Internet Safety






Children & the internet

In a connected world we can't imagine life without the internet! So let's embrace it, and give our pupils the skills they need to become digitally competent and well equipped to allow them to excel in this dynamic and evolving digital age. Many children have access to mobile phones, tablets, Chromebooks, laptops and games consoles and all of these give them access to the world wide web.

As parents and carers are you always aware of what your child is up to online? Would your child know what to do if there was an issue online?

As parents/carers you keep your children safe in the offline world, so its imperative to do the same in the online world. Here are some really useful websites and information to help you in teaching your child to use the internet safely and responsibly.

age restrictions

Watch the screencast to the right, to see how to use the NSPCC NetAware social networks, apps and games search tool where you can find out age restrictions, the type of content your child will encounter, and also feedback from other parents and carers.

One of the most important aspects we must consider when it comes to e-safety is determining the right age (and the required age) for children to be able to start using all the various online services. Specifically things like social networks and communication apps as many of these were developed for adult users, and as such do not consider the implications of children using them. Many now require users to be at least 13 years old before they can sign up.

Net Aware: Your guide to social networks, apps and games.webm

Parents, grandparents and guardians may believe their child is ready for Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr and other social media sites, yet all clearly state ages 13 years and up (usually with parent permission). The reason is that your child may not be ready for what they could encounter on sites without age-appropriate limitations.

Below is a useful graphic detailing the age restrictions for popular social media platforms. If you can't see the app you're looking for, click here to use the NSPCC Net Aware tool where you can search for them.


nspcc website

For more information about how to speak to your child about staying safe online, please click the image to the left to explore the NSPCC's advice on how to do this.