Online safety

Online safety policies, information and guidance.

Online safety is part of everyday safeguarding. This page supports school leaders, governors, DSLs, staff and those with responsibility for digital safeguarding. It brings together key areas to consider, practical steps and useful resources to help protect and support pupils, families and the wider school community online.

Children and young people use a wide range of online technologies, including laptops, tablets, mobile phones, gaming platforms, smart devices and AI-powered tools. These technologies can support learning, communication and creativity, but they can also present risks such as harmful content, online abuse, cyberbullying, scams and inappropriate contact.

Understanding online risks

Online risks can affect children and young people both online and offline. Staff should understand the types of harm pupils may encounter and know how to respond appropriately. Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) categorises these risks into four areas:

Content - children may be exposed to harmful, inappropriate or misleading content online, including violent, extremist, discriminatory or age-inappropriate material, as well as content that promotes harmful behaviours.
Contact - children may be subjected to harmful online interaction with others, including individuals or technologies seeking to manipulate, exploit or harm them. This can include grooming, exploitation, radicalisation and other harmful interactions through social media, gaming or messaging platforms.
Conduct - children may engage in, or be affected by, unsafe online behaviours, such as cyberbullying, sharing personal information, impersonation, or creating, sending or sharing inappropriate images or content.
Commerce - children may be exposed to financial and cyber-related risks online, including scams, phishing, gambling content and pressure to spend money through online platforms and apps.

Leadership and governance

Online safety should be recognised as a strategic safeguarding priority. Governors, trustees and senior leaders have an important role in making sure that appropriate policies, procedures, training and safeguards are in place.

Effective oversight includes regularly reviewing online safety arrangements, understanding how filtering and monitoring are working, and seeking assurance that pupils are being supported to use technology safely and responsibly.

Online safety should sit within the school's wider safeguarding framework and be considered as part of ongoing review and improvement.

Online safety policies

It is important that schools maintain policies and guidance that reflect current technology, emerging safeguarding considerations and relevant statutory expectations. Regular review helps ensure that arrangements remain appropriate, practical and responsive to the needs of pupils, staff and the wider school community.

Depending on the size, structure and needs of the setting, schools may wish to have policies or guidance covering areas such as:

online safety
acceptable use of technology for staff and pupils
mobile phones and smart technology
social media use
staff conduct and professional expectations
artificial intelligence (AI)
remote learning and digital communication

Schools do not need to start from scratch. The South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) provides a range of well-established online safety policy templates (including 'Appendix AA10 - Responding to incidents of online safety misuse flowchart') that are widely recognised as good practice, and can be adapted to suit local arrangements and requirements.

Teaching online safety

Online safety education is most effective when it is woven throughout the curriculum and delivered in ways that are appropriate to pupils' age, understanding and experiences.

Pupils should have regular opportunities to learn about:

safe and responsible internet use
social media, respectful online behaviour and positive online relationships
cyberbullying and how to report concerns
privacy, personal information and digital footprints
grooming, exploitation and harmful contact
misinformation, disinformation and AI-generated content
cyber security, scams and safe use of devices

Pupils should also know how to report concerns and where to seek help if something online makes them feel uncomfortable, worried or unsafe.

As technology changes, online safety education should be reviewed so it continues to reflect the platforms, tools and digital experiences pupils are likely to encounter.

Filtering and Monitoring

Schools should have appropriate filtering and monitoring systems in place as part of their wider safeguarding arrangements. Together, they help schools provide a safer online environment by helping to reduce access to harmful content and identify potential concerns that may require further attention. Arrangements should be proportionate, effective and appropriate for the age range and needs of the setting.

Effective practice is strongest when safeguarding staff, senior leaders, governors or trustees and IT support work together. Schools should have clear roles and responsibilities and should regularly consider whether their approach remains suitable as technology and online risks change.

Working closely with IT providers can help ensure filtering and monitoring arrangements remain effective, meet safeguarding requirements and continue to reflect the needs of the school community.

Cyber security and online safety

Cyber security is an important part of safeguarding in today's digital world. School systems and devices often hold sensitive information about pupils, staff and families, so weaknesses such as compromised accounts, phishing emails, insecure devices or unauthorised access can increase risk.

Schools should include cyber security within their wider safeguarding and digital safety arrangements. This includes promoting strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, safe use of devices, awareness of phishing and scams, keeping systems up-to-date, protecting personal information, and ensuring staff know how to report concerns.

A positive security culture, supported by effective IT arrangements, can help reduce risks and contribute to a safer digital environment for pupils and staff.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies

Artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies are becoming increasingly common in education and everyday life. These tools can support learning, creativity and productivity, but schools should also consider the safeguarding, privacy and online safety implications.

Schools may wish to consider how pupils and staff are supported to use AI safely and responsibly, recognise misinformation and AI-generated content, protect personal information, and report concerns linked to online harm or misuse.

Emerging technologies should be kept under review as part of the school’s wider online safety and safeguarding arrangements.

Reporting concerns

Where concerns arise about a child’s safety online, schools should follow their safeguarding and child protection procedures and seek advice from the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). Where required, concerns should be reported to the police and Children’s Services through Call Derbyshire (Starting Point), telephone: 01629 533190.

Concerns relating to exploitation, grooming, online abuse, radicalisation, hate incidents, illegal online content, suspected child sexual abuse material or other safeguarding matters should be managed in line with the school’s safeguarding and child protection procedures and local safeguarding arrangements. Where necessary, concerns should be referred or reported to appropriate agencies or organisations such as the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), police or Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP).

Schools should also make use of local safeguarding procedures and resources available through Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Partnership.

Resources and support

Training

Schools should ensure that staff receive regular online safety training and updates to help them identify emerging risks and respond appropriately to concerns.

Derbyshire Services for Schools provides Online Safety Training to support schools in developing effective safeguarding arrangements and maintaining awareness of current online risks, technologies and statutory expectations.

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Also see

Cyber Choices

An early intervention programme.