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, racism, misogyny, self-harm, suicide, antisemitism, radicalisation, extremism, extreme sexual or physical violence, misinformation, disinformation (including fake news) and conspiracy theories.
  • Contact – being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users or generative AI applications that simulate this; for example: peer-to-peer pressure, commercial advertising, and adults posing as children or young adults with the intention to groom or exploit them for sexual, criminal, financial or other purposes.
  • Conduct – online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes, harm; for example, making, sending and receiving explicit images, including those generated using AI, and online bullying.
  • Commerce – 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 content, contact, conduct and commerce risks. An effective approach to online safety empowers, protects and educates children, young people and staff in their use of technology, while establishing clear mechanisms to identify, respond to and escalate concerns where appropriate. This includes considering emerging technologies and online trends, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and their potential safeguarding implications.

Local online safety guidance, training and resources
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LESAS has specialist online safety staff who support the delivery and oversight of online safeguarding arrangements across the Kent children's workforce, including schools, colleges, early years providers and childcare settings. The team provides strategic online safety advice and guidance for education settings, develops links with relevant local and national organisations, and can be commissioned to deliver bespoke online safety training, reviews and consultancy support.


LESAS online safety related policy templates and guidance

Online safety is addressed within the LESAS Child Protection Policy templates and should be reflected throughout a setting's safeguarding arrangements.

LESAS also provides a range of standalone  policies, templates and guidance documents to support education settings in developing a comprehensive approach to online safeguarding.

KSCMP guidance

LESAS online safety commissioned resources and support

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
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Department for Education (DfE)

UKCIS

Helplines and Support

Curriculum resources, including resources to use with children at greater risk of harm

Annex A of KCSIE also contains additional online safety resources and links.

Resources to share with parents/carers