New UKCIS Guidance published - Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings: online safety considerations
With internet enabled devices being a part of everyday life for children, early years settings (birth to 5 years old) provide a vital foundation for online safety education in today’s digital age.
To support early years settings, the UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS) Education Working Group has developed two documents (available as both web documents and PDF versions) to help early years settings managers and staff consider their practice and to take steps to safeguard both children and adults online.
Safeguarding Children and Protecting Professionals in Early Years Settings: Online Safety Considerations for Managers
The first document aims to help managers of early years settings (including wrap around care for the early years age group) ensure that their online safeguarding practice is in line with statutory requirements and suggested best practice. It explores the current statutory guidance in the form of a checklist with key questions to help early years managers reflect and evidence their existing practice. The guidance highlights a range of resources which can be used to support early years settings to develop a whole setting approach towards online safety in line with national guidance.
Safeguarding Children and Protecting Professionals in Early Years Settings: Online Safety Guidance for Practitioners
The second document is provided as a resource for staff working in early years settings to help them understand their role in promoting the online safety and wellbeing of children in their care, as well as enabling them to consider their own professional practice. The guidance highlights a range of resources which can be used by practitioners in early years settings to safeguard children, parents and themselves as professionals online. The document can be read by staff independently as part of developing their own safeguarding knowledge and understanding. It could also be used by managers as part of staff induction or to stimulate a discussion with staff regarding their settings online safety policy and procedures.
Feedback survey
The UKCIS Education Working Group would be grateful for any feedback on content of the guidance,or use by professionals; A short survey is available until the 4 April 2019.
