Online Safeguarding - News & Events

This section contains useful news and information on events related to Online Safeguarding.  This page is regularly updated so make sure to revisit and don't forget, you can also keep up-to-date with broader LSCB News and Information through the LSCB's Twitter feed using the link below.

Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board Twitter Feed (@LancsSguarding)

https://twitter.com/LancsSguarding

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Posted: February 2019

QuickTips Animation series Published

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

Released as part of our activities to support Safer Internet Day 2020, we have published a series of short animations looking at 3 different aspects of Online Safety.  In the form of the 4-in-2 QuickTips series (4 tips in 2 minutes), the clips cover Privacy & Security, Frauds & Scams and Online Shopping.

Access all 3 animations via the QuickTips section of the website.

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Posted: March 2020

DfE - COVID-19 Safeguarding Guidance for Schools & Colleges

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

The DfE have released guidance for schools, colleges and other providers to support them keeping children safe, including online, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Access the guidance at: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers

Posted: March 2020

Distance learning using technology - safeguarding considerations

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

Our colleagues at the South West Grid for Learning have developed some useful advice around safeguarding considerations when using technology for continued learning in the event that Schools and Colleges close as a result of Covid-19.

Find out more and access the guidance in the Teachers & Professionals section of the site.

Posted: November 2019

BBC Article - Facebook removes illegal content

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The BBC highlights a report from Facebook identifying that over 11 million pieces of content related to child nudity and child sexual exploitation were taken down between July and September 2019.  In addition, the Community Standards Enforcement Report highlights that 2.5 million pieces of content related to suicide and self harm were also removed.

Read the full BBC article at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-50404812

Read the Facebook Community Standards Enforcement Report at: https://transparency.facebook.com/community-standards-enforcement

Posted: February 2020

HM Govt - Response published to Online Harms consultation 

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

The Government has provided an initial response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation.  The consultation ran from April 2019 – July 2019 and saw over 2,400 responses.  The joint response by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and the Home Office highlights proposals including: protecting users from harmful and illegal content on Social Media (through Ofcom); recognising the importance of freedom of expression and legislation applying to companies that provide services/use functionality on their websites which facilitates the sharing of user generated content or user interactions.

Read the full response at: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/online-harms-white-paper/public-feedback/online-harms-white-paper-initial-consultation-response

Posted: December 2019

BBC News - Spanish Police arrest WhatsApp Child Abuse Group

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BBC News reports that members of a Child Abuse WhatsApp group have been arrested by Spanish Police.  The 31 arrests span across 11 countries including Spain, Uruguay, UK, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Peru, India, Italy, France, Pakistan and Syria.

Read the full BBC article at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50737387

Posted: November 2019

BBC Article - Facebook removes illegal content

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

The BBC highlights a report from Facebook identifying that over 11 million pieces of content related to child nudity and child sexual exploitation were taken down between July and September 2019.  In addition, the Community Standards Enforcement Report highlights that 2.5 million pieces of content related to suicide and self harm were also removed.

Read the full BBC article at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-50404812

Read the Facebook Community Standards Enforcement Report at: https://transparency.facebook.com/community-standards-enforcement

Posted: September 2019

Online Safety Live in Lancashire 2020

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

Safeguarding Board partners across the region will once again be hosting the very highly-recommended Online Safety Live in Lancashire sessions at various venues across the region.  The extremely popular sessions are aimed at members of the children's workforce with a safeguarding responsibility and are provided free-of-charge.

You can find out more about the Online Safety Live sessions via the Teachers & Professionals section of the site.

Posted: September 2019

LSCB Making Sense of...Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2019

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

With the 2019 revisions to KCSIE, we have once again reviewed the DfE guidance and extracted those aspects relating to Online Safety.  As in previous versions of the statutory guidance, the online elements continue to feature significantly and therefore, our Making Sense of... resource highlights, explains and signposts recommended quality-assured resources that will be of use to Schools and Colleges. 

Access the Making Sense of...KCSIE guidance via the Schools & Children's Workforce Supporting Resources section of the site.

Posted: August 2019

SELMA Toolkit - Tackling Online Hate Speech

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

As introduced at the Lancashire and Blackpool Online Safety Live sessions in January 2019, the SELMA (Social and Emotional Learning for Mutual Awareness) resources are now available to support those school staff and professionals working with young people aged 11-16.  The resources are free to use and aim to tackle online hate speech by encouraging young people to become agents of change.  More information and details of a time-limited training opportunity are available from the Schools & Children's Workforce section of the site. 

Posted: July 2019

Online Abuse: Learning from Case Reviews

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

The online environment presents additional challenges for those working with children and young people to protect them from abuse.  The NSPCC have released a summary of risk factors and points for improved practice where case reviews have highlighted Online Abuse. 

Further details of the NSPCC Summary are available from the Schools & Children's Workforce Supporting Resources section of the site.

Posted: July 2019

DfE Guidance - Teaching Online Safety in Schools

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

The Department for Education (DfE) has released guidance covering the teaching of Online Safety in Schools.  The guidance outlines how schools can ensure pupils and students understand how to stay safe online, including reference to both existing and forthcoming curriculum requirements.

Further details and links to the guidance can be found in the Supporting Resources section of the Schools & Children's Workforce area of the site. 

Posted: July 2019

HM Govt - Age Verification Requirements (Pornography) - Updated**

News for > :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

As part of the Government's intention for the UK to be the safest place in the world to be online, measures will be introduced to restrict access to commercial pornographic websites to adults 18 or over. This will require commercial providers of online pornography to carry out robust age-verification checks on users to prevent children from viewing pornography online.  Ensuring compliance will be the responsibility of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

Find out more about Age Verification requirements at: UK Govt Age Verification

**UPDATE: The measures originally intended to come into effect from Monday 15th July 2019 will now see a delay of around 6 months.

Posted: June 2019

NHS - Moodzone: Coping with Exam Stress

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In line with our focus on supporting emotional health and wellbeing, the NHS have a very useful online site called Moodzone.  Moodzone includes tips on coping with stress, anxiety and depression and includes a useful section focussing on coping with exam stress.

Find out more about Moodzone from the links in the Parents and Carers section of the site.

Posted: June 2019

SWGfL: 360 Safe Annual Assessment Report

News for > :. Teachers & Professionals

Our colleagues at South West Grid for Learning have released their annual report highlighting Policy and Practice across schools in relation to Online Safety.  The report gives a useful national picture for Schools and Colleges to consider against their own provision.

Find out more about the findings in the Supporting Resources section of the Schools & Children's Workforce area of the site. 

Posted: May 2019

BBC Article: Social Media Limits on 'Likes' & 'Streaks' proposed

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As highlighted at our annual Online Safety Live events held across Lancashire in January, the impact of 'persuasive design' often used in apps provides an insight into the addictive nature of Social Media and its relation to Emotional Health & Wellbeing.  This article from the BBC highlights proposals from the Information Commissioner's Office which would see limits on under-18s 'Liking' posts and building up 'Streaks'.  

Read the article at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-47933521

Posted: April 2019

Ever wondered how reporting on Social Media works?

News for > :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

Reporting violations on Social Media platforms is a recurring question that regularly arises during Online Safety sessions.  Our colleagues at SWGfL have produced a brief article explaining how reporting works along with some tips for success.

Access the article on the SWGfL website.

Posted: March 2019

NWROCU - The Little Book of Cyber Scams

News for > :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

A key theme children and young people repeatedly highlighted during the LSCB MyAdvice project was finding out more about online scams and frauds.  The North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) have released a useful guide (applicable to all ages) which highlights how criminals target individuals online and how to be better protected. 

You can find out more and download The Little Book of Cyber Scams via the Parents & Carers section of the site.  

Posted: February 2019

DfE Relationships and Sex Education Statutory Guidance 2019

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The Department for Education (DfE) has released the renewed guidance covering the teaching of Relationships Education (Primary) and Relationships and Sex Education (Secondary) in all schools from 2020.  The renewed statutory guidance includes a significant and much-welcomed emphasis on a variety of aspects relating to Online Safety. 

Further details and links to the statutory guidance can be found in the Supporting Resources section of the Schools & Children's Workforce area of the site. 

Posted: February 2019

Responding to 'Online Challenges' - Scaring or Preparing?

News for > :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

Reports of disturbing viral online challenges are unfortunately never far away from the media headlines.  However, establishing their veracity BEFORE raising awareness is immensely important and is a key, though often challenging, issue – are we scaring or preparing and by naming or drawing attention to a specific concern, are we (albeit well-intentioned) inadvertently exacerbating the issue?  

The Net Family News link below can help to sort fact from fiction as well provide a useful overview of recent scare stories.  The second link from our colleagues at London Grid for Learning gives a broader perspective around dealing with scare stories circulating in the news and across Social Media:

https://www.netfamilynews.org/about-momo-dealing-with-viral-media-scares

https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2018/11/parents-scare-or-prepare

Posted: January 2019

Reporting Harmful Content Online (Beta)

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Our colleagues at UKSIC / SWGfL have recently released a new reporting portal to allow users to find useful advice and guidance about making online reports as well as the ability to make a report for further investigation. 

Further details about the reporting facility including the processes required can be found in the Supporting Resources section of the Schools & Children's Workforce area of the site. 

Posted: December 2018

Which? - Sextortion e-mail scam support

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Whilst online scams are not new, over recent months an e-mail scam has become increasingly virulent which includes some disturbing elements.  The scam alleges to have evidence of the user visiting pornographic websites and threatens to release the evidence unless payment is made.  Disturbingly, the e-mail will typically include some personal information, such as a password, in order to convince the potential target that the threat is genuine.  The Which? article below includes useful information about the scam and what recipients should do. 

You can find out more about the scam and read the Which? article at:  https://computing.which.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/360001317945-How-to-respond-to-a-sextortion-email

Posted: November 2018

LearnLive Interactive Broadcast - Online Bullying (13 Nov 18)

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

In support of Anti-Bullying Week 2018, our colleagues at LearnLiveUK, in partnership with East Lancashire CCG, will be conducting an online interactive broadcast on Tuesday 13th November 2018. To find out more about the interactive session for schools, visit the Schools & Children's Workforce section of the site.

Posted: September 2018

BBC - Facebook & Instagram to introduce time limit

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A useful article by the BBC highlighting Facebook's and Instagram's intentions to introduce a new time limit feature on their apps.  The new features will allow users to check how much time they've spent on the app and set notifications for when they have reached a certain amount of time. 

You can read the article at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45030712

Posted: August 2018

LSCB - Making Sense Of...Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

Originally developed in response to requests from Headteacher and DSL colleagues across the region, the 2016 'LSCB Making Sense of...KCSIE' resource was well-received and highly popular.  With the 2018 revisions to KCSIE, we have once again reviewed the statutory guidance to highlight updated Online Safety extracts from KCSIE, recommendations for progression and additional recommended resources to support schools in meeting the requirements of the statutory guidance.

Access the updated Making Sense Of... resource via the Teachers & Professionals section of the site.

Posted: August 2018

DfE - Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

The DfE have released the much-anticipated update to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).  The revisions to the statutory guidance contains a number of updates and importantly, continues to see significant focus on Online Safety.  

Find Access the updated DfE statutory guidance via the Teachers & Professionals section.

Posted: August 2018

UK Safer Internet Centre - Instagram Questions

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An additional feature recently added to Instagram allows users to add questions to their Instagram Stories.  The feature has prompted a number of concerns linked to previously similar Q&A-type platforms such as AskFM.  Our colleagues at the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) have produced a useful article about Questions on Instagram, including an explanation and useful tips and advice. 

Access the UKSIC article to find out more at: www.saferinternet.org.uk/blog/questions-instagram-looking-latest-feature 

Posted: July 2018

CEOP ThinkUKnow – Band Runner (8-10 year olds)

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Featuring characters and safety messages from the highly-regarded Thinkuknow Play Like Share films, Band Runner is a fun game that puts children’s knowledge about online safety to the test by asking them to help characters make safe choices. The game provides clear and practical safety advice for 8-10 year olds under the Play, Like, Share, Chat, Lock and Explore headings.

Find out more about Band Runner via the Parents & Carers section.

Posted:  July 2018

Stay Safe Online over Summer

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As the Summer holiday period begins, many children and young people will often spend an increased amount of time online. This resource has been developed to support Parents & Carers in managing various online challenges over the Summer break with useful information and tips.

Further details about safer online behaviours over summer can be found in the Focus On... section of the site with a standalone downloadable version available from the Parents & Carers section.

Posted: February 2018

LSCB MyAdvice Project 2018 - School-based survey opportunity - SURVEY CLOSED

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

The LSCB launches its MyAdvice 2018 project on Safer Internet Day 2018 (SID 2018).  Schools across the Lancashire region are encourage to participate in the project through a dedicated online survey.  The survey is designed to be completed by Children and Young People and will collate their views about the online world and particularly, what advice they would provide to others.  The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete and is open from SID 2018, running throughout the Spring and Summer Terms. 

To find out more about the MyAdvice project and get involved, go to the dedicated MyAdvice section via the following link:  MyAdvice Project 2018

Posted: June 2018

Childnet - Picture This:  KS3/4 Drama Activity (Sexting)

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

Our colleagues at Childnet have released the updated version of their excellent Picture This resource looking at issues around sexting that addresses and questions the sensitive issue with 11-16 year olds. By asking young people to step into the shoes of the characters within Picture This, they explore the law, impact and consequence of sexting and are encouraged to contemplate their online behaviour.

Access Childnet's Picture This resource via the Teachers & Professionals section.

Posted: June 2018

BBC 'Own It' website

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The BBC’s highly-regarded ‘Own It’ website provides fun and empowering tips, advice and activities.  The site for 9 – 12 year olds, aims to support children to maximise the opportunities of the online world whilst taking steps to minimise the risks through developing children’s confidence and resilience. 

Find out more about BBC Own It and access the site via the Parents & Carers section.

Posted: May 2018

IWF Live-Streaming Report

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The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) have released a new research report (Online Child Sexual Exploitation: Examining the Distribution of Captures of Live-streamed Child Sexual Abuse) which reveals statistics on children being groomed, coerced and blackmailed into live-streaming their own sexual abuse over webcams, tablets and mobile phones. Amongst other highlights, the report details that 98% of images found were of children under 13 years old and 96% showed a child on their own, in a home environment.

 Access the IWF Report at: https://www.iwf.org.uk/news/iwf-research-on-child-sex-abuse-live-streaming-reveals-98-of-victims-are-13-or-under

Posted: April 2018

Home Office – Disrespect NoBody Campaign Update

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The Home Office has launched the third phase of its Disrespect NoBody campaign which aims to prevent young people aged 12 to 18 years old from becoming perpetrators and victims of abusive relationships. The website includes various information for young people on a variety of areas including relationship abuse, porn and sexting as well as information about organisations young people can approach for help.

Access the Disrespect NoBody site at: https://www.disrespectnobody.co.uk/

Posted: April 2018

Childnet - A Parent's Guide to Fortnite: Battle Royale

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

A question that regularly arises during Parental Awareness Sessions in schools surrounds the game ‘Fortnite: Battle Royale’.  The game is hugely popular across a variety of ages and involves PVP (Player Versus Player) survival combat.  Our colleagues at Childnet have produced a very useful guide for parents including a game overview, age requirements and tips/advice for discussion with your child.

Access the Childnet Parent’s Guide to Fortnite via the Parents & Carers section of the site.

Posted: March 2018

Childnet Film Competition 2018

News for > :. Teachers & Professionals

Childnet has launched its 9^th annual film competition.  The competition challenges young people aged 7-18 to create short films to inspire their peers to ‘Connect with Respect’.  Entries must be submitted by 11 June 2018 and will be judged by a panel of experts from the BBC, BAFTA, BBFC and BFI with the winning films shown at the finalists’ event in London. 

Further information about the competition and how to enter can be found in the Schools & Children’s Workforce section of the website. 

Posted: March 2018

UKCCIS Framework - Education for a Connected World

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) have released the much-anticipated framework 'Education for a Connected World'.  The framework resource identifies 8 themes across a range of ages from Early Years through to age 18 and is an excellent tool for anyone wishing to shape their approach to progressing Online Safety.

Find out more about the framework and access the framework via Supporting Resources section of the Teachers & Professionals page.

Posted: January 2018

HM Govt Internet Safety Strategy - DCMS Secondary School Consultation Opportunity (CLOSED)

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals (Secondary Schools)

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) would like to get views from Secondary School staff (i.e teachers, teaching assistants, wellbeing staff) on the full range of proposals published in the Internet Safety Strategy Green Paper (see October news item below) and are therefore conducting focus groups across the whole of the UK. Schools will be credited for their contribution to the consultation (/not referenced, as preferred).

To participate, please contact internetsafetystrategy@culture.gov.uk, stating your role, school & availability to attend one session (via telephone dial-in) from the following:

> Friday 19th January (4-5pm); > Monday 22nd January (4-5pm);

> Wednesday 24th January (4-5pm); > Thursday 25th January (12-1pm);

Posted: December 2017

LSCB Focus On...Staying Safe Online over the Festive Season

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

As many children and young people may receive gifts such as Smartphones, Tablets and Gaming consoles over the festive period, the latest Focus On... article looks at some considerations, supporting information and useful tips to consider to help our children stay safe online.

Posted: December 2017

Dept for Education (DfE) – Sex & Relationship Education Consultation

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

The influence of the online environment understandably features significantly in children and young people’s perceptions of sex and relationships.  As the current guidance to support schools in this area was last updated almost 17 years ago, the Government has announced a consultation calling for views to help inform changes to the teaching of Sex & Relationship education and PSHE.  The survey takes around 30 minutes to complete via a series of online questions and is open from 19^th December 2017 to 12^th February 2018.

You can have your say and help to inform future education in this area via the DfE survey at:

https://consult.education.gov.uk/life-skills/pshe-rse-call-for-evidence/consultation/intro

Posted: December 2017

The Royal Foundation - Bullying Taskforce Project launched

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To support Young People online, the Duke of Cambridge has unveiled an Action Plan created by The Royal Foundation’s Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyberbullying.  The project includes an online code of conduct called ‘Stop, Speak, Support’. Read more about the launch via the link below or view the animated video clip and related information via the Parents & Carers section of the website.

www.royalfoundation.com/duke-cambridge-meets-campaigners-ahead-cyberbullying-launch

Posted: November 2017

CBBC Article: Social Media Rules

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A useful and interesting CBBC Newsround article with a number of clips about what individuals sign up to when creating Social Media accounts.  The article and clips highlight the Terms and Conditions of Service that many do not read when signing up to popular Social Media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat and follows on from the themes highlighted in the Digital Citizenship resources recently published by the Children’s Commissioner.

Access the CBBC article at:  www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/41426106

Posted: November 2017

Childline Portal - Removing an online image or video

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Childline is working with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to help young people who want to remove sexually explicit images of themselves from the internet. The Childline portal can be used by Young People to anonymously verify their identity using the Yoti app and submit their application to the IWF to have the image removed wherever it appears on the internet.

Find out more about the reporting facility at:  https://contentreporting.childline.org.uk/

Posted: October 2017

(Consultation closed) - HM Government: Internet Safety Strategy Green paper

News for > :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

The UK Government has released its much-anticipated Green paper proposals to make Britain the safest place in the world to be online.  The draft Strategy sets out a variety of proposals including a new social media code of practice for the removal of content, an industry-wide levy to raise awareness and counter online harm, an annual progress report and support for digital start-up companies to think ‘safety first’ amongst other priorities.  The green paper is an open consultation available until 12 noon on Thursday 7^th December 2017 with responses (online, e-mail or written) being collated from both organisations and individuals. 

Access the Green paper and have your say to help inform the Strategy at:

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/internet-safety-strategy-green-paper

Posted: October 2017

Vodafone Digital Parenting - Issue 6 now available

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

Digital Parenting is an immensely useful, highly recommended annual resource from Vodafone which contains practical advice and guidance on a range of Online Safety-related topics.  The latest edition is now available and can be accessed via the link in the Teachers & Professionals section of the website.

Posted: October 2017

UKSIC: Addressing 'Online Challenges' with Children and Young People

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

Recent media reports around alleged online challenges circulated through Social Media platforms are again making news headlines.  Such 'challenges' are unfortunately not new and whilst some are genuine, the reality of others is often more questionable.  For adults and professionals, establishing their authenticity before circulating is very important and 'do we believe everything we read online' is as much a key message for us as adults as it is for our children and young people.

Our colleagues at the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) have some useful advice for Parents and Carers to support discussing 'Online Challenges' with children and young people including further sources of support.  Read the advice on the UKSIC website here: www.saferinternet.org.uk/blog/online-challenges-advice-parents

Posted: October 2017

LSCB: Online Safety Live in Lancashire - January 2018

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

The LSCB will once again be hosting the very highly recommended Online Safety Live in Lancashire sessions at various venues across the region.  The extremely popular sessions are aimed at members of the children's workforce with a safeguarding responsibility and are provided free-of-charge.

You can find out more about the Online Safety Live sessions via the Teachers & Professionals section of the site.

Posted: September 2017

Kelsi: Online Safety for Learners with SEND

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

For children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, the online world can provide some really positive benefits and opportunities.  However, research also tells us that children with SEND are more likely to experience online issues than their peers, particularly around such issues as online grooming and bullying.  Our colleagues at Kent County Council have produced some very useful and insightful guidance with practical advice and considerations covering a variety of areas including Online Safety messages, Education and Training, Acceptable Use and Engaging with Parents & Carers.

Find out more and access the Kelsi resource via the Teachers & Professionals section of the site.

Posted: September 2017

Childline: Online Safety for children with SEND (Survey)

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals  :. Parents & Carers  

Childline are looking at how they can adapt their resources and information about staying safe online to meet the requirements of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).  They are conducting an online survey and would like to hear the views of professionals working with children with SEND about how best they can meet their needs, what new resources should include and the format they should take. 

The survey can be found in the Teachers & Professionals section of the site - it is completed online, is anonymous and takes around 10 minutes or less to complete.

Posted: August 2017

Childnet: Young People's Experiences of Livestreaming

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An interesting report from our colleagues at Childnet which summarises survey findings from 500 children and young people aged 8-17 years old.  The report includes which services are the most popular and some useful top tips for livestreaming from young people.

Read the Childnet Report at: http://www.childnet.com/downloads/Report_-_Young_Peoples_Experiences_of_Livestreaming.pdf

Posted: August 2017

Ofcom: Communications Market Report 2017

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

Ofcom has published its annual report for the UK which looks at how consumers use communications services.  The report spans some 240+ pages (17.58MB) and contains a wealth of information including Social Media habits (Page 27) and managing and interpreting images online (Page 30).  Of particular interest is an examination of “Sharenting” (the practice of parents sharing photos of their children via Social Media) on Page 35.

The report can be accessed via the Ofcom website at: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/105074/cmr-2017-uk.pdf

 Posted: August 2017

The Children’s Commissioner – ‘Digital 5 A Day’ Campaign

News for >  :. Parents & Carers

The Children’s Commissioner for England has launched a campaign based around the NHS’s 5-steps to mental well-being.  The campaign, aimed at Parents and Carers, is focussed on balancing online time with practical suggestions and tips.

Find out more about the Digital 5 A Day campaign in the Parents & Carers section of the website.

Posted: July 2017

NSPCC call for Government to protect children on Social Media

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The NSPCC has called on the Government to ensure that children are protected from online abuse by ensuring Social Network providers adopt a universal set of rules including Safe Accounts for under-18s, Grooming and Bullying alerts and the recruitment of dedicated online child safety guardians.

See more about the call for action at: www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/news-opinion/government-must-protect-children-social-media 

 Posted: July 2017

A beginner’s guide to Snap Maps – UK Safer Internet Centre

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals  :. Parents & Carers

The introduction of location sharing features in Snapchat has raised considerable concerns in relation to online safety.  Our colleagues at the UK Safer Internet Centre have provided a useful introduction to Snap Maps which includes what it is, who can see your location and how to change the settings.  It also provides some useful tips to use Snap Maps safely and additional links for further information.

Access the guide at:  www.saferinternet.org.uk/blog/introducing-%E2%80%98snap-maps%E2%80%99-new-location-sharing-feature-snapchat

Posted: July 2017

Stay Safe Online over Summer

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

As the Summer holiday period begins, many children and young people will often spend an increased amount of time online. This resource has been developed to support Parents & Carers in managing various online challenges over the Summer break with useful information and tips.

Further details about safer online behaviours over summer can be found in the Focus On... section of the site with a standalone downloadable version available from the Parents & Carers section.

Posted: June 2017

Sexting - LSCB Process guidance for Schools & Colleges

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

The LSCB has developed a guidance resource to support Schools & Colleges in appropriately dealing with instances of Sexting in-line with the recommended UKCCIS guidance.  The guidance includes an A3-sized process guide, signposts to useful supporting resources and a number of FAQs and can be included in the Online Safety and Child Protection policies.

The resource is freely available and can be downloaded from the Supporting Resources area in the Teachers & Professionals section of the website.

Posted: June 2017

LSCB 7-Minute Briefing: Sexting

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

In addition to the process guidance highlighted above, the LSCB have also produced a 7-Minute Briefing (7MB) on Sexting.  The highly-popular 7MB series provides professionals with a snapshot of specific safeguarding areas which can be delivered as part of team briefings in a short, sharp update.  You can find the 7MB on Sexting along with others in the series in the Learning and Development section of the website.

Date: May 2017

NSPCC & O2 Share Aware Update

The NSPCC & O2 have released additional resources to further develop their Share Aware campaign aimed at supporting families to talk about their child’s online world.  The updated resources include e-mail updates, family agreements, step-by-step advice and a variety of useful teaching resources.  The update also includes a new supporting video (Be Share Aware) which can be found on the NSPCC’s YouTube Channel.

Find out more about the Share Aware update and access the resources and video in the Parents & Carers section of the website.

Posted: April 2017

The Guardian:  Article on the relationship between time spent on social networks and happiness

A Guardian newspaper article highlighting research from the University of Sheffield exploring the link between the amount of time young people spend on Social Networks and their happiness.  The research questioned 4,000 young people and asked them to rate how happy they were with different aspects of their lives.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/09/social-networks--children-chat-feel-less-happy-facebook-instagram-whatsapp 

Posted: April 2017

Home Office issues guidance for young people about indecent images

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

The Home Office has published guidance to support Young People in understanding the law on making or sharing indecent images of children including 3 short film clips highlighting the harm that viewing indecent images can have.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/indecent-images-of-children-guidance-for-young-people/indecent-images-of-children-guidance-for-young-people

Posted: April 2017

Online Grooming: Flaw-in-the-Law Campaign - Update

The UK Government has enacted a law that makes it illegal for adults to send sexual messages to children.  Whilst similar legislation has been in place in Scotland over the last 6 years, it has not been in place in the UK and Wales up to now.  The NSPCC’s ‘flaw-in-the-law’ campaign was started back in 2014 and comes into effect from 3^rd April 2017.  It covers both online and offline communications, including e-mails, social media and letters and any adult caught breaking the law will face up to two years in prison and automatic placement on the Sex Offenders Register.

You can find out more about the changes along with guidance about what to do if you suspect your child may have received such a message from the NSPCC site at: www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigns/flaw-law

Posted: March 2017

BBC article highlighting disturbing trend of YouTube videos popular with children

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

A BBC news article highlighting videos hosted on YouTube that can trick children by posing as popular cartoon characters but which may contain inappropriate or disturbing content.  The article also contains some useful tips on how to avoid inappropriate videos on YouTube using the in-built settings.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-39381889

Posted: March 2017

LEGO Life – A Social Networking app designed for U-13s

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

LEGO have launched a LEGO Life, a Social Network app designed for children under 13 years old and users require a LEGO ID which requires a parent’s e-mail address for approval.  User avatars are created using LEGO and communication is only through the use of emojis.  Usernames are randomly generated and parents will be pleased to know there are no in-app purchases.  LEGO Life can be a useful first step to Social Networking for under-13s although it remains important that children are made aware that not everyone online is who they say they are.

Childnet have produced a useful article about LEGO Life (see: www.childnet.com/blog/what-is-lego-life) and you can access the Lego Life site via: www.lego.com/en-gb/life

Posted: March 2017

Telegraph article: House of Lords call for Digital Literacy to be taught alongside the ‘three Rs’

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals 

Outlined in this article from The Telegraph, the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications highlights in its 'Growing Up with the Internet' report that teaching young people about the internet should be as important as teaching them about reading, writing and arithmetic.  The Committee has said that teaching children about online responsibilities, social norms and risks should be included in mandatory Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) lessons.  You can find the Telegraph article at:  www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/21/children-should-learn-digital-literacy-alongside-rs-peers-say

The full 100-page Select Committee Report can be found at: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201617/ldselect/ldcomuni/130/130.pdf

Posted: March 2017

NSPCC Report on Social Media Age Limits

News for >  :. Parents & Carers

Research from the NSPCC suggests Parents and Carers often don’t know whether their children are old enough to use Social Networks.  This article from the NSPCC highlights some concerns and where families can find out more information.

See: www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/news-opinion/social-media-age-limit

Posted: March 2017

CEOP Video Resources – Multi-lingual support  

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals  :. Parents & Carers 

CEOP have a range of excellent high-quality videos supporting different aspects of Online Safety.  With growing numbers of children and their parents for whom English may be a second language, CEOP have reflected this by updating their videos with a range of languages including Gujarati, Polish, Punjabi and Welsh.  CEOP have added these to their YouTube channel which can be found at: www.youtube.com/user/ceop/videos

Posted: March 2017

Childline ‘For Me’ counselling app for Young People

News for >  :. Parents & Carers   :. Teachers & Professionals

Childline, in partnership with Barclays, has launched a new app to provide counselling to young people through their smartphone.  The app, named ‘For Me’ and invented by four teenagers, allows users to interact with all Childline’s online services including: 1-2-1 chat with a counsellor; ‘Ask Sam’ problem pages and a private ‘locker’ area where they can have their own daily mood tracker and write down personal thoughts.

Find out more about the ‘For Me’ app and download at: www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/news-opinion/childline-launches-new-app

Posted: February 2017

LSCB Online Safety Governance Checklist Resource

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board are pleased to announce the release of a new Online Safety Governance Checklist Tool.  The tool, developed in collaboration with Governor colleagues across the region, is in the form of a series of checklist recommendations and is intended to support Governors and School Leadership Teams in addressing Online Safety provision and supporting those responsibilities identified in the DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016 statutory guidance. 

Find out more and download the resource in the Teachers & Professionals section of the website.

Posted: February 2017

YouTube content - New 'YouTube Kids' App

News for >  :. Parents & Carers

YouTube have released an official App designed for children which can be useful in helping families to manage content children see.  The app is available via the link below which includes a 'YouTube Kids' Parental Guide and can be downloaded free from both the Google Play and Apple App Stores.

Find out more about 'YouTube Kids' via the Parents & Carers section of the site.

Posted: February 2017

Ofcom: Online Content Worksheet for 8-11 year olds

News for >  :. Parents & Carers  :. Teachers & Professionals

Ofcom, the UK's Communications Regulator, have produced a useful worksheet resource to link in with Safer Internet Day 2017.  The worksheet builds upon their 'Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes' research and helps to encourage children to consider their own online activity in comparison.  The resource is designed to be used in school or at home with parents to prompt discussions about online activity.

You can find the resource via the link in the Teachers & Professionals section of the site.

Posted: February 2017

Safer Internet Day 2017: Education Packs now available

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

Safer Internet Day 2017 is almost upon us with this year’s theme being ‘Be the change: Unite for a better internet’.  Safer Internet Day 2017 takes place on Tuesday 7^th February 2017 and to support organisations across the country, our colleagues at the UK Safer Internet Centre have created Education Packs and TV resources for 5-7s, 7-11s, 11-14s, 14-18s and Parents and Carers.  

Find out more about the Education Packs and download the freely available resources via the Teachers & Professionals section of the site.

Posted: January 2017

BBC News item highlights how UK Parents often struggle managing children's time online

News for >  :. Parents & Carers

A BBC news article highlighting the challenges often faced by many parents and carers when trying to manage children's time online.  The article refers to a survey conducted by Action for Children with a number of statistics and tips for families to consider.  You can read the article at:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-35231455

Posted: January 2017

Children's Commissioner highlights children unknowingly signing over digital rights

News for >  :. Parents & Carers   :. Teachers & Professionals

The Children's Commissioner for England has released 'Growing Up Digital', a report which highlights a number of concerns and suggests recommendations including developing Digital Resilience and empowering children to make informed choices about the Terms and Conditions of the services they use.  

Further information on the report can be found on the Children's Commissioner's website at: www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/publications/growing-digital

Posted: December 2016

Tech Gadgets and Gifts at Christmas

News for >  :. Parents & Carers   :. Teachers & Professionals

Our colleagues at the UK Safer Internet Centre have produced some useful and timely advice around tech gifts for children over the festive season.  The advice includes some top online safety tips to consider including safety features available on smartphones, tablets and games consoles plus advice around parental controls on the home internet connection and internet-connected toys.  They also have a useful 'Parent's Guide to Technology' resource highlighting useful considerations on a variety of devices including Smart TVs.  A link to the Christmas advice can be found in the Parents & Carers section of the site.

Posted: December 2016

Sextortion: Guidance from the National Crime Agency (NCA)

News for >  :. Parents & Carers   :. Teachers & Professionals

The use of technology to send explicit images or videos is not a new issue and 'Sexting' in particular is often considered a fairly 'mundane' activity by Young People.  However, related awareness of Sextortion and its impact is not widely considered and is a form of blackmail affecting all ages where criminals use fake identities to 'friend' victims online and persuade them to perform sexual acts in front of a webcam which can have a devastating impact.  

The NCA have provided some useful guidance and a supporting video to raise awareness of Sextortion which can be found at: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/960-help-available-for-webcam-blackmail-victims-don-t-panic-and-don-t-pay

Posted: November 2016

CEOP: Play, Like, Share - New Resource

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

A brand new three-episode animated series which aims to help 8-10 year olds learn how to stay safe from sexual abuse, exploitation and other risks they may encounter online.  The films and sessions aim to give children knowledge, skills and confidence and also include further extension sessions designed to be delivered to particularly risk-taking or vulnerable children.  The resource pack also contains guidance, photocopiable workbooks and engagement materials.  Links to the Play, Like, Share resource can be found via the Supporting Resources in the Teachers & Professionals section of the site. 

Posted: November 2016

CSM: 5 Online Bullying Tips - Clip

News for >  :. Parents & Carers   :. Teachers & Professionals

In support of Anti-Bullying Week 2016, this clip from Common Sense Media (CSM) highlights 5 usefil tips for Parents & Carers to support dealing with Online Bullying. The guidance, in the form of a 90 second YouTube video, can be found in the Parents & Carers section of the site.

Posted: November 2016

O2 / NSPCC: NetAware - A guide to Social Media apps

News for >  :. Parents & Carers    :. Teachers & Professionals

A really useful resource guide to help adults stay up to date with the social networks children use.  The resource highlights various popular social media apps and provides an explanation of what it is, age ratings, why it is popular and points to be aware of.  Links to the resource can be found in the Parents & Carers section of the site.

Posted: November 2016

UKCCIS: Governor Questions Guidance

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) have released guidance for Governors when addressing Online Safety provision in Schools and Colleges. The guidance, in the form of 5 suggested questions from Governors, can be found via the Teachers & Professionals resources section of the site.

Posted: October 2016

LSCB Making Sense of...Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2016

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

LSCB guidance developed for Schools and Colleges across the Lancashire region on the Online Safeguarding aspects of the DfE statutory guidance KCSIE 2016.

KCSIE places a significant emphasis around the online aspects of Safeguarding provision - this guidance highlights Online Safeguarding extracts from KCSIE, recommendations for progression and suggested supporting resources.

Find out more and download the resource in the Teachers & Professionals section of the website.

Posted: October 2016

iOS10 Update: New Features to be aware of

News for >  :. Parents & Carers    :. Teachers & Professionals

Apple have released their latest update which contains a number of features it is useful to be aware of.  Colleagues at Childnet have compiled a guide to the update which can be found at: http://www.childnet.com/blog/ios10-new-features 

Posted: October 2016

HMC Research: Teenage Use of Mobile Devices at Night

News for >  :. Parents & Carers    :. Teachers & Professionals

HMC in partnership with Digital Awareness UK (DAUK) has conducted a survey of 2,750 pupils aged 11-18, looking into teenage use of mobile devices overnight.  The results provide a useful insight into the impact on young people's health & wellbeing - read more about the research at: http://www.hmc.org.uk/blog/research-teenage-use-mobile-devices-night/

Posted: October 2016

Digital Parenting - Issue 5 now available

News for >  :. Parents & Carers    :. Teachers & Professionals

The Parent Zone in association with Vodafone have released the latest version of the highly recommended Digital Parenting magazine.  The resource is free to access online and hardcopies can be ordered free by Schools. 

View the latest edition at: http://parentzone.org.uk/projects/digital-parenting-magazine

Posted: October 2016

Cyberbullying, Haters & Trolls - Common Questions Answered

News for >  :. Parents & Carers

Online Bullying (also known as Cyberbullying) is one of the most common online concerns raised by Children and Young People.  Common Sense Media (US-based organisation) have produced some useful guidance around Cyberbullying, Haters and Trolls, answering a variety of common questions.  You can access the guidance at: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/cyberbullying

Coming Up... 

Posted: September 2016

National Anti-Bullying Week 2016

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals  :. Parents & Carers

National Anti-Bullying Week is co-ordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance and in 2016, will take place on 14th - 18th November.  Each year has a specific theme and for 2016, this is 'Power for Good'.  Find out more about Anti-Bullying Week from the Anti-Bullying Alliance at:

http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/anti-bullying-week/

Posted: September 2016

CEOP Parent & Carer Resources

News for >  :. Parents & Carers

CEOP, through their highly recommended Think U Know (TUK) programme, provide some excellent advice and resources for Parents & Carers to protect children online.  Their dedicated Parents section gives a wide variety of guidance and practical advice and has seen a number of excellent updates over recent months.  You can access the TUK Parents section at: https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/

August 2016

SMS Fraud Alert ! - Fake text message targeting Parents

News for >  :. Parents & Carers

A particularly distressing text messaging scam is in operation which involves the victim receiving a text message from a loved-one which says they are in hospital and the only way that they can make contact is via text message.

Find out more information about this fraud from the ActionFraud website at:

http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/news/fake-text-messages-targeting-parents-jul16

August 2016

DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016

News for >  :. Teachers & Professionals

The revised statutory guidance 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' has been released and is due to come into effect from 5th September 2016.  The revised guidance places significant emphasis on Online Safety and the statutory requirements of Schools and Governing Bodies.  Further information about the guidance can be found in the Teachers & Professionals section of the site.