Online Safety Policy Toolkit 2023-2024

The Online Safety Policy Toolkit contains:

1. Developing Online Safety Practice in Education Settings: Policy and Practice Guidance for Leaders, Managers and Designated Safeguarding Leads in Education Settings (with separate editable content file)
2. Model Online Safety Policy Template
3. Model Anti-Bullying Policy Template.

The Toolkit contains guidance, practical suggestions and editable templates for leaders, managers and DSLs within education settings to help develop online safety practice and establish appropriate policies and procedures.

The online safety policy and practice guidance document explores a range of frequently asked questions and contains supporting materials to enable education leaders to consider the best approach for their setting with regard to online safety.
These questions include:

• What does the national safeguarding guidance for education settings say about online safety?
• How often should we update and review our online safety policies and practice?
• How should we develop and implement a staff AUP?
• What are the key online safety responsibilities for staff?
• What do settings need to consider when using external speakers and/or resources as part of education and engagement approaches?
• How should educational settings respond to filtering breaches?
• Can education settings put guidance in place regarding staff personal use of social media?
• What are some of the risks posed by mobile and smart technology?
• Should we share warnings about online safety concerns, hoaxes or challenges with parents/carers or other settings?
• What are the possible consequences of nude and semi-nude image sharing for children and young people?

The guidance contains the following resources which can be used and adapted by settings:

• an overview of online safety
• guidance for schools on online safety policy decisions
• information and guidance on Acceptable Use of Technology Policies (AUPs)
• an overview of a setting’s roles and responsibilities around online safety
• education and engagement approaches
• guidance on the safer use of technology
• guidance and information to support leaders and DSLs consider and implement appropriate filtering and monitoring
• social media and mobile and smart technology guidance
• how to respond to online safety concerns
• information regarding specific online safety concerns
• a summary of the legal framework
• editable resources to support a setting’s online safety policy and practice.

The Online Safety Policy Toolkit also contains a model Online Safety Policy Template and a model Anti-Bullying Policy Template:

• Online Safety Policy Template: This template aims to provide education settings with a framework to develop their online safety ethos and enable leaders to detail strategic approaches and considerations with regards to the safer use of technology
  
  
• Model Anti-Bullying Policy Template: This document will support education settings in creating an anti-bullying policy that is relevant to their communities and reflects the needs and abilities of learners.

The Toolkit contains a range of practical resources and suggestions for settings to consider as part of their long-term safeguarding and engagement approaches. It will provide leaders with guidance and tools which can scaffold and evidence their decision making in line with national education safeguarding requirements and recommended best practice and signposts to a variety of national support available.

The template policy resources can and should be adapted by settings to reflect their own local context and will enable leaders to provide appropriate information to staff, children and parents/carers which should help ensure that safeguarding their community online remains a key priority.