Reporting Online Abuse
If you are worried about online sexual abuse or are concerned about the way that someone has been communicating with a child or young person you know, you can contact the CEOP Safety Centre using the CLICK CEOP button.
Report Harmful Content
Developed by SWGfL colleagues, the RHC button provides access to an online mechanism for reporting online harm to the Report Harmful Content service for those over the age of 13 where an initial report has been made to social networking sites, gaming platforms, apps or streaming services but action has been unsuccessful.
Whilst all school online safety policies should have common elements such as those referenced in the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) statutory guidance, it is important that the school policy also reflects local arrangements.
Available policy templates can vary enormously in their quality and currency. In promoting quality-assured content and resources, our standing recommendation for schools is to use the very highly-regarded and freely-available SWGfL Online Safety Policy Templates.
Online Safety is primarily a Safeguarding (rather than ICT) issue and therefore local arrangements should ensure this is reflected within the organisation’s approach (i.e. via your organisation’s Designated Safeguarding Lead). However, Safeguarding is everyone’s business and should not be limited to one person – this is typically supported through an Online Safety Group to ensure there is a variety of appropriate expertise and knowledge.
Our colleagues at South West Grid for Learning provide a variety of nationally-recognised high-quality advice, guidance and resources including a broad training catalogue – see: SWGfL – Online Safety
In addition, the hugely popular UK Safer Internet Centre Online Safety Live sessions have been a key feature over the years hosted by the Partnership and LSCB. Attendance on these freely-available sessions is highly recommended for Designated Safeguarding Leads and those with a responsibility for Online Safety within their setting. Typically hosted in Lancashire annually each January, colleagues can book their free place at: UKSIC – Online Safety Live
How to respond to the latest online challenge, craze or viral scare story is a regular query and unfortunately, one that is increasingly common.
Before you decide on your approach, our colleagues at the UK Safer Internet Centre have produced some useful tips you should consider: UKSIC – Viral Challenges
The online world continually evolves and keeping up with developments and the associated terminology can be a challenge.
If you don’t know a TikTok from a Troll or an Influencer from an IP Address, our Little BIG Book of Online Safety Terms is regularly updated and can help to clarify, containing 200+ commonly used terms: CSAP/LSAB – The little BIG book of Online Safety terms
