National Online Safety

Indepth

Resources

#LiveSkills

Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4
#LiveSkills is a package of resources focusing on live streaming. It explores the nuanced features of live streaming, and the specific risks children and young people can face. Live streaming is increasingly becoming one of the most popular . . . online activities for children and young people and most apps now have live streaming functions.
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Band Runner

Key Stage 2
Band Runner is a fun runner-style game for 8-10 year olds on the Thinkuknow website. The game features some familiar faces: Sam, Alfie and Ellie from the Play Like Share animations are continuing their adventures and helping children to . . . build their knowledge, confidence and skills to stay safe from sexual abuse and other risks they might encounter online.
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Be internet legends

Key Stage 2
ParentZone have worked with Google to provide a free scheme of work for KS2. Teachers can order one pack each but more than one pack per school can be ordered. The lesson plans are accredited by the PSHE Association and these are . . . accompanied by stickers and a poster. The scheme consists of five pillars to be Sharp, Alert, Secure, Kind and Brave. The children are also encouraged to share information with parents and carers.  Schools can also request an assembly from the Google Internet Legends team by ticking a box on the order form.
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Digital Matters

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2
The Digital Matters platform uses free interactive lessons and dynamic storytelling to help teachers engage young people in online safety lessons. Following UKCIS’ Education for a Connected World Framework and created by Internet Matters, . . . Digital Matters covers a range of online safety lesson topics ranging from cyberbullying to fake news to password security and more. It engages children through quiz-style and story-based learning while promoting discussion in the classroom to promote a safer internet.
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Digital resilience

Key Stage 3
Digital resilience is a key skill that we want young people to develop. Whilst going online can be incredibly fun and enjoyable there can also be times when a young person can feel upset, not good enough or left out. These are the occasions . . . when young people will need strategies to help themselves and also to help their friends if they are having a difficult time online. This lesson aims to look at the positive and negative experiences young people have online, consider the impact they may have and devise ways to build digital resilience.
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Videos

Links

Be Internet Legends (Google)

Helping children be safe and confident explorers of the online world, To make the most of the internet, children need to make smart decisions. Be Internet Legends empowers younger children to use the web safely and wisely, so they can be confident explorers of the online world.

Website

CEOP Safety Centre

Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online? Make a report to one of CEOP’s Child Protection Advisors

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Childline

Childline is here to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, our trained counsellors are here to support you. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night. Get help and advice about a wide range of issues, call us on 0800 1111, talk to a counsellor online, send Childline an email or post on the message boards.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Childnet

Childnet International is a non-profit organisation working with others to help make the internet a great and safe place for children.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Internet Matters

Supporting families online: Get expert support and practical tips to help children benefit from connected technology and the internet safely and smartly.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

News

Documents and Publications

Turning the tide against online child sexual abuse (The Police Foundation)

The internet has enabled the production and consumption of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on an . . . industrial scale. It has also created new opportunities for adults to sexually abuse and exploit children. The volume of online child sexual abuse offences is now so great that it has simply overwhelmed the ability of law enforcement agencies, internationally, to respond.
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Finding out your child has been harmed through technology assisted Child Sexual Abuse

As parents we want to keep our children safe and protected from harm. It is one of the primary . . . drivers of being a parent – the balance between allowing our children to develop into independent adults, while protecting them from as much hurt as possible. But despite our best intentions, harm happens and sometimes we have to face the unimaginable truth that our child has been sexually abused. When this happens it is normal and natural to experience a range of emotions and responses that can be extremely difficult to process and manage. This leaflet is for parents in this situation.
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Online Harms Experienced by Children and Young People: ‘Acceptable use’ and regulation

In light of the increased amount of time children and young people (CYP) have been spending online . . . during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the Catch22 Online Harms Consultation was launched in 2020. It received responses from 22 young people, 75 frontline professionals, representatives from tech platforms and Commissioners, on the challenges of online harm.
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Podcasts

Life Online

Ofcom is launching an important new initiative to help improve online safety among communities most at risk of online . . . harm. Media literacy is crucial in helping to build a safer life online. It empowers us to become informed digital decision-makers and, importantly, to identify and protect ourselves and others against harmful content. It’s also our ticket to fully participating in society, at a time when keeping connected with the world, services and people around us has never been more important.
| Apple | Google | Spotify

Online Safety Podcast (SWGfL)

Presented by a variety of SWGfL’s online safety experts and special guests – this podcast is your one-stop-shop for . . . internet safety news and comment. The focus of episodes is to advise professionals working with young people. That being said, the content will be useful for parents, carers or anybody with an interest in online safety.
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SafetoNet Foundation Safeguarding Podcast

The SafeToNet Foundation’s Safeguarding podcasts focusses on safeguarding children in the online digital context. We . . . cover the technical, legal and cultural aspects of topics such as cyber-abuse, cyberbullying, sexting, sextortion, digital wellbeing and how to keep children safer online.
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eLearning

Childhood in the digital age (Open Learn)

Are you a technology optimist or a technology pessimist? The amount of technology available to children today is greater . . . than in any previous generation, and it is more specifically designed to capture their imaginations. There is heated debate as to how the digital influx is shaping children’s development and experience.
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Online safety training (NSPCC)

Do you know your Fortnite from your Snapchat? Do you know the role online technologies play in children and young . . . people’s lives and the risks they might face? The online world brings many positives and possibilities, but it’s also full of risks – and it’s constantly changing. Developed by the NSPCC in association with NCA-CEOP, the child protection unit of the National Crime Agency, this elearning course will help you to understand what children and young people do online, why they take risks and how to respond to these risks so you can feel confident in protecting the children you work with.
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