Online Safety

Support for Parents & Carers

There are an enormous variety of Online Safety resources available and as Parents and Carers, it is often challenging to know where to start or where to find information on a specific topic. 

Description automatically generated with medium confidence All parents have access to the Safer Schools APP. This is an invaluable, live, tool for parents providing the most up to date information and guidance.

The items below have been highlighted as a selection of recommended resources specifically designed for Parents and Carers on different aspects. The resources below have been compiled from lancashiresafeguarding.org.uk.

Note: A common question from Parents & Carers is where to find information on setting up internet content filters at home.  As these will vary according to local circumstance, the Internet Matters resource below covers implementing settings for Sky, Virgin Media, BT and TalkTalk broadband connections as well as other areas such as mobile phone settings.

CSAP/LSAB Twitter:  Stay in touch through Twitter

Risk Area: Various

Whilst we may be more used to tackling the challenges posed through Social Media, our Twitter feed provides useful advice, news, information and resources on a variety of issues, both Online Safety and wider Safeguarding topics.

Find out the latest updates and follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/LancsSguarding

BBC News: Step-by-step guide to video calling family members

Risk Area: Health & Wellbeing

As our children and young people repeatedly emphasised during the MyAdvice project, we must not forget the positives aspects of technology.  In circumstances where it isn't possible to meet face-to-face, family can stay in touch through video chat platforms such as Skype, Facetime and WhatsApp.  This really useful step-by-step guidance from BBC Tech walks through how to set up and stay in touch with family members on different platforms and devices.

BBC News – Step-by-step Video: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51968122

Childnet: Online Safety activities to do at home

Risk Area: Various

Our colleagues at Childnet have published a great collection of resources to explores online safety at home with children and young people ranging from 3 - 18.  Activities include film clips, advice and quizzes plus support around managing screen time.

Access the collection at: https://www.childnet.com/resources/online-safety-activities-you-can-do-from-home

BBC Teach - 5 Ways to keep children learning at home

Risk Area: Health & Wellbeing

With children at home for extended periods, continuing their learning can be a challenge for parents and carers.  BBC Teach has some useful tips to help keep them learning and engaged.

Find out more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/five-ways-to-keep-your-kids-learning-at-home/z4966v4

BBC OwnIT: 5 Tips to Own Your Phone

Risk Area: Screentime

The BBC OwnIT team provides some useful advice in the form of 5 tips to help your child stay in control of their phone rather than the other way around.  The tips (useful for adults too) include rules, boundaries and encouraging positivity as well as links to the highly-regarded BBC OwnIT app.

Find out more at: https://www.bbc.com/ownit/about-us/getting-their-first-phone

Childnet: Creating a Family Agreement

Risk Area: Various

A point regularly discussed on parental sessions and courses, this is particularly useful to help manage expectations, screentime and encourage positive behaviour online.  This updated resource from our colleagues at Childnet can prove useful to discuss and set agreed boundaries for family members (don't forget, family agreements apply to adults too!).

Access the Childnet Family Agreement: https://www.childnet.com/resources/family-agreement

CSAP Focus On...Staying Safe Online over the Festive Season (updated)

Risk Area: Various

As many children and young people may receive gifts such as Smartphones, Tablets and Gaming Consoles over the festive period, the latest Focus On... article looks at some considerations, supporting information and useful tips to consider to help our children stay safe online. 

A downloadable version of the Focus On... article is available here. 

Childline: Its My Childline

Risk Area: Various

Childline have developed a useful website aimed at under-12s which provides support and information on a variety of topics including staying safe, bullying, your body & feelings.  The site includes a number of fun activities and creative tools children can use.

Take a look at the resource at: https://www.childline.org.uk/kids

Internet Matters: Grandparents Guide

Risk Area: Various

It is estimated that around 3.5 million grandparents support families by providing childcare.  However, support around the online world can often be challenging so our colleagues at Internet Matters have produced five useful tips to support grandparents to help keep our children safe online.

You can find the tips at: Internet Matters Grandparents

Swiggle Child Friendly Search Engine

Risk Area: Safer Access

Our colleagues at the South West Grid for Learning have released an excellent search engine tool particularly suited for use by younger children.  The search tool is powered by Google Custom Search and enforces SafeSearch to minimise opportunities for inappropriate content.  For Parents/Carers of younger children, Swiggle can be a useful page to have as the default search engine on devices in the home.  Swiggle also includes a very useful ‘screen cover’ feature – should a child encounter something inappropriate, the tool allows them to cover the screen and seek help from an adult.

Found out more about Swiggle at:  https://swiggle.org.uk/overview

Digital Parenting

Risk Area: Various

Vodafone Digital Parenting resource is now available.  The highly-recommended magazine resource is free to access online and includes articles on improving digital-life balance, tips for children starting to use social media, parental controls & filtering and better smartphone security.

Access both the current and previous editions of Digital Parenting at: www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/digital-parenting/archive

Childnet - Answering Parents Commonly Asked Questions

Risk Area: Various

Questions raised during Parental Awareness sessions typically highlight that it is common for parents and carers to sometimes feel unconfident or lacking knowledge in order to have a conversation about the online world with their children.  Our colleagues at Childnet have produced some useful guidance to help answer frequently asked questions parents may have on topics including how to talk about spending too much time online, increasing your online knowledge, underage social network use and online game ratings.

Access the guidance at:  www.saferinternet.org.uk/blog/answering-parents-commonly-asked-online-safety-questions

Social Media - Reporting Harmful Content Online

Risk Area: Social Media

Provided by the UK Safer Internet Centre and operated by our colleagues at SWGfL, this new reporting facility allows users to find useful advice and guidance about making online reports as well as providing users with the ability to make a report for further investigation.  The portal requires users (aged 13 and over) to have already reported material to the Social Media platform involved before making a report and covers a variety of platforms.

The facility is currently in beta version and can be accessed via the link below.  It is a highly recommended resource for those who may have already attempted to have content removed but been unsuccessful when initially reporting with providers.

Access the portal at: https://reportharmfulcontent.online/

LSCB Focus On...What is PEGI?

Risk Area: Online Gaming

One area that can sometimes be overlooked when it comes to Online Safety is Online Gaming.  Designed to support Parents and Carers, the LSCB has developed a dedicated Focus On... article which looks at the ratings system used in the UK, explaining what PEGI is used for, what 'Content Descriptors' are and includes some useful examples of popular games often raised when delivering school and parental awareness sessions. 

Find out more about PEGI in the Focus On... section or download the standalone resource here: Focus On...What is PEGI?

Safer Online Behaviours over Summer

Risk Area: Various

As the Summer holiday period begins, many children and young people will often spend an increased amount of time online.  As referred to in the Focus On... section, this resource is designed to support Parents & Carers in managing various online challenges over the Summer break with useful information and tips. 

Download the standalone resource here: LSCB Safer Online Behaviours over Summer

CEOP ThinkUKnow - Band Runner (8-10 year olds)

Risk Area: Various

Featuring characters and safety messages from the highly-regarded Thinkuknow (TUK) Play Like Share films, Band Runner is a fun game that puts children’s knowledge about online safety to the test by asking them to help characters make safe choices. The game provides clear and practical safety advice for 8-10 year olds under the Play, Like, Share, Chat, Lock and Explore headings.

Access Band Runner on the TUK site at: www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/band-runner

BBC 'Own It' Website

Risk Area: Various

The highly-regarded BBC ‘Own It’ website was launched in February 2018 and contains a variety of entertaining, useful, fun and empowering tips, insights, stories and advice aimed at supporting 9-12 year olds in getting the most out of their time online.  Own It brings a child’s perspective of online life and the issues it throws up, covering a variety of areas from online privacy and avoiding malware, through to dealing with everyday dilemmas children face online.

Access the BBC ‘Own It’ site at: https://www.bbc.com/ownit

Childnet – A Parent’s guide to Fortnite: Battle Royale

Risk Area: Online Gaming

Fortnite - Battle Royale is a hugely popular game with Children and Young People of all ages and revolves around a PVP (Player Versus Player) survival combat theme which is free to download (although in-game purchases are available). Our colleagues at Childnet have produced a very useful guide for parents explaining its features including a game overview, age requirements and tips/advice for discussion with your child.

Access the guide to Fortnite: Battle Royale at: http://www.childnet.com/blog/a-parents-guide-to-fortnite-battle-royale

The Royal Foundation - Bullying Taskforce Project

Risk Area: Online Bullying

As referred to in the News & Events section, The Duke of Cambridge has launched The Royal Foundation’s Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyberbullying.  The Taskforce has created an Action Plan designed to kick-start a new approach to support young people when they use Social Media and Gaming Platforms. 

To find out more about the project including the Action Plan and a short, animated video clip, use the link below.

www.royalfoundation.com/duke-cambridge-launches-national-action-plan-tackle-cyberbullying

Digging into Minecraft

Risk Area: Online Gaming

Despite having been around for a number of years, a regular topic of questions from Parents and Carers continues to be around the immensely popular game Minecraft.  As referred to in the Focus On... section, this resource has been developed to help inform Parents & Carers about what Minecraft is, why it remains so popular and what things we can do that will help our children to stay safe whilst having fun.

You can find the article in the Focus On... section of the site or download the standalone resource here: Focus On...Digging into Minecraft