Online Safety

Being online can be positive for children and young people, including those with additional needs. So much of our communication now happens online, either by messages, in a game or through a video call. Sometimes online platforms like the apps, social media sites and games your child accesses can help them connect and make friends with new people that they might not know offline.

As a parent or carer, you play an important role in helping your child to have positive experiences online. If your child has additional needs, then this role can be even more important, and it can feel like a lot of responsibility when you hear about some of the risks young people face online.

Online safety for children with SEND | NSPCC have partnered with Ambitious about Autism to bring you online safety tips and activities

Keep Children Safe Online: Information, Advice, Support - Internet Matters have a wealth of supporting material for parents. The advice and guidance is produced via the web pages, downloadable guidance leaflets, quizzes and games to help you support your child/charge safety whilst being on line.

Below are links for videos available to help you begin or support your journey together.

Together, we've got this | Internet Matters Welcome to Internet Matters, your trusted partner in keeping children safe online!We are here to support parents, carers, and educators in navigating the digital world with confidence and peace of mind. Our mission is to provide you with the knowledge, advice and tools you need to protect your children online. Join us on this important journey as we empower families and promote a safe and positive online experience for children. Together, we can make the internet a safer place!

Internet matters - Parents experiences Internet Matters celebrated its 10th anniversary in June 2024. To celebrate, we asked parents and professionals to share their experience using our resources and website.

Phone health advice for Parents Internet matters -See our 5 top tips to check that your child's smartphone or tablet is set up to give them a safer online experience. Visit internetmatters.org for more online safety advice.

Staying safe online - (0-5yrs ) More and more pre-schoolers have their own tablets or borrow their parents’ devices to play games, use apps and watch their favourite TV shows. See advice on simple things you can do to make sure they’re staying safe online.

Staying safe online ( 6-10yrs) Early use of digital technology has been shown to improve language skills and promote children’s social development and creativity. However, it’s not without risks for young children. Unfortunately, they may come across inappropriate content, share personal information or begin to copy what older children do online, which might put them at risk. We’ll help you to understand what you can do to give young children aged 6-10 the best experience of going online.

Staying safe online (11-13yrs) As pre-teens become more independent with their move to secondary school, they become more confident internet users with more varied habits. The internet offers them many benefits, so it’s vital to discuss online safety regularly.

Staying safe online ( 14+yrs) As your child becomes a teenager, it’s likely the internet will be a part of their daily life. They’ll adapt quickly to new technology and use it to communicate, socialise and create. Most teenagers have access to the internet using a smartphone or tablet, and use a wide range of social media sites as a vital part of their relationships with others.

What keeps a child from reporting child-on-child abuse? | Internet Matters Oftentimes, child-on-child or peer-on-peer abuse goes unreported. Internet Matters Ambassador and psychologist, Dr Linda Papadopoulos, explains why this might be and how can parents and carers can support a child going through this.

The role of technology in child-on-child abuse Dr Linda Papadopoulos, Internet Matters Ambassador and psychologist, explains how technology has changed the landscape of child-on-child abuse.

Creating an environment to talk about child-on-child abuse Internet Matters Ambassador and psychologist, Dr Linda Papadopoulos, shares how parents can create an environment to help children open up about child-on-child abuse.

What you can do to support your child if they are abused Internet Matters Ambassador and psychologist, Dr Linda Papadopoulos, discusses what parents and carers can do to support their child if they are a victim of child-on-child abuse.

How schools can support your child nternet Matters Ambassador and psychologist, Dr Linda Papadopoulos, shares advice on what parents and carers can ask of schools when it comes to child-on-child abuse.

Further information

How to spot fake news, Childline
https://www.childline.org.uk/get-involved/articles/how-to-spot-fake-news/
Home, Money Mules
https://moneymules.co.uk/
Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people, GOV.UK – Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, UK Council for Internet Safety
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sexting-in-schools-and-colleges
Resources for parents – Prevent UK (prevent-uk.org) offers a series of articles aimed at parents to give advice on how you can help your child in positive ways and how to support them in their education and safety.

Don’t feel confident starting a conversation with your child about what they’re up to online? Read this advice from the NSPCC Teaching Your Child about Internet & Online Safety | NSPCC

Online Safety

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