Online safety

What is online safety?

The term 'online safety' (previously known as e-safety) is used to encompass the safe use of all online and digital technologies to reasonably protect all users from potential and known risk. Technology itself is only one aspect of this. Equally as important are the ways in which technology and the behaviours around it are managed. For safeguarding to be effective, online safety procedures need to be clear, agreed and respected by everyone.

Online safety involves valuing the opportunities offered through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), recognising potential risks and understanding and implementing the control measures that can be put in place to reduce them.

Online safety: A toolkit for early years settings

The toolkit consists of a series of model policies, procedures and forms to support the development of safer online practice in early years settings. It also incorporates comprehensive guidance based on the most recent research.

The toolkit includes a model 'Acceptable Use' policy which is the absolute minimum that any early years setting should adopt as a starting point for developing safer online practice.

The toolkit is primarily aimed at a range of early years settings, including pre-schools, nurseries, crèches, out of school clubs, childminders and children's centres who care for children from birth to 11 years.

If you need any section of the toolkit in Word format please email earlyyears@plymouth.gov.uk.

Online safety: A toolkit for early years settings [2MB]

[Back to top]