Introduction

The role schools play in educating and equipping learners to use ICT safely and responsibly is crucial. More and more children are using mobile phones, websites and interactive applications at a younger age. It is important, therefore, that e-safety is taught as soon as learners start using the internet. Many schools are now beginning to introduce this subject at Key Stage 1.

Children’s experience of using ICT in school is generally safe and monitored. Access to the internet is usually filtered and sites and applications that might pose a risk to children are blocked. Outside of school, however, access to the internet at home or on mobile phones is usually unfiltered. Young children will start to explore a range of sites including social networking and video hosting sites and will want to interact with a wide range of individuals and organisations, often unsupervised.

Ensuring that young children know about online dangers and are equipped to stay safe is therefore crucial. At Key Stage 1, however, it is important to cover this subject sensitively and to differentiate your lessons to take account of the various ages and stages of children and the level of their experience and confidence in using ICT. Some young learners can easily be scared and frightened when they are told of the risks of using the internet, so it is vital that the sessions are balanced and you have age appropriate resources (see below). It’s important to inform parents or carers that you are covering this topic so they are aware of the school’s commitment to safeguarding and that you are balancing the messages of safety with the positive opportunities offered by the internet.

Here is a set of resources which will give you a good introduction to the subject of e-safety and which you can use to support your project. We have included a short reflection exercise after each resource which will help you examine the issue specifically for Key Stage 1.

Please note that website links can change over time and organisations may update or change advice and content.

1 Advice on managing online risks in schools