarding for early years practitioners
- E-Learning - online safeguarding for EYDSLs and managers
- Bespoke online safety staff training
- Online safety for DSLs
- Online safety ambassador training for primary schools
Strategic online safety advice for Kent education settings
If you have a strategic online safety enquiry (not related to an individual child or children), would like to enquire about online safety training or our other online safety products and services, please use the LESAS enquiry form
If you have an online safety concern relating to the safety or welfare of a child(ren), please follow KSCMP guidance and contact the Front Door service as appropriate through the Kent Integrated Children's Services portal
National online safety guidance and resources
Department for Education (DfE)
- Keeping Children Safe In Education (KCSIE)
- Teaching online safety in schools
- Filtering and monitoring standards for schools and colleges
- Cyber security standards for schools and colleges
- Meeting digital and technology standards in schools and colleges
- Harmful online challenges and online hoaxes
- National Cyber Security Centre
- Preventing and tackling bullying
- Mobile phones in schools
UKCIS
- Sharing nudes and semi-nudes - advice for education settings working with children and young people
- Challenging victim blaming language and behaviours when dealing with the online experiences of children and young people
- Using external expertise to enhance online safety education - guidance for education settings
- Education for a connected world
Helplines and support
- NPCC - 'when to call the police’
- CEOP - report online sexual abuse
- UK Safer Internet Centre:
- Internet Watch Foundation
- Childline
- GOV.UK - report online material promoting terrorism or extremism
- Lucy Faithfull
- Action Fraud
- GamCare and BigDeal
- Cyber Choices
- IWF Childline - Report Remove tool
Curriculum resources, including resources to use with children at greater risk of harm
Annex D of KCSIE also contains additional online safety resources and links
- Childnet
- Trust me
- Step Up Speak Up - online sexual harassment resources (11 to 18)
- 'Just a joke?' - online sexual harassment resources (9 to 12)
- Online sexual bullying or harassment advice for parents and carers (9 to 18)
- STAR SEND toolkit (11 to 18)
- Crossing the line PSHE toolkit
- It's only a game
- Thrive online - helping educators, parents and carers to support young people aged 11 and over with SEND
- Supporting LGBT children online
- Being smart with your smartphone
- NCA-CEOP Education
- UK Safer Internet Centre
- PHE: Mental Wellbeing
- LGfL: Going too far
- TES Digital Citizenship
- CBBC Own It
- BBC Bitesize
- NSPCC
- Internet Matters
- Project Evolve
- PSHE Association:
- Parent Zone
Resources to share with parents and carers