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, anti-Semitism, radicalisation, extremism, misinformation, disinformation (including fake news) and conspiracy theories
  • 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
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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 online safety related policy templates and guidance

Online safety is addressed within the LESAS Child Protection Policy template. Standalone acceptable use policy templates and mobile and smart technology and social media policy templates can be found on the safeguarding policies and guidance page.

The social media and mobile and smart device policy templates were updated and republished in March 2026 to reflect updated non-statutory guidance regarding mobile phones in schools . New/amended content for version two is highlighted in grey.

LESAS has also supported KSCMP to develop local multi-agency 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 D of KCSIE also contains additional online safety resources and links.

Resources to share with parents/carers