Top 10 Places to Go for Advice on Online Safety
Updated: 7th February 2023
If you’re looking for advice on how to keep pupils safe online, it can be hard to know where to start. The internet is a big place, and if you search for long enough you’ll find tips that contradict each other. So to make things easier for you, we’ve put together a list of some of our most trusted sources. With these websites you’re sure to find simple and accessible information on online safety and digital literacy.
- NSPCC
The NSPCC has handy guides suitable for teachers and parents alike, on everything from setting up parental controls on children’s devices to starting conversations about inappropriate content. They also have free, confidential helplines for adults and children to report any concerns they might have. - Childnet International
Childnet International has a treasure trove of resources you can use at home or in the classroom, including presentations you can give to parents in your community. They even offer online webinars to give tech advice for parents and teachers. - Internet Matters
Internet Matters not only has great advice on a huge range of different games, apps and browsers, it also divides its advice into different age ranges - perfect if you’ve got children of different ages and need to set different boundaries. - CEOP
CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) is part of the National Crime Agency, and deals with suspected cases of online sexual abuse. You can make confidential reports on their website, while their Thinkuknow programme contains educational resources for all ages - including children with SEND issues. - UK Safer Internet Centre
The UK Safer Internet Centre is a partnership between The Internet Watch Foundation, which works to eradicate online child sex abuse content, and Childnet International (more on them later). They’re the brains behind Safer Internet Day, a day to promote responsible and positive use of digital technology. - ParentZone
ParentZone includes articles and advice on ‘parenting in the digital age’, as well as in-depth video courses to help parents feel more confident in discussing screen time with their children. They’ve partnered with Google to create the Be Internet Legends programme - a series of lesson plans and activities to help teachers discuss online safety in the classroom. - Mind
The mental health charity Mind has a whole host of information on the topic of online mental health - perfect for starting conversations at home or in the classroom. These include ‘safety and privacy’, ‘online relationships’, and the ‘online/offline balance’. They also have an exhaustive list of contact information for mental health organisations in the UK. - GoCompare
Did you know that your child's online activity can be monitored via your broadband provider to ensure that they stay safe on the internet. GoCompare have a helpful blog with advice on how to set this up. - BBC Own It
BBC Own It is aimed at slightly older children, but it’s worth considering if any pupils in your class own a mobile phone. Their website contains videos about digital life presented in accessible language, and the Own It app can help young phone users develop good digital habits. - Natterhub
We’re fresh in the online safety space, and our approach to the subject of online safety is unique. Children learn best through mimicry, and they love using the social media style platform. Mapped to the National Curriculum, the interactive lessons and visual badge system turn pupils into internet users who are digitally independent, media-literate, resilient, empathetic and ready for their own devices. Teachers have even more on their plate than usual right now, but the built-in assessment and record-keeping tools make everything simple to set up - all you have to do is click, and teach!
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