Being online is an integral part of children and young people’s lives. Social media, online gaming websites and apps can be accessed through mobile phones, computers, laptops and tablets. All of which form a part of children’s online world.
We strive to keep you up to date with resources, advice and the latest in e-safety best practice to help and guide in keeping young people safe and secure whilst online.
With the final school term in full swing, we have collated some resources you may find useful to help safeguard young people online.
Online safety and wellbeing: Guidance and support
It includes guidance on:
- Risk assessing incidents
- Safeguarding and supporting young people
- Handling devices and imagery
- Recording incidents, including the role of other agencies
- Providing education on the sharing of nudes and semi-nudes.
Harmful online challenges and online hoaxes, whilst these may seem like harmless fun the reality is very different. A hoax is a deliberate lie designed to seem truthful, and online challenges generally involve users recording themselves taking a challenge.
Online Safety and Wellbeing teaching or 1-2-1 resources – primary and secondary ages
Project Evolve is a free online safety digital education toolkit to guide educators as to the areas they should be discussing with young people as they develop their use of online technology. From research on a certain topic to activities for pupils, the content is up-to-date, relevant, and engaging.
Think U Know Resource Library enables you to search and view categories by age range which covers key aims and suggestions for delivery to young people.
Making sense of relationships – the NSPCC covers lessons plans on personal safety and healthy relationships, covering subjects such as:
- Transitioning to secondary school
- Online safety and online friendships
- Consent
- Sexualised behaviour
- Unhealthy relationships
- Sharing sexual images
Trust Me educates young people around inaccurate and pervasive information that they may come across online. This is by no means the solution to the issues that are facing young people online but is intended to facilitate discussions around online risk.
Encouraging young people to explore how they manage their online identity and how the internet shapes how they think of themselves and others. Childnet have resources to focus on:
- What makes up their online identity – such as the facts or characteristics about themselves
- How others perceive and interact with them.
- How online services identify them.
- How offline stereotypes and discrimination are challenged or reinforces online; and
- Whether the internet allows young people to experiment and express themselves, or if they feel limited in who can be online.
So you got naked online – Whilst there is a lot of advice about preventing these incidents, it is also very important to recognise that this does and will happen and those affected need guidance and support. This resource offers children, young people, and parents advice and strategies to support the issues resulting from such incidents.
Internet Safety matters to all young people especially those with SEND. Internet Matters have created advice and guidance to make their time online safe and positive.
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.
How you experience social media can affect your mood. Young Minds have gathered tips and advice on how to enjoy a positive time online.
These are not an extensive list of resources, originally from a webinar by Northamptonshire County Council.